Eating out with friends. 27.2.2020.

This week took Pepe for his wash and trim to his regular groomer up in Oldham, Mucky Pups!.

It was snowing on the way there, but after dropping him off and going to the very nice Cafe just up the road, it had stopped by the time I picked him up.

Then it was a few junctions down the motorway to Pear Mill in Stockport!.

The next day it was off to The Windmill for their carvery and very nice too, even though we have to eat in the Vault, still we get better service in there at the bar!, Pear Mill Cafe closed onWednesday's!.

Pepe doesn't mind where we eat as long as he get's some of their roast beef, he's sat on a bar stool here so he has a good view of our plates!

Today it was another visit to Pear Mill Cafe, very cold out with snow earlier in the morning but it had cleared by the time we get there, and their heating was on.

Another nice chat and food what more can you ask for, "Sausages" say's Pepe.

There was a party of young mothers there with their unruly children and is doesn't take many guesses to  guess which table was theirs or ours! 

The staff just have to take away our stacked crockery, but it a major clear up after the kids table!.

You always a different set of crocks, this was our Sugar and cruet set today./

After lunch I saw a Peregrine Falcon flying about so went round to where their nest site is and there was a male one sat on the nest site.

Looking for loveee.

Don't need eyes in the back of your head when you can do this do you.

So that was a good ending to our day which turned out better than it looked at first!.

It was sad to hear this week that the lady who inspired the film 'Hidden figures' had died at 101, she had been given the highest award to a civilian in America but that didn't happen until she was 97!, doesn't say much for America's human rights does it.

If you haven't seen the film, its well worth it, Kevin Costner in the leading role, Ladies!.

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A couple of parrots sat on a perch and one said to the other,

 "Can you smell fish?"

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The Bridge update, 24.02.2020.

As I mentioned in my last post I'd been looking forward to photographing the bridge being lifted out on Hyde Road, Gorton.

It was advertised as the road closed on the 22nd & 23rd February, first time I've ever know that in all the years I've lived and worked in Manchester, but that's still not happened as the lift was postponed, I was there on Saturday morning nice and early and saw that the diggers had found a large brick structure in the area they were digging out at the side of the Gym.

A big pneumatic drill bit was delivered in a transit pickup and the structure was broken up by a JCB

 

I was told today that the high wind was also the main factor that the big crane was cancelled too.

There hasn't been a new date published yet, so looking forward to that!.

Sunday seemed to be a day off on the project so it seems to be a five day week job!.

Today work continued digging out the very deep hole round the brick structure.

These two diggers seem to be doing well in clearing the ground but the guys in them didn't seem to know when the next closure was to be.

As you can see here the support wall for this end of the bridge is clearly in view, I can't see them taking away much more of this part before the bridge is moved in case it collapses.

So if you are interested keep you eyes here.

Saturday braved the weather and had a visit to Reddish Vale and there was our friends the Jays glad to see our peanuts no doubt.

Looking a bit windswept, or its trying a new style!.

A young cormorant drying out on Sunnyside pool.

Not catching much, but he is only a youngster and there's a lot to learn.

A Blue Tit, the shrubs seem to be budding already. 

Plenty of daffodils about in the park.

One of the many Bug Hotels in the Community Garden.

Bought myself a new bar stool for doing my jigsaws, my back was killing me bending over for any length of time, nice quality and quite cheap from good old Amazon!. 

Should be getting my new hearing aids a week today and it can't come soon enough!!.

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What should you buy if your hairs falling out?

A good vacuum cleaner.

How come a Pizza can get to your house quicker than an ambulance?.

Why do supermarkets make sick people walk to the back of the store to get their prescriptions, while the healthy ones can buy their cigarettes at the front?.

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Safe option , 12.2.2020.

Decided on the safe option today and stayed near to home after the hail and sleet of the last few days.

After a bit of housework and washing decided to have lunch at Mcdonald's and then a walk round the park to see if I could see the tree creeper I missed the other day when I didn't have my camera, always the way isn't it!.

The only birds we saw were the male Blackbirds, perhaps it's more like I need to visit Specsavers for another eye test, perhaps after I get my Hearing Aids sorted.

 

The park was a bit of a mistake really as we went round the old golf course and of course at the bottom of the path, it was about 6 inches deep in flood water so had to divert on to the grass but that was water logged as well so ended up with muggy shoes, Pepe got carried of course as I didn't fancy washing him when we got home.

Don't think Storm Ciara was all to blame for this tree, as you can see it was rotten most of the way though so the storm did a bit of good there and blew this one down when most people were safe at home!.

This one seems to have had a very shallow root system, that's Hyde road in the background which is a bit of a nightmare at the moment with the road widening near to Reddish Lane.

This is the state of the widening at the moment with only one lane in each direction, there again that's what it's all in aid of.

This was taken at 1300hrs so you can imagine what it must be like between 1600hrs and 1800 hrs, nightmare coming out of Manchester. 

The widening is from Far lane to Reddish Lane and would you believe its scheduled to take 12 months, mind you when you see the speed some of the men walk I'll  be surprised if its finished then.

They have made a large area for the machinery on what used to be the old coal yard, when the old style coal trucks used to hand load their sacks of coal from the the coal wagons that used the old bridge. Taken photo from McDonalds car park.

You can just make out your hotel behind the orange portacabins Barbara!.

Hopefully will be able to get a photograph of the bridge being lifted out on the Saturday 22-23 February, from this position on the day or night.  

So if you are in the area on that date the main road will be closed!.

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Why is lemon juice mostly artificial ingredient, but dish washing liquid  contains real lemon?.

Why do we buy hot dogs in packs of ten and buns in pack of eight?.

Why do we wait until a pig is dead to cure it?.

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Cold Cold February, 7.2.2020.

Feeling a lot better in myself the last few days so been out and about more, sorry to the people I've met the last few days keep saying "What", but at least my ears are better now so been on to the Hearing Test lady and brought my test forward a week, so that's a week nearer to new aids! 

Been down to Reddish Vale Country Park the last few days but not stayed long as its too cold and don't want to chance getting the dreaded cold bug again.

Got this picture of a Jay today, they are getting quite used to Pepe and I bringing them peanuts now.

 

The Jay but not showing its beautiful Blue feathers, nearly went extinct in Victorian times as the ladies of that time liked the blue feathers in their hats. Its a shame women don't wear hats much these days, but its helped the birds keep their feathers.

The acrobatic Nuthatch.

The equally nimble Long Tailed Tits.

The view of their back.

In competition with the Blue Tits.

Even the humble Sparrows are quite colourful close up aren't they.

The new bird bath in the community garden.

Had to break the ice off the top the last couple of days, the birds still seem to want to bathe even in this weather!.

A Blue Tit.

Mr & Mrs Blackbird.

The cute Squirrels which some people call bushy tailed rodents, but there again they didn't ask to be brought here did they, a pest but very photogenic.

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Mummy Mummy; "Can I wear a bra now I'm sixteen?"

"Shut up Albert"!.

Mummy Mummy; "Are you sure this is how to learn to Swim"?

"Shut up and get back in the sack".

Definition of modern music; things that aren't worth saying put into a song!.

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