Down the Vale for an hour, Friday 27.6.2025.

 Friday it was off down the Vale for an hour before meeting my mate for lunch at Morrison's.

The Coots are still mating and nesting, it must be this hot weather.

These are from an earlier brood, but still uncertain about leaving the nest to go out into that great big world out there. 

The mandarins are still about but un-recognizable without their colourful plumage.

A moorhen strutting it's stuff on the path, must be hungry to come this close. 

Plenty of herons about.

This one had an itch 

The Little Egret was on the path about 12 foot from me, but a cyclist road past and it flew on the back of the pond again, better luck next time.

Canadian geese goslings, getting quite big now.

 Crow enjoying a peanut, seems to have a gammy foot, but managing quite well at the moment.

Today, Monday 30.6.2025, it was too hot to be walking around the Vale or the Gorton ressers so stayed in and did some jobs, then it was off to Morrison's with my mate, but it was too hot for a large meal so it was just a bacon buttie each!.

Back home the front garden is still doing well and looking quite neat.

The red edging for my computer drawer hasn't arrived yet, coming from the suppliers and not Amazon so does take a little longer!, still no hurry, might come up with another idea for the surplus in the mean time.

Well that's June gone again, I hope July is a bit cooler, at least Alfie is enjoying this hot weather................................................... 

Wednesday down the Vale, 25.6.2025.

Wednesday it was down to the Vale for an hour before meeting up with my mate Chris for lunch at Morrisons.

The first thing I noticed was a pair of mandarin ducks on the top mill pond.

Male out of his breeding plumage, but still has his colourful beak.

His misses', though less colourful is still nicely marked.

Nice to see that the Little Egret is still on the top mill pond, though still on the far side.

And a heron close by peeping out of the undergrowth.

The swan family were on the far side seeing if a chap sat on a chair had any food, but soon left him when they saw my hat and came over to see what goodies I had for them.

One of the volunteers was trying to see them on the far side and said "how many cygnets are there" but he saw them coming over to me, so was quite happy to see the usual 5, I gave them all a good few handfuls of seed and they also had quite a lot of mealworms!. 

Parents were very wary though,  I didn't want to get too near, though in the past when they didn't have any babies I have fed them by hand which knowing Ivan the big male is a feat in itself!.  

Though it was a dull day with the threat of showers, it was warm enough to bring out a few of the bigger terrapins on the top mill pond.

The squirrels were out in force enjoying my apples.

The kids were happily splashing about in the shallows on the river, as I said dull but quite warm.

 Also enjoying the river were these Canadian geese and goslings

 but they also came running when they saw there was food.

The signage near too has been replaced describing how the banking has been strengthened and protecting the railway arches.

Not surprising when you see this kind of thing a bit lower down the river, near the info centre.  

Still a few Coots nesting, suppose the good weather is fooling them too. 

Youngster from an earlier brood, not got it's white forehead yet though.

 Doesn't take the crows long to get into a peanut and once they have had their fill, they gather up as many in their beak as possible, as they know they will all be snapped up before they get back from burying their loot.

The it was off to met my mate at Morrison's for a natter and meet some of the people we have met over the past months.

I had a three cheese toastie and a bowl of chips, whilst Chris was being good and having just a bacon buttie and helping me with a few chips of course.

Back home my pull-out shelf on my Computer stand was looking a bit shabby so I thought, I've still got some of that Fablon from my headboard!, so out with the measure and there was just enough!.

From this.

To this, but as I said when doing my small table the Fablon doesn't like bending, so ordered some of that red edging strip that looks so good on the little table, that's going to be a couple of days arriving though. 

The front garden is looking quite good at the moment, with all the edges covered in Tom Thumb and Lady thumb Fusias.

The centre there has a new hydrangea, which should be blue as ordered but that depends on the PH of the soil I believe, we shall see.

  

Yesterday was my 65th wedding anniversary, so on the way to the Bridge View Café today, called in at Crown point North shopping mall, always full there also, has a Clarks shoe shop!.

Was served by a very nice young Pakistani lady and had a chat whilst trying on the shoes, and she lives in Oldham as does most of my family!.

I left with a nice pair of shoes that had Gortex and explained I only buy Clarks these days because I've had Plantis which is a very painful foot condition, and she was surprised and said "I've just been diagnosed with that by my GP", so explained to her how I cured mine by making a rocker I'd seen on Youtube!, can get anything on Youtube can't you!.

I was amazed how much the price of them have gone up since the last time I bought some!, but what price your health hey!!.

................................

Harry keeps a record of all the food he eats,

it's called a tie!.

I had a ploughman's lunch the other day,

then he punched me!.

I went to a seafood disco the other day 

and managed to pull a mussel.
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Third week of June, 22.6.2025.

 The third week of June has been a scorcher, very nice but too hot for me and with my hay fever it's not been too good for me, it has rained in the night though, so that's been good for the gardens.

Monday it was off to the Vale and the Little egret was still there!, still on the other side of the pond though.

Get off my log you lot!!

It was a dull day but hot enough to bring the terror-pins out. 

A Little Grebe fishing on the top mill pond.

 The swan family were resting in the undergrowth on the lower mill pond, always one on guard.

 

Mallard family on lower mill pond.

Always Squirrels around for peanuts. 

Heron on lower mill pond.

Wednesday it was off to Tameside Hospital for my heart scan, and would you believe it, they found one!.

They haven't had a very good name recently so I was a bit apprehensive, but to my surprise it was beautiful inside, very clean, and the waiting area was a 100% better than the car showroom last week.

Would have been nice if someone had opened these roof windows, was like a greenhouse on the hottest of days.

Arrived there 10minutes before my appointment at 12-00 and 5 mins later my name was called and I was scanned and out by 12-15!, how's that for service!, only trouble was car parking, same as everywhere that though isn't it.

What did the chap who did the scan say!, "You can go now" , suppose will have to wait for the GP to contact me now!.

Friday    it was over to the Gorton ressers, only for a walk and sit on the benches under the trees for an hour before meeting my mate for lunch at Morrison's.

It was overcast but still very hot, but it didn't bother this lot!.

All the above from the Debdale sailing centre so all watched over by the instructors in rescue boats, 

The swan family.

What! only 4!.

But there was dad bringing up the rear with the last one.

  

Magpies love peanuts

The baby Coots were all doing well but some still expecting mum to get food from the bottom.

These two stood on the overflow, but there again they can't read what is says about not feeding them here!.

So it's been a good week, except the hour looking for a parking space at the hospital!, which I never found!, most spaces taken up by staff no doubt, I remember my daughter-in-law had her parking space take out of her wages!

Two of my great-grand children have birthdays today on the same day but a year apart, that's a coincidence for you!.

................................

Doctor, Doctor  I've hurt my arm in several places,

Well, don't go there any more.

Doctor, Doctor can I have a second opinion?,

 Certainly come back tomorrow!.

Doctor, doctor I feel like a pack of playing cards

"I'll deal with you later".

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