Today at the lake, 31.1.2015

Today at the lake, 31.1.2015

Went to the lake today, although the snow had gone from the roads there was still plenty about on the paths and hills in the background, still wrapped up well it wasn't too bad.

This is the view looking towards the Cafe, as you can see still plenty of snow in the back.

Glad I took some bird food with me, this Robin at the Cafe was most appreciative, their feet don't seem to be affected by the cold but I've been told that they can expend as much energy getting into food as it is worth, so I only get stuff that's suit-abell for them!.

Here's one for my Mates Bob and Joyce, they had one just like this.

This is last years baby. 

Still doing well.

Well it is the 50/50 Kingsmill bread, they seen to be doing alright on bread, even though it's said it's not good for them.

Gerr off!.

Quite gentle really.

 The Tufted duck I didn't manage to get the other day on my previous post, appeared again today and had his mate with him, I also had my bridge zoom camera with me as well, so here he is, a handsome fellow isn't he.

You can't beat a good zoom, which on my Bridge camera is 50 times and although I've always got my IPhone camera handy and takes good pictures as you can see here!.

This Bee, taken last Summer with the IPhone camera is very good but no good out on the lake 

Today's Bargain of the Week is this nice Cactus from Homebase again, nice one hey!.

Half price!

 A nice pot, for it to go in though I had to pay full price for that, all of £3.99!.

 Well that's it for today, was cold but Pepe with his thick coat enjoyed it.

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Eve, "Do you love me".

Adam, "Who else?".

Sales resistance, of course, is the triumph of mind over patter.

Teacher; "Name two pronouns?.

Freddie; "Who?. Me?.

There are three kinds of people in this world; Those that can count and those who can't!.

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Snow AGHH.

On Monday (26th) I was at Etherow with Pepe and happened to see that the river was in full flow and then some!.

I thought that it was probably due to the snow on the hills the previous week, why did I have to open my big mouth!, look at it today!.

This is my back garden today and the snow makes my Magnolia colour on the garage look dirty doesn't it.

My fire engine still looking colourful though.

and also my tug boat

My garden ladies with their crowns of snow.

Hope the pack leader remembers his roots and the outside loo's in his day!, get that camera out of my face and give me some privacy Please!.

Remember this stuff from a few years ago, nice to play in

Cold on the feet though!.

Had enough now thanks.

At the lake on Monday, saw these beautiful birds.

On Tuesday evening Marjorie and I went to the George Lawton Hall in Moseley to see the Youth Players doing.

It was very good and showed you that all teens are not tearaways, it must take a lot of dedication to put on a show to this standard, the music, costumes, scenery and Children were all wonderful.

Marjorie's Grandchildren were both in the production and were both voice and step perfect!.

Further to my previous post with my Bargain of the week with the Arachnid Cactus, went to Homebase on the way home and found this other Bargain, a pot to put it in.

£5.99 reduced to £2.25, further reduced to £1.55, you can't buy a pot for that!.

To top it off I think I might be Abell to save the plant as well.

Talking of Abell's my good mate Bob the Abell planted a seed for some Mistletoe quite a few years ago and this year its finally showed up, which Bob tells me is unusual in this area, the only trouble is it was that long ago he's forgotten what it was for when he planted it.

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"You can't resign" said the circus manager to the human cannonball,

"Where will I get another man of your Calibre".

His mother would be most upset if she knew he was an actor.

She still thinks he is running dope from Bangkok!.

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That's all folks

Back again.

Like the proverbial bad penny I'm back again!, think it must have been writers block or something like that!.

Been out and about with Marjorie this week and met up with various people we both know and had chats with, I've also been to the Dog groomers this week with Pepe, luckily the snow wasn't too bad in Oldham, had checked with Son John to see if the roads were OK.

Here is my lad all washed, shampooed and trimmed.

People often mistake Pepe for a Pomeranian, but as you can see here, they have a bit more of a pointed snout, still very nice though!.

Whilst on the subject of dogs here is a picture of one of John's Cockapoos, Max having is 15 minutes of fame and he was in last weeks edition of Dogs Weekly, they were running a section on the growing popularity of Cockapoos, the fact that they don't moult must be very appealing!.

   Back to the lake this week I saw a pair of Tufted Ducks at Etherow, which I'd not see there before, only on the river at Bakewell, perhaps they had come to shelter at the closed waters of Etherow as it  was very windy that day.

Not a very good picture but you can see his nice black and white plumage, it was with my pocket camera as well!.

On the modelling front, after not being able to get any Eye Nuts for my "J" Class boat stand decided to go with the Domed nuts that were already on it and bought some metal strips from B&Q, for a couple of quid 

Cut them down into four end pieces, then drilled out some of the holes and fitted them to the rods with the domed nuts 

 An extra washer and screw to stiffen things up and then the ropes added!.

So I'm getting there with the refurbishment of the "J" Class, next will be the rubbing down of the deck and hull ready for re-spraying, though after the scare I had with the chest infection in early December I'm putting that off until this cold snap is over and I can get out in the garden to do that job!.

Bargains of the week this week are 

A dehumidifier bought from Aldi at £29.99, £99.99 at B&Q but the Aldi one is working fine and great for the job I want it for!

Bargain 1

Been to Homebase on the way home from the lake today and there was this nice Arachnid Cactus, was £10 on the ticket under the white ticket which put it down to £3.33 and today to £1.66!!.

Can't be bad hey, I'm all for a good bargain, must get round the charity shops for a nice pot for it now!.

At the lake today it was dry but very cold, still plenty of people out walking and feeding the ducks and geese

A few pictures of the wildlife today 

Robin on the landing stage.

Cormorants in the trees on the islands drying their feathers out, found out this week on Winterwatch that  their feathers are not as waterproofed as other birds so they can dive into the water without the feathers keeping them from diving deep, so need a drying off period.

Moorhen walking in the trees.

Male Mandarin. 

 This little fellow wasn't wild just getting excited as his humans were in the Cafe

Well thats all for now, promise it won't be so long next time.

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Can a cross eyed teacher control her pupils?.

Should single crabs have nippers?.

Is it cruel to sew buttons on flies?.

I've started a new diet, "No more eating my own words, swallowing my pride, or putting my foot in my mouth!!.

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It's the way I tell em!

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