Dave's Blog

So here I am back from a fantastic trip to Cornwall.   Catching up with work stuff is taking such a long time that I will not get back to blogging properly until next week. In the meantime here is a pic of Tina and I taken by Alison during lunch in Charlestown on Day 1 of the Great Adventure! So thank you for taking the time to read this post, have a fantastic week! Be safe, be careful and above all remember Don’t Predict The Future - CREATE It ! DAve x PS. if you wish to connect with me please send an email to:-  davethemerlin@mail.com

Hi it's DAve - the wandering bard, itinerant photographer, husband, author and other interesting (well to me anyway) bits and pieces. Sometimes things happen, articles may be read, something might have appeared on TV that makes me think "what on earth???"                                Now I don't think that I am refusing to "move with the times"!  However, the subject I refer to in the video above really had me shaking my head "in despair" - children are children!, they learn by experimenting and possibly (or more importantly), through play.  Their imagination fuels that process and allows them to broaden their horizons. In fact, if we take that thinking one step further.....  what if a little girl wanted to dress as a boy, would anyone call that sinister, strange or odd? I very much  doubt it! So my feelings are this:- if a child wants to experiment with clothing then we should let them...

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 ...

Welcome to today’s post I have 1st to apologise for missing yesterday’s (thanks to a rather upset tummy) Because of this we were unable to go to the caravan and sadly had to disappoint the friends we were supposed to be meeting there. That said today I feel a lot more like my normal self and have just come back from a walk around the pier and harbour in the sunshine. It is surprising that there is a high number of people around – the car parks are full, boats appear to be fully laden as they make their way out into the open ocean (or channel) The water is really calm and a beautiful shade of blue. The shops and restaurants along the harbour side appear to be doing a brisk trade as are the gift shops and all along the harbour you lungs are filled with the heady mix of sea air and the aroma of Fish and Chips.      oooOOOooo Thanks for being there and thank you for reading this post! Please check back again on Monday for the next update Have a great day, be safe be careful a...

Hi and welcome to the second part of this insight into my life as a radio presenter.  Runcorn Town Hall (unknown photographer) When we left the story at the end of Part 1 we had reached the point where I had been approached by Dave Wycherly (Halton Borough Council's Arts Development Officer) with a view to me joining his team based at Runcorn Town Hall (pictured above).  Although this was a voluntary post it brought the strength of the team to the grand total of 2! Between us we were charged with the development of, and the raising awareness of, The Arts in the Borough of Halton.  This was by no means an easy task but it was one that we felt we could bring to justice! One of the first things that was accomplished was the addition of a live music tent at the up and coming Spike Island Festival.  This event was actually sited on Spike Island which was very close to a major chemical plant.  The event included all of the usual fair type attractions plus a superb ski...

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 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 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, it’s Dave and thank you for joining me for today’s blog. Image by Wytchwynd Photography For the past few weeks Ilfracombe has been hosting “a Fair”  although the people who used it appeared to enjoy the 4 rides. By my standards “the fair” left plenty to be desired! However the people who visited seemed to enjoy the experience. Image by Wytchwynd Photography Admittedly I have been spoiled because I grew up in Stockton Heath where we had an annual fair that probably had some 15 large rides, plus roundabouts, swing boats and plenty of "slideshows" where you could win "Kiss Me Quick" hats, £10 notes, watches and many other items of treasure all for less than 50p.   Call me nostalgic for the "the days of my youth" if you will, but a Fair really was a fun experience with thrills, excitement and Candy Floss! Thank You for taking the time to read this, I will be back again soon. Have a fantastic day, live a life of Passion and Power, and above all remember Don...

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?  

 Today is Owen’s birthday (how he managed to get to 19 nobody knows!) and he is well on the way to becoming a fully qualified electrician.  So he will soon be someone who has a career for life. Dawn has gone off to her new job this morning - talk about a baptism of fire!  It’s her first day with a new family and they are going for a walk up to The Cairn and over The Torrs (one of 3 hills that form part of the 3 Peaks Challenge - Best of Luck Dawn! Alison and I had planned a trip to Barnstaple prior to us all getting together at Adey’s for birthday afternoon. As things turned out I had to head over to Kentisbury to collect my Reel to Reel tape deck from a friend’s widow.   On the way home I and many other vehicles were diverted off the main road as a result of an accident on the “coast road”.  That diversion took well over an hour to get through. As a result the get together was relocated to our house and very pleasant it was too plus it meant we were able to see...