In The Pink

I am working at home today while my truck has a new cam belt fitted and have promised to take time out every once in a while to send pictures of Edward Cullen to my friend who is stuck in the office! We had a lovely evening out last night perusing the new shops in town and ending up dining at Wagamamas indulging ourselves with their renowned Yasai Katsu Curry: (Sweet potato, aubergine and butternut squash deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs, served with a curry sauce and sticky white rice, garnished with mixed leaves and red pickles.) Food doesn't get much better than that, but my family has come up with a recipe or two that compare! Anyway our conversation also strayed to Daniel Craig who recently took a lead role in a very nice dream I had and I thought I would send her a nice picture of him too! Although Sean Connery has always been my favourite Bond I have to say Daniel is the best and just perfect for the new and more true to the original character of Bond. Anyway these two shot...

Spring is in the air!!!! No really, I have detected the first wiffs of Spring, Summer is just a few short months away! I have really noticed the nights getting longer too as the early nights hamper me for work. I can now work outside until 5pm in some cases, dependant on the size of the trees I am looking at. Big trees are still silhouetted in poor light so many things could be missed during an inspection. Smaller trees and hedgerows can still be assessed.

I have started a music club for my nephew this year. As a member he gets 6 free cd's a year which I am attempting to select from the best of all genre to give him a good taste of what's been and what's out there. I am having so much fun thinking about it and my fella and I have just been sitting and chatting about which albums are up there and best represent a particular music style. I already have a list of cd's to cover the next three years and it is hard not to send him several every month but I do not want to overload him. I would rather give him a chance to have a really good listen to something and make up his own mind. If he wants to then further pursue an artist or genre he can. I am very excited about what he will think of different artists and can't wait to chat to him about it throughout the months and years to come. Image Credit: University of Brighton

This is my truck...well I say my truck but I actually bought it for the pups, hence the name. I have always loved pick ups however would not have one without decent justification as they are gas guzzlers but when we got the pups I needed something safe for them to travel in as they come to work with me most days. I work out doors so they get to run around with me and then sleep in the truck which serves as a large mobile kennel. They love it and it is virtually impossible for me to get out of the house without them in the morning! Another reason for my choice in vehicle was sound proofing to protect my ears from the barking and associated distraction when other dogs or motorbikes go by, or when someone drives too close to us. One of the pups also gets very excited sometimes (anyone who knows Shepherds will understand!) and the sound can be deafening and again very distracting. It is not uncommon for me to be sat in the truck in stationary traffic with the entire vehicle rocking from si...

God Bless You Tube! This song sends me, and I have seen Stephen sing it live twice!!!!

I have been getting back into the habit of taking my camera everywhere with me again after a spell of not doing so. The other night I went out at sunset with the dogs and headed for a good vantage point. These are two of the snaps from my recent trips. I saw this foal when it was just born in the summer last year. It has grown so much although is still very young and timid. It came over after I took this shot for a nuzzle!

This is our postman who was out and about today delivering letters in the snow.

Well apparently the UK is covered in snow again...except where I live. Throughout the day today various offices of our company and bordering our county have shut down due to snow and we have nada! I drove home listening to the radio taking requests from teachers that are grateful for the delay from returning to school as many are closed due to the weather. Apparently they are all dreading going back! Their song choices were funny and a little sad too! The best example being this. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now - The Smiths I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour ...But heaven knows I'm miserable now ...I was looking for a job, and then I found a job ...And heaven knows I'm miserable now ...In my life ...Why do I give valuable time ...to people who don't care if I live or die? Great song, not a good attitude as a teacher! I know the picture is not related but it is Morrissey and I like it) Image Credit: Peta2

Tomorrow will be my first drive to work without the company of Terry Wogan. Johnny Walker is standing in at present until Chris Evans starts. I am not looking forward to it! Anyway, I thought a little compilation CD of some tracks guaranteed to make me smile and dance, well shuffle in my seat, would help the day get on its way. These are the songs I have chosen so far: Abba - Does your mother know Wild Cherry - Play that funky music Queens of the Stoneage - In my head Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing Robert Plant - 29 palms, Big log Amy MacDonald - Mr Rock & Roll BB King - When it all comes down, Better not look down, Hold on Some of Terry's favourites in there! Anyway that should put a smile on my face! If tomorrow is your first day back too I wish you happy thoughts and an early finish! Image Credit: San Francisco State University

I have been making the most of the blogger profile facility to find other like minded bloggers. For those that may not have checked it out if you go to your profile page the answers you left there for your favourites book, film etc have become links and when clicked on will take you to a list of bloggers that have the same interests and listings. I now know that there are three bloggers, including myself, that have put The Adventures of Goodnight and Loving by Leslie Thomas as one of their favourite books. It's been a while since I went blogger hunting but it is always a rewarding experience, although I usually come across several blogs worshipping either Britney Spears or Sarah Jessica Parker. Hey each to their own. There are atleast 25,000 bloggers who have listed Porcupine Tree as a favourite band. (Good call!) It may take me some time to visit all of them!

I have been trying to buy tickets to see Jeff Beck for some time now. Last year he was either sold out or you had to be a American Express Gold Card Holder to buy a ticket, whatever that is, probably not something I will experience in my lifetime! Anyway, tickets are up for his October 2010 performance and I have been visiting the site for days waiting for the platinum tickets to sell so I can buy some normal tickets that don't cost over £100! I think that until they fill these seats they won't start selling the cheap seats. I say cheap but he is playing The Symphony Hall Birmingham so how bad can any seat be? A friend and I went to a gig at Wembley Arena once and will never go and see anyone there again, the sound was beyond dreadful and it amazes me that bands actually play there at all. It was Steely Dan I went to see there before by the way, and on the upside I did have a great night out with my mate and got very close to Donald Fagen at one point! Not too close, he has a ...

It's here, the 1st January 2010! I love the first day of the year and always get very excited. It is a beautiful day here to boot. The sun is shining over a frosted landscape and all is chipper in my household! Anyway I am too excited to stay here at my PC and am off out to play! Bye for now!!!!