It’s a little while since I posted and, as I don’t want to get out of the blogging habit, this diary of sorts needs to be updated and so, here goes:

I had a bit of a Christmas shopping phase, buying smaller gifts again this year, bearing in mind that we all have too much “stuff”.  Buying the presents is quite straightforward, it’s wrapping them that takes all the time.  Now the appropriate parcels have been delivered to geographically more distant family and so it’s on to the next batch.

I’ve sorted out the office at home, too, after a fashion.  The photo albums I had all over the place whilst searching for photos of the younger Mr Dancing for his birthday mosaic have now all been found another home and are in chronological order again.

A couple of Sundays ago,  I did Part II of the DSLR Photography Course at Lacock.  This time was so different – the weather was grim compared to the glorious sunshine earlier in the month when I did the first part.  This meant we stayed put in the venue rather than go walkabout.  We needed to, because this time the course content was much more technical – shutter speeds, exposures, f-stops, focal point, apertures and all that malarkey.  I had quite a headache all day, so I don’t think I absorbed it all.  I need to practise more.

We’ve been to North Devon for a couple of days in VERY blustery, wet weather.  At the same time, the younger Mr Dancing, L and friends went to spend the weekend on Lundy Island (in the Bristol Channel) –  as there were some phone lines down just before they returned, they weren’t sure there would BE a helicopter back to the mainland until it landed. (The above was after take-off on the way back – I needed a North Devon photo here even though it’s not mine!)

I digress. When we were in North Devon, we popped into Braunton Museum just in case anything new and genealogical was to be discovered.  Someone was erecting a display of the Americans in Braunton during the war, when thousands of troops were based in North Devon, practising for the D Day Landings.  The display was of still photos taken from American archive footage discovered earlier this year.  Neil, an enthusiastic history buff who was organising the feature, spent a good half hour telling us all about the Americans locally and showing us a 10 minute film.  It’s hard to believe that they used LIVE ammunition on local beaches.  It’s hard too to consider that so many of them lost their lives on a Normandy beach.

We met up with family and friends – there never seems to be quite enough time to do it all but we did take Mum out to the Ring O’Bells at Prixford for a pre-birthday lunch on Saturday.

The following day, we were off to Salisbury to meet my sister, niece and family for lunch at Anokaa – and then pootled around the town before coming home.

Last Wednesday we went, with The Willow Lady to see the shouty Welsh comedian, Rhod Gilbert, at Komedia in Bath.  We had dinner there (prepared by the River Cottage Canteen) – in fact Mr Dancing and TWL had the hugest portions of pork I’d ever seen served!

I like Rhod Gilbert – his rantings about buying a duvet are absolutely hilarious.  On Wednesday, though, I did think that, had he left out all the swearing during his act, it would have been a good 20 minutes shorter and the comedic value would have been improved.  I find that excessive swearing  just adds “blah” words which really mean zilch and detract from the brilliance of the observations.  Perhaps it had something to do with the venue – wonder what he was like at The Apollo in Hammersmith the next day?  I guess I’m just getting old but surely the more you use a swear word the less impact it has?

Recently, I ordered some sample Moo Cards at the very reasonable rate of 50 for £3 – really they are free as the postage and packing cost is £3.  They come with a black border at the bottom advertising their company. Being a cheapskate, I’ve trimmed this off and used them on greetings cards.

I think that’s mostly it … I’m still doing the dawn-walking from Monday to Friday and have been since the end of August.  It’s become harder going since the mornings have become darker and darker and so we are now going for the Winter/Lite version of Dawn Walking which means we now start ten minutes later at 7.10am and only do 20 minutes instead of 30.  If you knew how much of a morning person I am (not) then you would be amazed and amused that I am doing this!

Today, once again, I placed my poppy on the plaque dedicated to the young Canadian Airmen who crashed in 1944 not far from here, yet so far from home.  A little later, I bumped into my friend in town and, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we stopped chatting, stood still and remembered in silence those who have fallen.

A brief film clip … no words needed.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

from the poem In Flanders Fields by John MacRae

Although his poem refers to the poppies in Northern France which are now our tokens of remembrance, sadly, since Flanders, there have been too many conflicts.

Today and on Armistice Day we remember those of every nation, race and creed who have died or been injured in war – and, of course, their families.

(Photo of poppies taken in Dorset in October)

It’s been just over a week since the party. These photos were taken by several people, mainly The Suave Devil.

Here, E looks very calm even though there is a strange and spooky being right next to her!

There was apple bobbing …
and dancing …

and smiling …

a sibling discussion about fangs …

and prizes for the best outfits given by guest judges to The Convict and Miss Dancing …

There were ghouls, witches and the Bride of Frankenstein.  Hannibal Lecter arrived with a showgirl!

Afterwards … in the small hours  …  a photo review of the evening … but by that time, I was snug in bed and asleep!

Last night we had an early Halloween Party and started celebrating the younger Mr Dancing’s special birthday which is today.

Earlier in the week, after looking through 40+ albums, scanning photos, sorting more recent digital images and doing quite a bit of maths, I managed to make a mosaic with each photo representing a year of his life.

Thank you for being such a wonderful son … love you loads … have a great day xxxx

]]> http://dancingonabladeofgrass.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/happy-birthday-5/feed/ 14 Dancing on a Blade of Grass 30 years Mosaic http://dancingonabladeofgrass.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/lunch-with-an-admiral-and-a-lady/ http://dancingonabladeofgrass.wordpress.com/2009/10/25/lunch-with-an-admiral-and-a-lady/#comments Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:58:42 +0000 Dancing on a Blade of Grass http://dancingonabladeofgrass.wordpress.com/?p=4695 ]]>

It was so warm in the garden today that we took our lunch outside.  At first there was a Red Admiral fluttering about – but by the time I picked up my camera, it was gone.  I did manage to take these of the Painted Lady.

For the Photo Group project this month, I’ve been trying to take a photo that conveys the theme of “Climate Friendly”. I’ve messed around with this image, taken outside the bike shop this afternoon, on a programme called Gimp to achieve a semi-abstract picture.

Does it say Climate Friendly to you?

]]> http://dancingonabladeofgrass.wordpress.com/2009/10/24/climate-friendly/feed/ 4 Dancing on a Blade of Grass shimano bike http://dancingonabladeofgrass.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/in-the-garden-today-2/ http://dancingonabladeofgrass.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/in-the-garden-today-2/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:09:34 +0000 Dancing on a Blade of Grass http://dancingonabladeofgrass.wordpress.com/?p=4674 ]]>

… the colours of the acers have changed into glowing luminous oranges, reds and yellows – an agapanthus has decided to flower again – verbena bonariensis is flowering vigorously – beautiful pepper pot seed pods sway atop poppy stems – there are vibrant green shoots on the Christmas tree and the fennel has taken on a spooky appearance.

I managed to de-frost the freezer AT LAST this morning and whilst waiting for the ice to melt, I slipped out into the garden.

Like this snail climbing on the fennel I, too, am having a slow kind of day.