Vegas and trees

Its been a long old week here while Tel has been in Las Vegas with work. I ll be glad when he gets home later. x
The man from the electric board came round yesterday to discuss which trees they want to cut back up at the top of the field. It is anything that is growing too close to the power lines. We walked up there with his dog to have a look. The first tree he pointed out was the big cherry next to the summerhouse. . "oh dear that is our favourite tree" I said ....so I negotiated for them to just cut it back. They also want to cut down 3 small cherry trees, a lovely hawthorne and a hazel. I was impressed by how he could identify every tree. . and made me think that we have a real mixture of trees up there. They will come and do the work in about a month and leave all the wood up there for us to season and use. It will be interesting to see the work being done.

Happy 80th birthday x

Happy 80th birthday x, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

We are thinking about Terences Mum today as she turns 80. We wish her a very happy birthday and look forward to seeing her soon. Lots of love x x

Blossom

Blossom, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

The brides bouquet is finally flowering. . a whole month later than it did last year. Worth the wait though.

Mad Men. Season 5. Episode 11. The Jaguar Pitch.

Mad Men. Season 5. Episode 11. The Jaguar Pitch., a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

We are hoping for posh vegetables this year!!

We are hoping for posh vegetables this year!!, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Gardening jobs

We spent most of yesterday in the garden, planting the new perennials in a random/organised pattern and putting chicken wire around the deer fencing to try and keep the rabbits out!!! We also took down the leaning metal washing line pole which has been bugging me for a LONG time. . it s the little things that make a big difference. Our neighbours popped over the fence to have a chat and told us that a man from the electric board had been in our field last week, looking at various trees growing close to the wires and recommending that they need to be cut down. He has picked out 8 for the chop in their field. . . we wait to hear. They come and do the job and leave most of the large pieces for us to season, chop up and use.

Clouds

Clouds, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Shawshank Redemption - "Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying."

Wild primroses

Wild primroses, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Plants

Plants, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

It was lovely to see Ros and Roy at the weekend. Sadly Roger didnt make it but sent some gifts. . a lovely bag from Ghana and some moral compass wrist bands which read " what would Wilson do" ...brilliant.
Ros and Roy kindly gave us some vouchers to be spent on plants, so we went to 2 garden centres and bought lots of small plants. . perennials. They include poppies, lupins and red hot pokers. The plan is to plant them in the new area this weekend.
We also went out for Sunday lunch and for a walk. . it rained on us so we came home and ate quiche. Ros and I stayed up till nearly midnight to watch The Shawshank Redemption!!!
They went home on Monday calling in at Malvern.
It was lovely to have them here. As Roy would say ..."it was special" x

Underway

I started my new job on Monday. I felt 100% better when I had arrived at the office on time and met the other support workers and staff. Yesterday I shadowed someone from my team and will do the same on Thursday and Friday.
In a strange twist of timing, I went to the final Lifestyles get together on Friday night. . it was entitled " A Celebration of 26 Years of Lifestyles". I went with Jo and there was a really good turn out. The meal was lovely and Richard made a speech at the end. The last year or so was very difficult for Richard and Heather and all the staff. . some who left and some who were made redundant. . but it was nice to see everyone come together one last time. My 6 and a half years at Lifestyles had a big impact on me and I met so many different people and went through so many interesting times with my participants. I will always be glad that I worked there as an enabler.

The only hyacinth

The only hyacinth, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Pheasant

Pheasant, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

It's not good enough
I'm not good enough
It's the best I can do
It's real and its generous
Lets try
This might work.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2013 Gala - Paul Foot

I love Paul Foot.
Greetings.

The big 80

The big 80, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

We all got together at the weekend to celebrate Mums 80th birthday stroke my birthday stroke Easter. It was a full house with 7 people and Murray the dog.
On Friday night we had a cottage pie and laughed a lot over Face Juggler. . its an App on Tel s phone where you take a photo of 2 or 3 people and then it juggles the faces about with hilarious results. It sort of creates some long lost family members that have come down from the hills. . . !!!
On Saturday we went to the garden centre where Mum kindly bought me a rose bush and a honeysuckle as a birthday present. We spent the rest of the day getting the party ready. . we worked well as a team in the kitchen with the food and upstairs with the decorations. It all turned out really well. . and there were tears and lots of photos and laughs. . especially when we played ping pong and trivial pursuit and it all got a bit competitive.
On Sunday we went out for Easter Sunday lunch and then everyone headed home.
Murray behaved himself while he was here and it gave us a taste of what it is like having a dog in the house. There were lots of doggy related presents. . but no sign of a real life four legged friend.
We have decided it is like a jubilee year for Mum .There will be lots of nice things going on for her over the summer. x

Party

Party, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Murray and meringues

Murray and meringues, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.

Cine camera

Cine camera, a photo by Jillian DIxon on Flickr.