St Annes, Etherow and Reddish Vale.

Monday went to St Annes on Sea with Marjorie and Pepe, Marjorie hadn't been before and hoped it wasn't like Blackpool, which like me she doesn't like with all the crowds on the front drinking and swearing!.

So St Annes it was and here are a couple of pictures, the first at the "Restaurant on the Beach" 

Thought the grassy table and seats would be a bit tough to keep clean, then realised the Starling were doing the job for them!.

Saw this couple in the gardens and thought they looked really peaceful, and said on the way past again, "I'll bet you feel better for that nap", He said "she couldn't keep her eyes open", You didn't do too bad yourself mate said I", he didn't believe me until I showed him the picture.

  

Friend Bob, said the first picture would look better with the fountain of flowers and church on the other side so did a bit of photo fiddling and don't see the difference really, but what I know about photography would go on the back of a stamp, point and click that's me.

Marjorie said "Even the seagulls seem quieter", "well it is St Annes here and they are a bit more refined "said I"

Wednesday went to the lake at Etherow and stayed all day sailing and walking Pepe round the lakes

Still plenty of baby ducks about, Mallards, Coots and Mandarins.

Only went home to give Pepe his dinner, which he didn't eat anyway, weather too hot and then it was back to the club meeting afterwards.

Friday saw us down at the Reddish Vale Centre and much to my surprise didn't recognize it since it was about 40 years ago since I was last there and the road to it was totally different and dropped one off at the Cafe and Small animal centre which was doing a great job with some of the schools already off on the Summer holidays.

Nice meals and nice staff

The scene from the outside cafe seating, seems as though most of the horses were out being ridden

A few of the animals in the childrens area

 General views around the site 

 Even a bit of train spotting 

Not one but two families of swans!.

My mate Bob say's enjoy it whilst you can as there are plans to build 1500 houses and shops on this site, what will our children and grandchildren have to do to see any wildlife and greenery in the future!!.

Learning about wildlife

How old is this tree, this will perhaps be a victim to the council planning department to save a few pounds for this years budget, what will it be next year!.

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Last few weeks!.

Since my last post I've been out and about and even bought another new boat!, a model one of course and new to me. Bought it off one of the club members who was finding it a bit too heavy now he's getting older.

I was thinking of doing the same myself converting to just yachts and selling off my motorised boats, then I go and buy this big yacht still I've wanted one of these for a while and the price I was offered it at I will always get my money back and will have the pleasure of it in the meantime won't I!.

The new "J" Class, going to sail it until the winter then will give it and the stand a facelift.

 So to get back into sailing after a bit of a slack period decided to get down to the lake and practice with some of my smaller boats, here is the Fiesta.

The Micro Magic and my Spektrum tranny.

 In between of course it's a trip to the Cafe for lunches and there is Pepe putting his "I'm never fed at home" act on for the other customers.

One of Pepe's friends at the Cafe "Breakfast club" most mornings.

On the gardening front, added a couple of  brackets for the hanging baskets I had hung on the washing line, but got fed up with being garrotted every time I went to the bottom of the garden with the weight of the baskets pulling the line down.

Also changed the plant in the boat as the first one was too fast growing and would have covered the boat very soon

  This past Sunday I went to the Colwyn Bay Model boat show and met up with quite a few of our members there, Colin, Pam, Donald, Gordon, Rob, Dave (the) Sharp and Eric Presley, no relation though!.

If you would like to see that event 

Click here

Met man and wife Garth and Elizabeth Jones there who we had read about many times and followed their builds on the Model Boat Magazine forums, nice to have met in person for a change, over from Yorkshire.

Not many ladies build and sail their own yachts, that's some of hers in the background!.

Also bought a battery pack and charger for the new "J" Class boat, always get a good deal at the shows!.

Friday Marjorie and I went to Biddulph Grange Gardens, a National Trust location near Congleton .

Marjorie loved it being a keen gardener and it being somewhere new to her and good weather, which always makes the day doesn't it.

  The lake full of Koi carp.

Giant redwoods.

 One of the themed gardens

 No show without Punch they say.

NO NO NO, we were only calling in at a pub for a cool drink where this horse and carriage was waiting for the bride and groom!.

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Getting old

 Everything hurts and what doesn't hurt, doesn't work.

You've finally got your head together and your body starts to fall apart.

The pharmacist has become your best friend.

You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there.

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Thats all for now folks!.

In the garden.

In the garden at the moment there are plants and bugs and bee's popping out everywhere and my Hayfever is going off the chart!.

In the porch, cactus flowering

Hanging basket loads of new leaves and shoots

Left side of back garden

New plant and container

Succulent garden 

And close up.

Right side

Down to the end, see the boat in the back there, finished and planted.

Finished boat 

And close up

 Stern view

Then in situ and planted up.

We have been out and about as well as in the garden.

This last week Marjorie and I went to Castleton and on the way passed through Hope and saw this Well Dressing outside the local church.

All done in flower petals and leaves.

In an American style Cafe in Castleton we saw this Challenge can you believe this!.

It's one way to sell the meals, if only 4 don't have to pay!.

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At the lake this week took this nice picture 

That was nice.

After a hard day's outing.

And last but not least here is my beautiful Granddaughter going to her Prom's on the last day of school after finishing her exam's and reaching the age of sweet 16,  going on to 6th form college after the Summer holidays

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On this happy note will leave you till next time

The doctor asked her, "has there been any insanity in the family?".

"Yes Doc" she said "My husband thinks he's the Boss"

"Our marriage is based on trust and understanding" he said.

"She doesn't trust me and I don't understand her".

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