Autumn in Debdale November 2013

Today Pepe and I got wrapped up and went for a walk in Debdale Park!, though it was quite cold the sun was out and just the job for some pictures of the Autumn scenery.

Pepe in his woolly coat and me in my Aldi quilted jacket, nice and warm

Looking North

A few leaves left.

Looking over the reservoir towards the Donkey sanctuary, I see the paddocks I helped to erect in the early days of the sanctuary opening are still standing the test of time.   

 The orchard on the right there, not many leaves never mind fruit!.

 Latest art work installed in the park, that's the road to McDonalds on the left, thats where Pepe would rather be!.

Beyer Peacock of train fame was in this area and the founder is buried just a few hundred yards down the road. There is another art work like this outside Gorton library, that one is all white!.

Who is taking whom for a walk 

Some more nice colours 

Cotoneaster shrub

Yesterday (Sunday) it was dinner at Son John's where we met Grandson's lady friend and as usual Pepe had to get in the picture.

No show without punch springs to mind

Pepe playing gooseberry, two's company, three's a crowd Pepe!.

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That's all folks, hope you like the pictures, they are a lot better viewed in the warmth of the living room!.

Sunday at John's

Yesterday Pepe and I set off for John's for our Sunday lunch, John had said earlier that we would be surprised by the two missionaries that were coming to dinner with us, we had met missionaries there before!, but these two turned out to be rather special.

First they were not the ones that come knocking on your door when you are just sat down to your dinner, No these are Chinese speaking ones, One a Malaysian for Singapore who could already speak the language and the other a Samoan who before coming to Manchester had to go to Utah for 3 months to learn the  language, and I thought the hard part was knocking on doors!.

Here we are relaxing after dinner, and can these guys eat!!.

As you can see Pepe is rather smitten with the Elder Hare, perhaps its his air of authority, as you see he used to be a police officer in the Honolulu Police department, he said it was nothing like the TV Hawaii 05, book him Dano!!.

My hero

Can I be his police dog

 Friends

As a young man, notice the hair has gone now!

Quite a transformation to the young man in the suit and shows his commitment to his present calling.

Honolulu PD then Fresno PD ( California) then Utah as a missionary. 

I didn't have much time talking to the other Elder as he was playing the piano for us and then sat on the other side from me, perhaps my deodorant wasn't working, only joking guys.

Elder Hare then got out his Hawaiian guitar and gave us a few notes on that and said a chap in Ashton he met had given it to him!, I think he has that effect on people.

These two missionaries are to devote all their attention to spreading the gospel to the Chinese people in the area so you might see them in your local chippy spreading the word, and no doubt eating their way through a stack of  fish and chips!.

I'm sure their parents are very proud of them, two very nice pleasant guys.

Today went to the Stable Gate pub with friend Bob, his wife had already gone out for the day, so it was a good idea to take Bob out to dinner. 

The festive menu doesn't start until tomorrow, still we will be going again shortly no doubt and perhaps his wive will be avail_Abell next time.

Had a nice meal 2 for a tenner and 2 desserts for £2 can't beat that can you, of course the Christmas decorations are starting to come to light aren't they.

Stable Gate, Denton.

                                         

Ashton Precinct taken when my lady friend and I went there on Friday, couldn't do better than this one as I would have been thrown out, they don't like you taking photo's for some reason!.

Well that's all for now.

Here endeth the lesson.

Ellie the Vintage Broads Cruiser

Today Pepe and I went to the lake at Etherow to assist my mate Bob the Abell launch his prototype model boat, I was the filmmaker really whilst Bob setup and  sailed his boat.

This boat was designed by Paul Thomason off the Model Boat Magazine forum, and it's a hull with three different superstructures, and commissioned Bob to make the first prototype (Vintage Broads cruiser version) after seeing his efforts with his Great Eastern, which had had three articles in Model Boat magazine and appeared in the "Coast" program about laying the first telegraph cable to America .

Back to the "Ellie", the plans for this boat are for sale now that Paul is satisfied that all the wrinkles with Bob's help are all ironed out, and the proceeds will all go into a charity.

Click here for Paul's charity details

As you can see the maiden voyage went very well, it hadn't even been wet until the lake today, there's confidence for you, so well done Paul the designer and Bob the builder!.

Enjoy the video and if you like the boat perhaps this could be your next build and we have the prototype builder in the club if you run into any trouble, can't get better than that can you.

           

Click here for the thread in Model Boats on the complete build

More good publicity for our club .

Good day at the lake, made better still with an excellent dinner in Bob's campervan!.

Thats all for now folks.

Last week Nov 2013

Last week was quite busy, as it was my lady friends birthday on the Sunday she stayed at her daughters and I picked her and one of her G/daughters up on the Monday morning. One was back to school and the other was still on holiday, as usual messing the parents about with their work commitments!

So it was off to pick up the two ladies and then off to Bakewell, when we got there the place I usually park in at Bakewell, the road was closed as it was market day!, which I hadn't realised, still it was off over the river to the big car park there and managed to squeeze in there,then a short walk back to the town centre over the bridge.

The river was very wild, full and murky after the rain we had had so there wasn't much chance of seeing the big trout this time, the ducks and geese seemed to be enjoying it though, must have been stirring up the water bugs for them.

 Though nice and sunny it was quite cool, still you can get wrapped up can't you!.

Just crossed over the bridge from the carpark

Feeling the wildfowl, Pepe fighting for his share.

Feeling blue

Pretty as a picture.

That's my favourite! she say's, and mine but I'm looking in another direction aren't I.

 The girls favourite.

Then it was walk round the shops and a stroll to the Lime Tree Cafe which we had been in before and liked the meals, though sitting outside this day was a bite too far!, upon inquiring inside they were quite happy to let dogs dine inside, so all was well and we all had a lovely meal of chicken minestrone soup ( never heard of that before) and the sandwich which we had ordered as well we could have done without, still we managed and it did the trick of warming us up for another stroll round the market stalls.

Came upon these artists collecting for charity, and when we had donated they moved and came up with this photo frame!.

 Nice one Jessica.

The market was in full swing and I got some good books at two for a fiver, must go there again.

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Friday was a day out to Buxton and though it was drizzling most of the day it didn't dampen our spirits, its the company that matters isn't it?.

I enquired at the Railway Pub near the carpark and they don't let dogs in but told us of three places that did, which was nice of them wasn't it.

We made our way to the Old Clubhouse Inn opposite the Opera House and there we had a nice meal and Pepe was as good as gold with never a murmur out of him.

Look at that not a crumb in sight.

Two meals for £11, two coffees each, a tip and a doggie bag for Pepe's dinner all for £20!. I certainly know how to show a girl a good time hey. Still the lady likes the simple things in life, perhaps that's why she likes me!!.

A service for the central heating, a new battery charger for the big camera as well, so a busy week with a visit to Etherow yesterday to round it off nicely, though the heavens opened again on the way home.

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Remember when the police didn't hide behind trees on the side of busy roads with radar guns, but took their chances out in the traffic like everybody else?.

The doctor told me I would have to limit my drinks to one a day, I'm now up to March 25, 2019.

Fred the boozer has finally given up drink, for the sake of his wife and kidneys.

That's all for now folks 

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