Dave's Blog

  Hi and welcome to today’s blog We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new handle. Nobody will know how “disconcerting” it has been, let alone embarrassing to have lady visitors to the caravan unable to properly close the bathroom door if using the toilet. However, I have been categorically assured that the replacement is on its’ way via the Royal Mail. But the cynic in me warns “don’t hold your breath!” We shall see! Thank you for reading Be safe, be careful and above all remember Don’t Predict The Future - CREATE It ! DAve x

Hi and welcome to my Personal Blog. Let us begin with an apology for the missing couple of day's posts, but these days were taken up with hospital visits and also our Wedding Anniversary (Sept.28th) 47 years ago I married Alison, the love of my life!   We were married by Rev'd John Flory in the Parish Church of St.Chad, Patchway, Bristol and then we had the reception at Stanshawes Court Hotel, Yate, Bristol. It was a brilliant day celebrating with family and good friends and then it was followed by a Honeymoon in Paignton. Life then rambled on quite happily although there were a few ups and downs, there were  some fantastic moments plus a few horrendous ones, some comedy and some tragedy.  We have been blessed with 2 brilliant daughters who make us so proud and a little boy who didn't actually make a successful transition from womb to world but he is still and always will be our son. Eventually after navigating the twists and turns of life's journey we ended up livin...

So having completed our fact-finding mission Dave and I submitted our findings to the Council, but (to cut a long story short) the project was curtailed because Dave had accepted a promotion and that meant he had to move to another local authority. This effectively brought an end to the plans as far as we were concerned and I returned to working with music and musicians, and dreaming of someday having a radio presence. Eventually I moved to Devon  (where I still live) - a move that proved to be very worthwhile. I retrained and reskilled and became qualified as a life coach but I also set up an artist management business and predominantly began working with bands.  For one particular band I put together a major 6 week tour (something that they had never done before) and took them to have 3 tracks recorded in a professional studio (owned at the time by 10cc's touring keyboard player Steve)  During this tour I became acquainted with a number of local radio presenters that re...

Hi today is a crisp late summer day here in North Devon and I have been out and about – it feels like autumn is just around the corner. My car has now been serviced and MOT need and the bill will arrive with me soon. So today I feel that I want to give you just a little insight regarding some of the work I do…… One of my earliest productions (Musical Director) I am a therapist, life coach and musician on my own account  But professionally.... . For many years I have been involved in the entertainment industry – playing in bands, broadcasting, and for the past 20 years or so I have been a senior member of a team in a company that provides theatrical drapes and backdrops plus lighting effects to the World’s entertainment industry Working with this company has enabled me to experience places that I could only dream off as a child and meeting people that I have only been able to admire from afar. However I still remember the words that my Dad said to me when I was a teenager and I had ...

Hi and welcome to the third part of this series of insights into my life that was leading to:- how I became and still am a broadcaster (and more) It has been an interesting journey for me and filled with WoW moments all along the way. So when we left the story last time I promised a bit of a wow moment so here goes….. Dave Wycherley and I were tasked by Halton Borough Council to investigate how they could help the up-and-coming musicians of Widnes and Runcorn.  After some research we identified that around the county several local authorities had provided Rehearsal space (the old church/the citadel) but others had gone a stage further and had provided recording facilities. So we just had to go and investigate! The first place we went to was a “studio“ near Ormskirk – sadly this was a great example of how not to build a recording studio – it was basically a rehearsal space – and even that was definitely lacking. It was located in the heart of an industrial estate without any form of...

Hi and welcome to my Personal Blog  Now I am the first to admit that I am not a full on eco-warrior but I do feel that trees being under an unnecessary threat (in my personal opinion) is not only bad for the trees in question, it will ultimately have an effect upon the environment (which may not be so good for us either!)* ©2021 wytchwynd photography To elaborate:- This tree has stood happily (to the bes t of my knowledge) and has been doing no harm to anyone for the past 20+ years. But now all of a sudden and "in the name of progress" it is in danger! I know that during the past 18 months, whilst being a necessary part of the eco system, it has also provided a home for a family of Magpies, something that had not been seen in any quantity on this section of the industrial estate prior to the Covid situation. So although it may be too late to stop the tree being removed and the verge being ripped up to make way for a footpath that will possibly never be used, I urge you to thi...

Hi and welcome to the first part in a series of posts about my life as the presenter of radio shows and the twists and turns along the way...... I thought that this way I could provide a small insight into another aspect of my life  - that of "The Merlin" - presenter on  Cauldron FM (The Sound Of Magick)   and  Capstone Radio - the sound of the North Devon Coast I began my radio "career" over 20 years ago when I was invited to be a guest on a radio station that was broadcasting under a Restricted Service Licence (meaning it was allowed to broadcast on FM for 4 weeks.  It was designed to provide a community based broadcast. The one I joined was HaltonFM and it was broadcasting to Runcorn / Widnes and part way towards Warrington. The presenter of the show I was on was a man called Dave Pichilingi (a name that was destined to become quite well known).  He went on to be a significant player within the local community - becoming a senior member of the staff at P...

Hi and welcome to today’s blog page. We are back home after a couple of nights in the caravan.  It has been a lovely weekend but sadly 2 nights are not really long enough.   ©️2021 wytchwynd photography Yesterday after a slow start in the morning we had to do battle with a problematic water system before heading off to Exeter for the afternoon.  That proved to be a tad expensive as I happened to say that I liked a wicker-style patio set that was on Special Offer in The Range.  Oh boy!   Guess who left the shop £140 poorer? On the plus side we had a lovely meal at Toby Carvery, Rydon Lane, Exeter (not a sponsored mention - but always happy to discuss) that was, as always, great value for money in an establishment that is clean, friendly and welcoming. After the meal we took a steady drive back to the caravan. This morning was a little fraught because I was feeling a wee bit tetchy over this on-going water issue but hopefully I will get something resolved this wee...

Hi and welcome to today's blog post called "Getting Back To Normal" After the midsummer madness that takes over North Devon dies down, life returns to its' calmer, relaxed, chilled out state of being.  The beaches become much less populated, the litter mountains disappear, the roads return to being roads instead of pedestrian walkways interspersed with the inconvenient things called cars....... and generally life becomes much better! ©2021 wytchwynd photography Now please don't get me wrong   because I really do appreciate the fact that visitors bring a lot of revenue into the North Devon cash registers - holiday camps, shops, bars, transportation etc.  And this year, more than ever, their return has brought that much welcomed revenue in spades!   But that said, there is always a flip side....... .... this year it has been more noticeable than ever (because of the restrictions placed on travel to foreign parts) - that these increased visitor numbers bring with the...

Hi everyone it's DAve Thank you for joining me on today's blog post.   Today is Wednesday and I really hope that it is less hectic than yesterday.  After a full day at the office and with Alison confined to bed after a very disturbed night I had to go to Barnstaple after work and collect a replacement fridge, because the other one "bit the dust" Photo: "Three Suns"  ©2021 wytchphotog The photograph featured above almost got me into trouble........ I spotted the reflection of the sun in three different places at the same time and because it was an unusual sight I decided to capture the image - well people thought I was "casing the joint" and they threatened to "call the Police" until I explained what I was doing and showed them the image. Because of the water situation at the caravan we checked with Tina about her impending visit at the weekend and her response was a very definite "of course I am coming to our caravan, why wouldn'...

Hi and thank you for joining me on today's blog post. It is Friday and later today I have a Zoom meeting with the fabulous Nicky Pattinson     As soon as that is finished I will be heading off to the caravan for the weekend. ©2010 wytchwynd photography The weekend is a meet up with our friends the Stewarts - them in their caravan and Alison and I in ours.    N o plans* made, it will simply be a weekend of what happens,  happens!  It is, however (because of a really weak internet connection at the site) very likely that I will not be able to get online to keep the blog updated.   If I do get the chance though the blog will be published on time as normal. *talking of plans it is amazing how quickly they can change - such as a phone call within 10 minutes of confirming an appointment to cancel the same appointment"   It is a fact that some people would become very upset by that but quite honestly what is the point? - If something has come u...

Hi and welcome to today’s post on my personal blog I have to say that life is good but it could be so much better - for example :- Alison could be the owner of a new hip!  OR We might not have been told that someone close has been confirmed as having cancer (albeit in the very early stages) OR I might not have had a blazing row yesterday with my brother - all because he chose to send me a snotty “woe is me” text. However, I work on the belief that the glass is half full not half empty. Alison today is a day nearer her hip replacement than she was yesterday! The relative has been told that she is in the very early (highly operable) stage and it is only in one spot! So what of my brother - well because he chose to send that text I got to release a lot of the tension and stress that had built up and that equals RESULT!!!! Thank you for reading - catch you again soon. TTFN DAve x

Hi it's DAve Well after a really nice weekend the time has come to go back to work but thankfully it is only a four day week. Yesterday  as I was walking up to collect my car from where it had been parked all over the weekend.  I spotted this in a tree - lined avenue in Ilfracombe.  I don't know what other people think but I personally think it is a thing of beauty. ©2021 Wytchwynd Photography I was going to add something else today but for the life of me I cannot remember what it was.  So on that note I am going to say BFN (Bye For Now) and I will be back again soon. Have a great day, Be safe, be careful and above all DON'T PREDICT THE FUTURE - CREATE IT! DAve

Hi I thought I would tell you a little bit of background information without pre-empting the book that will be written one day in the not near future.  It is a progressing work so here are a few things that you may (or may not) know about me 1. I am a musician 2. I am a photographer 3. I am a father 4. I am a husband 5. I love Aston Martins (but have not yet owned one) - and have held a Competition Driving Licence 6. I try to be eco - friendly (hence the electric chariot) 7. I am a life coach / Personal Development Consultant 8. I have been involved in entertainment all of my life 9. My wife once said "anyone that goes out with Dave Baxter wants their head looking at!" 10. We are approaching our "Golden" Wedding So there you go Thank you for taking the time to read this piece of stuff Have great day,  Live a life of Power and Passion, Be safe, Be careful,  And above all  remember Don't Predict The Future - CREATE IT! DAve xx 

  Hi it's Dave and welcome to my Personal Blog  ©2016 wytchwynd photography I have been pondering this point since I found it written in an old book of Gratitude that I completed some 3 years ago.  The original concept first came to my attention some time earlier in a publication by Lewis Howes that I was researching for a project I was creating. My personal challenge was to identify what my own 3 (personal) truths were at the time of writing BUT obviously something happened to distract me because I did not get round to answering the question and writing the affirmation statements to go with them. So in the light of this, today I am going to rectify that situation and so - why don't you join me and do it for yourself? That said here are my own 3 TRUTHS (they are still the same now as they were 3 years ago):- 1) Integrity        2) Gratitude         3) Service and the affirmation statements that accompany them are:- Each day I...

  Hi and welcome to today's quotation "accept that people don't owe you anything!"                              if you feel like sending me an email   click here

  Hi and welcome to today's quotation "Get rid of expectations around people"                             if you feel like sending me an email   click here

  Hi and welcome to today's quotation "See Beyond Boundaries" if you feel like sending me an email   click here

  Hi and welcome to today's quotation "What is coming always follows what has been!" if you feel like sending me an email   click here

  Hi and welcome to today's quotation "Excellence is an Attitude!" if you feel like sending me an email   click here