Dave's Blog

  Standing The Norm On Its' Head There are a number of "common sense" rules for running a successful business and it is my contention that one of the most important has been immortalised by Sir Richard Branson!) In my early days working for the Boots Company Ltd. it was impressed upon me that the customer was always right (even if they were wrong)!  This statement is a maxim that still holds true today. The belief and standing instruction was   "always take care of the customer!" Every business course I have ever attended has always placed its' focus on the same point - that being - the customer is "king" and must always be "taken care of and put first!".  However, Mr Branson has added a further dimension to this!  He has taken the situation, and stood it on its head, and I have to say that I totally agree with him! He states "Clients Do Not Come First!  Employees Come First!  If you take care of your employees, they will take care o...

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!

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 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...

Good Morning and Merrie Meet Welcome to today's blog! "Flat Calm - next stop America"  It is a beautiful, blue sky day and as you can see in the photo the sea is a wonderful Flat Calm. It is at times like this when living in North Devon has significant plus points that come into play. The crowds have diminished, the roads are much quieter and safer and we are able to enjoy the late Summer Sunshine in comfort. This weekend is #3 with friends and the caravans, it is also "hopefully" the last one we will spend with a leaking shower unit. If I am lucky, I might get some time to write a few forward posts for the blogs, get some lyrics on paper for the latest album I want to record PLUS get some more photographs up on the Moor. BUT THEN AGAIN -  I may do none of those things and just CHILL! We will have to see. Anyway - whatever you choose to do with your weekend make it a great one and enjoy oooOOOooo Thanks for being there and thank you for reading this post! Please...

Hi and welcome to my Personal Blog At 7.30am this morning I was on a mission!   Image - ©2021 wytchwynd photography We had run out of black rubbish bags and the alarming way we generate rubbish chez nous means that this was a far from satisfactory situation. So whilst I was wandering the streets making my way to the local Premier store that proudly proclaims that it is open at 7.30am every morning, there we the normal people exercising both themselves and their pampered pooches BUT there were NO BLACK BAGS anywhere because the early morning shop was CLOSED! But, what I did come across was the stunning sight of the Landmark Theatre bathed in the most beautiful morning sunlight and standing against a stunning backdrop of grey clouds interspersed with patches of blue sky.   I was so in awe of the sight I just had to take the photograph for this blog. ......and what of the black bags? A friendly neighbour just happened to have a spare one and saved the day! oooOOOooo Tha...

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 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 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 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

  Hi and welcome to today's quotation "Do what needs to be done, then stop!" if you feel like sending me an email   click here

   Hi and welcome to today's quotation "The greatest space has no corners" if you feel like sending me an email   click here