Today at Etherow, 23rd Dec 2015

Today at Etherow, 23rd Dec 2015

After the council stating earlier in October that they wouldn't be putting any more money into the park, they seem to have changed their minds and the quiet of the park as been shattered this past week with the sound of chainsaws as they have been thinning out the bushes and undergrowth along the paths round the lakes, and though it looks a bit bald at the moment it will settle down I'm sure!.

Still a few shrubs for this little fellow

At son John's last Sunday it was all change for the dogs,

Pepe with John.

Me with softie Jessie!

John's lovely Cockerpoo's

Me and Pepe getting into the Christmas spirit.

Doesn't like the cap really as you can tell from his expression, just humouring me!.

Back home with his toys, a bit happier!, angry birds from the local charity shop, 20p each can't be bad.

Well, that's it for another year 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to all our readers 

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What hair colour do they put on bald men's driving licences?.

What are occasional tables the rest of the time?.

Would a fly without wings be called a walk?.

What was the best thing before sliced bread?.

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Bye for now!

Feed the birds, Dec 2015.

Feed the birds, Dec 2015.

Today at the lake, we found that there wasn't many people about, possibly all out shopping for those late bargains!.

Of course it also means that the birds go a bit short of food!, so when I got my sunflower heart seeds out I was almost mugged by the pigeons. Still it meant I could get you some nice close ups of them.

As my mate say's most pigeons are disease ridden, but I did wash my hands afterwards before having something to eat at the Cafe.

Have to keep the profits up at the Cafe don't you?, there is nothing sadder than a boarded up Cafe is there!.

Came up with this picture off the internet, and if you are a dog owner you will have realised dog's are  this bright.

 

If you are a visitor to Etherow country park, here are the opening times for the Cafe over the Christmas Holiday's.

 

If I don't write again before Christmas, wishing you all,

 A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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The four stage of life.

You believe in Santa Claus.

You don't believe in Santa Claus.

You become Santa Claus.

You look like Santa Claus!.

Why was Santa's little helper feeling depressed?,

He had low Elf-esteem.

What's the most popular Christmas wine?.

"I don't like Brussel Sprouts!"

What does Santa do with fat elves?, sends them to the Elf farm!.

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That's it for today folks.

A walk in the mud, Dec 2015.

A walk in the mud, Dec 2015.

At least it didn't rain today and the walk was nice though a bit muddy when your belly is as near to the ground as Pepe's

I suppose we shouldn't complain when you see the state of Cumbria and those poor people struggling to get their houses in order again, for some its been the second time this year!.

Son John was up there last week sorting out one of the chapels there which was only a few feet from the river though 4ft below the path, finished up 2ft high in the ground floor of the chapel!.

On a brighter note, some pictures from the park,

You keep eating I'll watch your backs.

King Tut the Egyptian Goose, 

Faithful friend of the two swans.

Not too keen on Pepe!.

My friendly Robin from the Cafe.

Pepe in Christmas mood, and keeping warm with Bob's wife Joyce                                    

A bit of excitement at the lake today as well, we watched the tree loppers cutting up the tree that had blown down into the canal a few weeks ago, big job as you can see.

 

The shredders at full belt

What young lad wouldn't want one of these in his Christmas stocking!

Using those two big trees near the yellow pick up to haul the logs out of the canal, I thought it was going to topple them over as well, as their roots are well out of the ground, still they know what they are doing hey!.

Done at last!.

For those of you that use the Etherow Cafe here are the Christmas opening times, its a nice walk round the park after your Christmas feasting.

There was a nice Christmas tree at John's on Sunday when we went for our usual dinner.

Don't know me without The hat?.

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Doctor Doctor, I feel like a spoon, 

Sit there and don't stir.

Doctor Doctor, I get a terrible pain in my eye when I drink a cup of coffee.

Try taking the spoon out.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.

Teach him to how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day!.

Did you hear about the two Mexican fire fighting brothers, they were called Hose A and Hose B.

Its the way I tell em!.

Bye for now.

First week of December 2015.

First week of December 2015.

This first week in December hasn't been too clever has it, High winds and heavy rain in most area's.

These little chaps are feeling it with not many people visiting the park, but Pepe and I carry plenty of seeds for the birds and animals these days.

The weather doesn't seem to be dampening the Mandarins ardour though 

Sorry about the focus, Pepe pulling to be off instead of idling in the cold!.

 

The river is quite swollen with all the rain we have had the past week, this normally just meanders though the park!.

My Christmas Cactus is doing well (2nd year for me) and its a very nice colour, not the usual Red, but a nice yellow/ peachy colour, good job its doing well as it was a pressie from Marjorie!.


The lads new toy!, 25p from the charity shop!, tried him out running about after it.

Had some bad news of my Grandson, a missionary in Greece for two years, it would be better to just give you the link and then you have it first hand from Son John!.

Click here!.

Though they are both handsome guys G/son Jake is the one on the right!.

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On a lighter note,

What's the definition of mixed emotion's?.

Your mother in law backing off a cliff in your new car!.

What can a goose do, a duck can't, and a lawyer should? stick his bill up his rear!.

I think my dog has a particularly cold nose,

when he walks into a room all the other dogs sit down!.

Flash light, a case for holding dead batteries!.

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That's all for now folks  

Winter walk, Nov 2015.

Winter walk, Nov 2015.

Walking round the lake today saw this group of Mandarins and got to thinking what was the collective noun for these birds!.

Nothing found!, but a group of ducks on the ground is a "Badelynge of ducks"  and if they are on the water swimming they are "A paddling of Ducks".

Good flyers!.

As you might know a gathering of crows is a "Murder of Crows"

While most terms for groups of birds are linked to their song or habitat, this one has its roots in medieval folklore. With their dark feathers and jet-black eyes, crows were regarded by 15th-century peasants as messengers of the devil or witches in disguise. They were suspected of having prophetic powers, and the appearance of a crow on the roof of a house was taken as an omen that someone inside would soon die. 

Plenty of Robins about, those branches look as though they are ready to bud again don't they!, the weather must be a bit confusing for the wildlife and plants at the moment!.

 I always carry some seeds to attract the birds.

Autumn leaves. 

 Even though Robins are notoriously anti-social, they do occasionally come together,

 then they are a "Round of Robins".

Here endeth the lesson for today!.

Still wondering how a big tree stood up for so long in this amount of earth!!.

Pepe in a tight squeeze!, there was nothing down there!, Dad.

Then back to the Cafe for a warm drink!

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When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bike.

Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way, so I stole one and asked him to forgive me!

Its a Joke!!.

A nun say's to the Mother Superior, "There's a case of Syphilis in the convent", Mother Superior says "Thank goodness, I was getting tired of the Chablis"!.

Why do reindeer's wear bells?,

Because their horns don't work!.

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Bye for now.