Lock down, 28.4.2020.

Another day in Lock Down so keeping busy and doing more jobs round the house so when we can go out again we will be able to do with a clear conscience knowing all the jobs done at home.

Went to Morrison's for the weekly shop and found that if I went at 11-30 there was only 3 in front of me and by the time I'd walked down the barrier lane that it was my turn to go in the store!.

On the way home I called at the McDonalds Car part, yes I know they are closed but the car park over looks the Hyde Road widening project and I got this phone picture of the progress without anyone near to me.

All the shuttering in place and it looks like they are adding the concrete topping whilst the digger is still removing the ground that is going to be the wider road way.

Then it was home to pick up Pepe and have a walk round the deserted

Debdale Park and just got home before the showers.

Back indoors I finished another two jigsaws seen here.

Had done one of these in the past, but the observant will see this one is the night edition.

 There is a light underneath that changes colour as you can see here.

This one was a bit on the dark side, I'd bought it by mistake from Amazon but instead of sending it back thought it would be a challenge, and it didn't disappoint me, it was!.

In the garage I've made a couple of Rainbows that I've made in the past, see below, but after about 10 years the plywood has started to split,

As you can see when the light hits it, the colours change with the light when you walk past it.

So I'd bought some more ply months ago to replace it.

These are a bit smaller because the wood I'd bought was smaller, so the rainbows are smaller though still eye catching.

Another job in progress is the back garden gate, took off the cladding on the outside I'd put on originally and took off the mirror frame so I can repair that, it makes the garden look bigger, can't go much further with this job until the shops open to buy some green fencing sealer.

That lady looks like she could do will a bit of attention too at some stage. 

Pepe nearly jumped out of his skin when he noticed himself in the mirror frame, and was barking like mad at himself, what a plonker!, he can't normally see himself when it's on the gate.

Was his birthday as well so perhaps he thought I'd bought him another dog!.

11 years old, that's 77 years in our years isn't it?. 

He's looking a lot more like the Long Haired Chihuahua he should be, with the groomer shut down same as a lot of other shops

Two old codgers together hey.

Another day done, but a bit better with a trip out.

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Lock down,24.4.2020.

After the last project painting my dolphins, got into the swing of it and rooted out the green Man i'd bought in the summer last year at lymefield garden centre and Cafe in Mottram.

Still had some Acrylic paints left from Velda's paint box.

So a good scrub and a light sanding, then a coat of sanding sealer it was down to the garage again.

 

A coat of brass paint on the rear.

Then a coat of spray paint found in the garage to seal the front 

Then painted the leaves different colours to make it stand out and give the garden a bit more colour.

I'd run out of spray varnish so whilst waiting for the paints to dry ordered some Rustoleum Spray varnish and it was there on the doorstep the next day!, good old Amazon!.

So a spray of varnish to seal the paint in and was out and on to the wall

Sent a picture to my Hobbies Mate Bob and he suggested that I add high lights to the eyes and perhaps some teeth!

So, no sooner said than done, Bob!

So there you have it another project done and dusted, can't believe the amount of stuff I'm getting through to relieve the boredom of the lock down.

Talking of lock down and social distancing here's something one of the members on one of the photographic websites put on.

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That's it for now, keep coming back for more of the same.

Lockdown, 21.4.2020.

Went shopping again today to Morrisons at Reddish, a bit further than my local shop but worth the extra mile as Morrisons seem to be a better system as I found out last week.

Came home and finished off my dolphins,
This is how they looked before I started.


Then rubbed down and given a coat of Sand and sealer and the back given a coat of  brass spray paint that was laying round the garage.


So then decided to give the front a bit of a different colour style from the old one and here you are, done in my box room workshop, with acrylic paints I had at home from when my wife Velda used to paint her garden ornaments.
A bit of a trial first.


Then carry on with more colours.


Then it was out into the garage again to give the front and back a coat of acrylic varnish luckkily had in stock.


Don't look bad do they!.


Them noticed that the other dolphins on the end wall of the garage were looking a bit flaky, so it was out with the sand paper again.


An assortment of colours again


So that was the garden sorted and a bit more colourful.


As the weather has been so good and no rain for weeks I bought this hose reel from Amazon as it was half price at £22.99 instead for £45.99 and I do love a bargain!.
Tried it out today watering the garden and when I went back indoors the cupboard under the sink  unit was flooded, I found out it wasn't the hose reel unit at fault but the fitting on the tap under the sink had a perished O ring, luckily the hose reel set had a new fitting to replace the old one, at least the cupboard under the sink is clean now!.







This bit of information was on the back of the box, I bet you always wanted to know this.



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Can't we go to the Vale yet Dad.
The pot one is nearly as big as Pepe!.

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Lock down again, 16.4.2020

Went out yesterday on one of the journeys you are allowed, mine was shopping to Morrisons at Reddish, it was a bit further away from home than Asda around to corner, but Morrisons have a better system to protect you I think. 

This is the queue area, you collect a trolley and get in this queue with marks on the ground to keep one at the right distance!.

It was only about 10 minutes before I got into the store, let in by the security guard on the door, when his mate inside radio'ed him that there was no hold ups at the tills!, shelves were well stocked and everyone inside keeping their distance.

By the way I had my own gloves with me that my son had left me on his visit with some supplies for Pepe and I.

Good system Morrison's well worth the extra mile to get there.

  

Meanwhile back in the garden at the Starling's favourite feeding station at the side of the window.

The regulars to my garden.

This unusually marked pigeon comes every day too.

Pepe brings his little teddy out into the sunshine everyday but he's too hot to play I think as his thick coat has missed its trim at the groomers this month with the lock down.

On the garage wall the dolphins I'd painted and put up about 10 years ago were looking a bit worse for wear, so it was off the wall and into the garage for a good rub down, and not a minute to soon as they looked as though another few months would have seen them too bad to do anything with.

Rubbed down and sanding sealer brushed on, then the back spray painted with some brass paint laying around.

Not sure of the front paint scheme yet!.

Finished another jigsaw this week as well!, this was a tricky one with all that greenery, still it passes the time nicely doesn't it.

This is the next one, this one should see me though to the finish of the lock down or the start of my insanity!.

I'd been wanting a spare battery for my Battery operated jet wash but not sure of the price?, then found out they were £34.99, then saw these little Cubevacs on telly which are the same make has my Jet spray and the same battery, got one on Amazon at £89.99, at £10 cheaper that anywhere else, so it was a done deal and the little vac is a great system with two attachments included.

So my next jet wash in the garden should be a bit better with two batteries to go at.

Get about half an hour with the vac, but shorter obviously with it on booster, great on the stairs and round those little areas round the living room.

Well that's another day in lock down done

Stay safe everyone.

Pepe in happier times at the Windmill in Denton, for a nice carvery.

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Another day in lock down,8.4.2020.

Another day in lock down, but its not too bad with the sun shining and a garden to sit in, can't imagine what it must be like for people in high rise flats!.

My Venus Fly trap that my friends Bob and Joyce bought me last year has produced another long stem with with a flower on, that's the second one this year up to now. 

  

On the same kitchen sill I have a Wax plant, and that is flowering for the 5th year, the picture doesn't do it justice really. 

Outside in the garden, I was horrified to see a cat swinging off my bird feeder!,

So it was out with a hammer and chisel and made a hole further out from the fence. 

The two Coteneaster plants, one red and the other yellow have started to grow again, they have done the birds well over the winter, that was the idea when I bought them last year.

The bird bath on the table there is well used by the birds, so a good buy for a couple of quid, think it was a tray for a big pot really but a good bath for the birds.

The logs there need replacing as they've been there about 10 years so passed their sell by date , but will have to wait until the garden centres open again.

My Goldfinches are eating well, perhaps we are going to get the patter of tiny claws again this year.

So colourful hey.

Taken though the double glazing.

They love the Sun Flower hearts.

Plenty of wood pigeons about.

Also plenty of Starlings.

Quite colourful when close up.

In next doors tree.

Where's the grub Pepe.

Lastly I saw on the Pear Mill website, that they have finally got the camera trained on the peregrine Falcons connected but not yet online though.

Here are a couple of pictures they posted on their website this week.

A pair of Peregrines with their eggs.

 

 4 eggs in the nest, quite safe as they are about 100 foot up in their nest

Took this picture last year, didn't realise what this magpie was doing in the Peregines nest until I got home on the PC, taking a chance and finishing the Falcons Pigeon dinner!.

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Pepe's thought of the day.

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Stay Safe, 

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