Oooops a daisy

Oooops a daisy, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Buzz buzz

We came under attack yesterday from a big hornet and a persistent May Bug. Both are fancy looking critters. It was more important to remove the hornet from the house. The may bug flew in through the patio doors ...it was dark outside and he headed straight for the lamp light....three times we picked him up and put him back outside and three times he flew back in.

Not a cloud in the sky

Not a cloud in the sky, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Its been bloomin hot today....a bit of gardening was attempted in the hot weather. Tel went canoeing with some people from the village and Wilson spent the day crashed out on the couch!!

Gareth John MBE Chairman of Disability Sport Wales.

Gareth John MBE Chairman of Disability Sport Wales., a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

A moment to shine

I cycled into town yesterday to watch the Olympic Flame arrive in Wales. There was a lovely atmosphere...kids waving flags and people cheering. There were police in riot vans, police on mountain bikes and police outriders on motorbikes leading the way for the flame... A big coca cola truck handing out special bottles of 2012 coca cola....more police and then the man in a white track suit holding the torch aloft. There was a "kiss" or handover right in front of us and then the flame carried on its way. It was lovely to be there and to see it all up close.

Queensmill

To celebrate the upcoming Jubilee, Kingsmill have changed the name of their bread to Queensmill. Genius.

Olympic flame on the Clifton Suspension bridge

Olympic flame on the Clifton Suspension bridge, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Chocolate medal

Its been a difficult couple of days in work and following our staff meeting yesterday I was feeling a bit flat today. So up step my 2 participants today to cheer me up.
My participant this morning has been the only person all week to notice my new hair colour (dark blonde on the packet/ dark brown in reality) and he made me laugh when he said " it suits you....it brings out your eyes....and your big nose and your crooked teeth". And my participant this afternoon bought me a chocolate olympic medal as we were at the supermarket checkout.... she said "you deserve a medal for putting up with me". This isnt true at all.... but I put the medal on and it made us both smile.

Just one Person

Small slow worm

Small slow worm, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

The Bridge

The Bridge, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

The Bridge came to a dramatic and moving end on Saturday night.
Beautifully shot in a permanent gloom.. Saga and Martin said goodbye.... the bi-national odd couple will be back soon we hope.

Green

Green, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

"there is not a word yet for old friends who ve just met
part heaven, part space or have I just found my place?
you can just visit but I plan to stay
I m going to go back there some day"

Hackney baby

Dave and Joana welcomed baby Marlene into the world on Thursday evening. We look forward to meeting her soon. x

Little bunny

Little bunny, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

This little rabbit came very close to the house this morning.....bouncing around and sitting up, looking around, twitching its nose.

"Being Elmo" Trailer

I have been following this film/documentary about Kevin Clash, the man behind Elmo for a long time on line.... and finally we went to see it last night at The Cube cinema in Bristol. It was a lovely, heartwarming film about his journey from puppeteer to muppeteer.... what a lovely, kind and talented man.... his idea was that  Elmo would represent love.  

The river view

The men from Fountains came out yesterday morning to cut back some trees along the road .... The ones that are growing too close to the electric cables. Our neighbours had arranged to have the huge cypress tree at the front of their house taken out out completely...good for them ...and the result for us is a wonderful view looking down onto the river. The views here have always been great...and now we can look out at the river and the valley.

Baby mouse

Baby mouse, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

We found this little fella on the steps in the garden this afternoon.... luckily we spotted him and didnt stand on him! He was VERY cute.

Mark Steel s in town

Despite the jet lag...we made it out on Friday night to see Mark Steels In Town at The Savoy. It was our first time in the amazing old theatre and the show was great... Very funny observations about the town he is in (the River Wye Massive) and the towns he has visited recently.He was on stage for 3 hours...with a 15 min break. There were mentions about his visits to Wigan and also the Isle of Man.

Phoenix

Tel made it back safely from his trip to Arizona. It was very hot there...there were palm trees... But no charity shops!!! He didnt have time to visit the Grand Canyon or the Frank Lloyd Wright house...it was a work trip after all.

Deer and bluebells

Deer and bluebells, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Hiding in next doors garden this morning....

Broom shrub

Broom shrub, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

When instagram and tilt shift come together.....

When instagram and tilt shift come together....., a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Energy

Energy, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

We were having a fire on the track when Mark arrived with Anna Lara and James on Sunday.....it all got a bit smokey of course!!
It was lovely having them all here.....there was a brief moment when we were all sat around looking at and communicating through our phones or I pads which was quite funny, we watched the Homeland Season Finale, Mark made a big breakfast on Monday morning and James made an hilarious 5 second film of a boulder landing on the summerhouse.... genius. We took lots of instagrams of course. The kids are always great but were especially brilliant at the weekend... lovely and friendly and chatty with people at Cathys party and bags of creative fun when they were here. It was lovely to be with them and Mark of course!!!
Before they arrived I told our neighbour John that we were expecting 3 children.... this drew a surprised look? x

A bit smokey.....

A bit smokey....., a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Cathys 40th party

Cathys 40th party, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

We went over to Cardiff on Saturday.... Cathy was having a party/gathering for her big birthday. It was lovely to see everyone.... Mark and the kids had come down for the weekend and Rick and Liz were there too. x

Three giant crocheted lions by Shauna Richardson

Three giant crocheted lions by Shauna Richardson, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Rain

Rain, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Its been a week of heavy rain. The river has flooded in places.... people standing on the banks looking at the water...next to sheep and lambs standing on the banks looking at the water.