Dave's Blog

It is surprising what shows up in a Car Park! Photographed by Dave Baxter 01/10/21 oooOOOooo Thank you for reading this post and check back again soon   If you want to email me -  Click Here! Have a fantastic day, be safe, be careful and above all remember - Don't predict the future - CREATE IT!

Hi and thank you for joining me on today's blog post coming from a very dull and overcast top of the hill here in Ilfracombe.   The sky all around is grey and there is a modest breeze blowing.  I cannot see the Bristol Channel today - something that is normally visible from my office window. Last night I had a wonderful "catch up" with Marc over a couple of drinks at The Thatched Inn - it seemed very odd going to a pub to have a drink for the first time in many, many months.  It also seemed weird having to sit outside and order the drinks through a serving hatch. But, I detract from the main topic of today's post - the controversial subject of a lady called "Verity" "Verity" is a sculpture created by the artist Damien Hirst and this piece has been on loan to the town but that loan period is sadly* coming to an end. During this time she has been a major talking point and whether or not you like her, she has brought a large number of visitors to Ilfr...

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 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 it's Dave Welcome to Friday's post from "Yours Truly" After bending you ear yesterday about "stuff" I decided that today I would write a lighter post.  Later today we are heading off to cause madness and mayhem at our caravan - we being Alison, Tina and I. ©2010 wytchwynd photography  ©2010 wytchwynd photography However the adventure really began last night (Thursday) when Alison and I had to go to our friends and  fellow caravan owners - The Stewart Family to pick up something affectionately known as "The Twatting Hammer" (I hope I have the strength to wield it). This remarkable piece of kit is ideal for knocking the pegs into the hard standing area (which almost has the strength of concrete) so we will be able to put the awning up. But first we have an important funeral to attend tomorrow morning and then back to the local golf club for a buffet.   Then mid afternoon I will be heading off to pick up the girls and away we go for our mad weekend...

Hi and welcome I hope that you have had a wonderful weekend - I know that I have!   So I thought having had such a great time I would devise a list of things that make up my ideal day! I wake up naturally and take my time preparing to greet the day ahead. I visit the bathroom, wash and clean teeth and spend 5 minutes in contemplation I dress and make a cup of coffee then  I write both my journal and my gratitude list  I visit my to do list and start working towards completing the things I have to do I clean my cameras ready for the photo shoot(s) that are booked I write any emails that I need to send    and read over my blog notes / planner    and having done this I start writing the new post After I am happy with that it is time to have lunch and then say bye to Alison if she is not coming with me. I (or We) leave the house and choose which vehicle we will use - if it is a country shoot we will probably take the Range Rover but if it is a town / city ...

Hi it is Dave and thank you for joining me on today's blog post The full title of this post is  "Unhappy people want what they want to make them happy!  Happy people want what they want Just For The Hell Of It!" ©wytchwynd photograpy How often have you come across a fellow like the one above?  He is most definitely one of the first group of people.   A number of years ago I worked with someone just like that - every day we worked together he would look in the mirror and say "I don't look well do I Dave?" I often passed a comment about him being "miserable" and he would always say "leave me alone, I'm happy!" On the other hand............. seeing this guy always makes me happy!   I met up with him during a special celebration of Aardman Animations in Bristol.  He was only too happy to oblige with a photograph. ©wytchwynd photography So thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Have a great day, be safe, be careful and rememb...

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 today is the 1st September - where on earth has that year gone? I don't know about you but it really does not feel that long since we were celebrating my birthday back in January! So today I feel like talking a little about my love of the entertainment industry.  I came into this life at a very early age and despite all of his efforts Dad did not win the battles. Quite the contrary - he often spoke with pride about the work that the company I am part of do and my role within that company.  He marvelled at the fact that the work we do transports people into a different world for a couple of hours. And as I head towards my 21st year as a full time participant in this world of magick and entertainment,  it still does not feel real! -  b u t t h e n a g a i n Is it real or is it all an illusion?  

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

Today we decided that we needed to go to PC World, Barnstaple in order to try again to collect Dawn's watch, however, the watch had still not been delivered as had been advised.  It seems that the driver had been running late and as a result he decided that he would give up - so no items were delivered to the store.  That now means she has no idea when the watch will be delivered. After that we decided to head over to Lynmouth and go somewhere for Sunday Lunch.  We selected the Beggars Roost and made our way there, arriving in good time for lunch.  I went to pick up the menus and was horrified to discover the the prices were:- 1 course £17 each, 2 courses £23 each, and the full 3 courses £27 each and all of those prices did not include drinks! So from there we drove to the Hunter's Inn near Heddon's Mouth where we had a wonderful meal and drinks for a much more reasonable £51. Having eaten we took a steady drive back to Ilfracombe via Combe Martin ( the village that ...

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 the quotation for today........  "A ball is a round object with various uses" if you feel like sending me an email  click here

   Hi and it is time for today's short Coffee Break & Quotation Continuing our words of wisdom from John Paul deJoria  (co - founder of Paul Mitchell Systems)  "If you are fearful find the unknown, because when you find that there is no need to be fearful!" oooOOOooo email - davethemerlin@mail.com alternative blog - alteredimagecoaching.co.uk

  Hi and it is time for today's short Coffee Break & Quotation Continuing our words of wisdom from John Paul deJoria  (co - founder of Paul Mitchell Systems)  "Look for the good and move forwad with a positive attitude - put your message out there - Be Free!" oooOOOooo email - davethemerlin@mail.com alternative blog - alteredimagecoaching.co.uk

   Hi and it is time for today's short Coffee Break & Quotation Continuing our words of wisdom from John Paul deJoria  (co - founder of Paul Mitchell Systems)  "Don't be someone who spreads gossip " oooOOOooo email - davethemerlin@mail.com alternative blog - alteredimagecoaching.co.uk

THE SPECTRE OF LOCKDOWN LURKS ON THE HORIZON We need to be sensible and act not react It is hard, but  we can get through th is! REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE This situation will not last forever IF YOU WANT TO REMAIN SANE DON'T WATCH THE NEWS give yourself a break. We Can Do This! FACE IT TOGETHER!