Welcome to my new Blog



Welcome to my Blog.
My Blog is mostly about my hobbies, ie Model boats, Cross Stitch, Gardening, Days out and about, Lego Technics and Photography you might recognize the hat rather than me. My models and other hobbies can be found in the Tabs at the top below the header picture.
There will also be entries of days out with my camera, weather permitting of course.

Monday 22 December 2014

Wet and windy today 2014

Wet and windy today 2014.

On a visit to the lake at Etherow today there were still a few regulars about, even with the wet weather, the children are off school as well, plenty of fuss for Pepe!.



The birds always seem to be hungry, I suppose its get it whilst you can this weather.


The badger sett still seems to be in use, plenty of digging going on.


How are these trees staying up in the high winds we have had the past few weeks?.



The swans with their admirer
King Tut the Egyptian Goose


Chasing off a rival.

Happy now!.

The weather vane on top of the Cafe.
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You might have seen this before but it's worth another look!

                             

Thats all for now folks.
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The only thing I took up at school was Space!

Success is relative. 
The more success the more relatives.
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Sunday 21 December 2014

Out and about Dec 2014

Out and about Dec 2014.

Whilst out and about this past week Marjorie and I had a visit to her favourite place Hyde!.
We called in at Specsavers has she wanted a pair of Varifocals instead of having to keep taking her glasses on and off  all the time, she had told them at an earlier visit she had floaters in her eyes, but by now they had flashing lights added, now flashing lights might be the in thing at this time of the year but not inside your eyes!, Specsavers staff said you must get down to the eye hospital as soon as possible, which we did on the Thursday. we went into the Emergency eye clinic and there saw the triage nurse, drops were added and told to wait, then it was into see another nurse who said she had two tears and a detached retina!, you must have that done right now they said as soon as the doctor is available, so we went to the Cafe next door and after a nice tea went back and after a while the job was done. 
Though we were there six hours it didn't seem that long as we were chatting to people in the same condition and funnily enough a family from Reddish and another from Denton, just up the road from where we live!, Marjorie soon had them all laughing and talking, what a woman, Didn't show any fear of the situation but like all of us must have been feeling it, glad I was there to help in some small way.
The staff and doctors at the Manchester Eye hospital are all great as I know when I had my cataracts done there.
We went into the Specsavers the next day to thank them for their expert advice, cannot praise them enough!.

On a happier note I went to the Lake yesterday and saw a few of the regulars at the Cafe, then friends Bob and Joyce arrived and we had a coffee and toasted teacake each.


Joyce with little Noddy, very hapt name has it had a brain disorder and its head was like one of those you see in the back of cars, seemed happy enough though, made Joyce's day anyway!


Some more of the regulars with their dogs

The Village Christmas tree.

Compstall village square and Christmas tree, you can just see the church tower behind the Post Office.

Though I'm a confirmed townie, I often think it would be nice to live in a village setting and then the thought of the winter closes in and I come back to reality!.

John being the considerate Guy he is sent me an early warning about Sunday dinner this week, as he has a heavy cold and sore throat and though I was welcome to go to Sunday dinner as usual, he thought I'd better decide for myself as I'd not long got over the same thing, I declined and took Marjorie to our favourite watering hole "The Stable Gate" for Sunday lunch and very nice it was too, and they were all genuinely pleased to see Marjorie back again after seeing me on my own on Friday evening without her, she had gone home early, no doubt tired after the busy day before at the hospital.

Then it was over to Daisy Nook for a look round and a nice coffee and cake, (Between us) not tight but both thinking of the Cholesterol!!.
So all in all a nice day's outing and letting people know we were still in circulation.

Think it will be "The Lake" tomorrow for Me and Pepe ,has its hair day for Marjorie, with Christmas coming up, think I'll have to have a cut and shine myself don't want to show her up. both going to our respective families for Christmas Day, at least if we fall asleep after a big Christmas dinner we will look respectable!.
   
 Its the Frostbite Sail at the Club on The day after Boxing Day, there is sailing for the hardy and hot soup, mince pies and apple pie with custard for the not so hardy. the bar is open and there will be tea and Coffee, so a good chance for a good chat and the ladies turn out as well which is always nice to see.
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Air traffic control to Aer Lingus.
"Identify yourself and what is our height and position?"
"I'm Captain Paddy Murphy, I'm Five feet two, and I'll be sitting at the Front!"
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The little old spinster rang Telecoms complaints department,
"The cord on my phone is too long, could you pull it back a bit at your end" she asked.
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Of course it must be remembered that Alexander Graham Bell invented TWO phones!
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Fred had been contemplating the worlds population. 
"Its amazing Gladys" he said "Everytime I breathe in and out, Someone dies"
"Have you tried Mouthwash" said Gladys  
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An elderly spinster approached the pearly gates and knocked, "Who is it " asked St Peter.
"It is I" came the reply.
"Oh No" muttered St Peter, not another school teacher!"
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St Peter, "How did you get up here?.
New arrival "Flu".
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Its the way I tell em!.

That's it for now folks 

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Nearing Christmas 2014.

Nearing Christmas 2014.

Been out and about with my lady friend Marjorie mostly to our favourite haunt Hyde Shopping Mall and all the shops in there, there is also a nice cafe there "The Rendezvous Cafe" where the staff are very friendly and the food is very good, and the place is nice and clean, there's a nice clean set of toilets upstairs too. Have seen a number of friends there too so we are not on our own with our views of the place.


The decorations in the Mall are really nice and this past week there has been a local school singing there, better than classes I suppose but it was for charity so they are learning something there hey!



Saturday Night, Marjorie and I went to the Ashton Chapel to see and hear the Carol Service there and the theme this year was the centenary of WW1 and between the choir singing there were clips from a video, also the video from the LDS church on the meaning of Christmas "He is the Gift" ie it's not all about shopping and tinsel. 

Sunday saw me out doing a bit of shopping for dessert for after Sunday dinner at Son John's where there were a couple of missionaries dining that we had sat and chatted to the previous evening.
Pepe was a hit with this missionary has he had one at home in Utah, though not as hairy as Pepe!
Pepe in very good and let's everyone pet and stroke him, not that he gives them much choice in the matter, he's on their knee before they know it.


Relaxed waiting for the doggie bag he always get's to take home.

On the way to John's called at Aston Park Garden Centre to get some filter stuff for the fish tank and they have the usual Christmas decorations everywhere, nice for the children isn't it.
 An animated singing Snowman, roll on the spring and all the plants are out again, still so as not to appear a Scrooge there are some good things for Christmas, ie parties, shows and these little fellows!.

Great picture taken by my mate Bob, on an earlier visit to Etherow Park, which is our favourite place.

And just to show he is good at other things too, a picture of his current building project!, that's five feet long and 18 inches wide, a lot of  boat!.



Well that's it for now, might get another post in before Christmas, but if not I will leave you with my picture of a Robin and my Best Wishes for a, well the picture say's it all doesn't it.
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Its illegal to make liquor privately, and to make water publicly.

"This pen leaks", said the prisoner as the rain came in through the roof .

He got a letter from his wife, "Fred I missed you yesterday, Come home and let me have another shot"
Gladys.

He was so lazy he had his window box concrete over.

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That's all folk's


Tuesday 9 December 2014

Dogs Trust Manchester 2014

At the weekend (Sunday) I went to the Christmas Fayre at the local Dogs Trust, just to give them some support not to get another hound!, one hairy critter is enough!.

View at the entrance

Inside 


Up the stairs to the Cafe

In the cafe and then through the door on to the veranda viewing platform.

Outside in the training and play area.





Just hope their new home is as nice and carefree as this!, sadly some will not be once the novelty wears off.


 Relaxed even though there were hundreds of people there


Saw this poster in a magazine whist having a drink in the Cafe, hopefully Pepe thinks so!.


Bought Pepe an early Christmas present.
You can see the idea, twist the wheels and dials to get at the treats, I know they can smell them, but the idea was to figure out how to get the treats out!.
It was a total waste of money, He was getting the treats out faster than I could put them in, then started to chew the wood as well, don't think John's dogs would be any better, they would just shake them out I suppose.
Still it was nice to see all the dogs and I was surprised to see a lot of people I knew there, even though I didn't have Pepe with me "The Hat" gives me away.

Today went to the Lake and you can see the wild and windy time I had there.


Sat in the car and had lunch, too cold to sit outside with Pepe. still on track with my Cholestrol as long as I don't eat anything until a week on Friday!.

On the dog theme, if you want to get your dog a christmas pressie try here.
One of our friends daughters!.

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The henpecked husband reached the end of his tether  and said "I'm leaving you and going off to join the foreign legion"
"Well don't come back traipsing sand through the house she said!"

Two husbands leaning on the bar.
"Did you give your wife a lecture on economy like I told you?.
"Yes I certainly did"
"And what was the result?.
"I've got to give up smoking!.

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Thats all folks

Saturday 6 December 2014

Cool Saturday.

Cool Saturday

Went to the lake this morning and I wasn't disappointed to see no one there, it was quite cool and come to that there wasn't many in the park!, I had the Cafe to myself but still couldn't go in with Pepe, still rules are rules, but I can assure you under the table would have been cleaner after we left had we been sat inside, no crumbs with Pepe!.
On a walk round and to put up a Christmas message for the lads in the club saw this nice little fellow looking for his breakfast, seemed to enjoy a few of Pepe's treats crumbled up on the table near the gate.







Found this Robin on a website and thought it looked just like my Pepe!.


 King Tut, the Egyptian Goose, looking for his pals the swans!. 

 The sign I've put up on the landing stage for the lads, it applies to you all as well!.



The lake was mostly frozen over today, with only a bit for the ducks and geese to feed on.


On our travels this week popped into the Plant shop at Crown Point opposite Lidl, to see the decorations and got some fairy lights for Bob's boat interior, but I think his wife as claimed them for her tree!.
The point I was going too say is that they were half the price of the bigger garden centre we looked in the next couple of days, just shows you, you have to shop around these days!.

Just a big kid really 

Nice display 


Puts you in the mood for Christmas?, or are you fedup already?.


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Colin joined Joggers Anonymous, When ever he feels like a run they send someone round with a dozen bottles to talk him out of it!.

Children, what a comfort in old age, And how soon they bring it on!.

"I hear you finally cured little Fred of biting his nails".
"Yes we pulled his teeth out!".
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"Its the way I tell em"

Thursday 4 December 2014

Nice day at the lake

Nice day at the lake, 4th  Dec 2014.
Just back from a trip to the lake, and after a walk for Pepe we were sat at the Cafe chatting with friends from what I call the"breakfast club", when I saw the Campervan of my friends Bob and Joyce arrive!.
Bob came over for two coffee's as he had drained off the water in the camper, it got well down on the old thermometer last night!, "Come over for a spot of lunch Duckie" he said, "I'll be cooking shortly", not one to miss a free meal, saves me cooking, well microwaving that is, not real cooking that is it!.
Joyce and I  had a nice beans on toast, whilst Bob had spaghetti, then it was Rice pudding for afters and another coffee from the Cafe, Nice one Bob!.
It was ideal watching the sailors sailing their boats through the windows of the camper, better than out in the cold, my throat isn't quite up to this weather yet, I know it sounds like I'm a bit of a wimp but you have to watch yourself these days don't you especially when you already have a bad throat.

This past week we went to the Club Christmas dinner, if you want to see the event in glorious colour Click here.
  
A couple of days ago on a trip round the lake I spotted this cute little duck having a bath, even in this weather they have to clean and oil their feathers to keep waterproofed don't they!.



 Splash it all over, Essence of Etherow.

Got to get every feather 

Yes, loverly Jubbly 

 Cheeky thing, sticking his tongue out at me, perhaps he didn't want to be watched at his ablutions, I was quite a long way away with my telephoto lens though!.

View across the big lake, looks cold hey!


 Any bread mate?.


 Back to the Cafe for a hot drink and a sandwich, "Sausage please" say's Pepe!.
By the way my cholesterol was 6.1 said the doctor, so it's watching what I eat from now on, trouble is everything you like is bad for you isn't it!
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The lady of the house called Jeeves into her bedroom and said "Jeeves, please unzip my dress" with a great deal of embarrassment he did so.
"Now Jeeves" she said, "Take off my stockings".
Jeeves was now in a sweat.
"And now take off my underwear"... and if I ever catch you wearing them again you will be instantly dismissed"!.

My uncle worked as an espionage agent at the mint. He was a Mint Spy.

Most young blokes stop looking for work the moment they get a job.

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Thats it for now folks.