Pandemonium

A love letter to the nation

Danny Boyles Olympic opening ceremony will live long in the memory. . . I just want to watch it all over again. Charming, moving, exciting. . I cried throughout most of it and kept wishing that my Mum Dad and Martin were sitting with us watching it all.
I loved the Pandemonium of the industrial revolution. . the drums and the marching and the amazing music from Underworld. And the Olympic Torch arriving at the end and entering the stadium after its long journey. The beautiful cauldron designed by Thomas Heatherwick.

Hollyhocks

Hollyhocks, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

8,000 miles of smiles

8,000 miles of smiles, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

The Olympic Torch Relay has been a fantastic success story. . bringing thousands of people out onto the streets. . . it has been lovely to see the enthusiasm and the excitement. Tonight I would love to see Bradley Wiggins cycle in with the torch and light the cauldron in the stadium.

Border

Border, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

About 6 years ago. . in our first summer here. . we went to the garden centre with Ros and Roy and bought a few small plants to grow in the border. We had to protect them with posts and netting.
We have now been able to take off all the netting and weed around the bottom of the shrubs and cut around them . . they are mostly about 6 feet tall now.. . as we have built an area of deer fencing and we now have a large safe area for planting. The border looks great. . lots of different colours. . . and lovely to see it uncovered.

Cardoon

Cardoon, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Boxcar Downhill Derby

Boxcar Downhill Derby, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

We went over to Cardiff on Saturday . . Tel was sailing and we had arranged to pop in on Graham to say hello.
It was really busy in Penarth. . it was carnival day and the Boxcar Downhill Derby was on and it was really good fun to watch. We called in on Graham and Phillipa for a cup of tea. They have done lots of work on the house. . it is quirky and the garden is great . . really big for a house on a terraced street. Graham has put up some lovely fencing at the back. . a really good job. We headed home and went to the music festival for a couple of hours.

Yesterday we made really good progress on our new garden area and finished off the deer proof fencing and gate. Its looking really good. . . we will actually be able to plant and grow things. . maybe extend the veg patch too.

Dogs have owners. . .Cats have slaves!!

Monster thistles growing in the field

Monster thistles growing in the field, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Forest Footpath. From an original painting by Trevor C Wells. Mouth Painter.

Forest Footpath. From an original painting by Trevor C Wells. Mouth Painter., a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Wet wet wet

Wet wet wet, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

A Conversation With My 12 Year Old Self: 20th Anniversary Edition

Wilson is not allowed on the bed!!!

Wilson is not aloud on the bed!!!, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Gathering

Wednesday was the day of my participants funeral. . In a beautiful local church next door to the rectory she and her family lived in years ago. The service was very moving and the hymn "How great thou art" seemed just right. We went back to the village hall where her family had laid out photo albums, her beautiful crocheted blankets were hanging on the walls and there was a huge buffet. People were remembering her as a lively, colourful, charming lady who had left a big impression on friends old and new . . And there were stories of her goat and peacocks and her love of a gin and tonic. There was also a man taking photos as people arrived at the church and throughout the afternoon. . I have always wondered about this and . . It seemed perfectly alright and fitting on Wednesday. I am really glad that I was able to get to know her and spend some time with her over the last 18 months. She will be missed by many people. " when through the woods and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing softly in the trees When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze"

I'm just having a rest. . .

I'm just having a rest. . ., a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

This was the scene at 7am this morning. . a very relaxed deer resting and sheltering from the rain under a tree in our garden.

Hats and scarves

Hats and scarves, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Mark and the kids came down on the train on Saturday and it was lovely to see them. There was dressing up, fires, doughnuts, Alan Partridge and Super 8 dvds, fencing, big breakfasts and all round fun and games. Lovely. x

Woodpecker

Woodpecker, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.