Let it snow, Let it snow,let it snow, 29th 12 20.

 Let it snow, Let it snow , Let it snow as the song goes!, but not for too long!.

Woke up Tuesday to a scene of whiteness, that's it for going out today was the first thought, why go out if you don't have to. so after breakfast went out and as the snow had stopped , cleaned it off the car in case it froze on solid.

Then it was out with the camera, when I say out I meant out of the case and into the living room.

This was the view from the living room window!, and as near as I wanted to go to the snow.

I'd bought a new feeder similar to one I had that was easier to keep clean, that's it on the left, but the birds were wary of it and were queuing up on the old one, so popped out and changed them round and that did the trick,   

The little goldfinches stocking up on the Sunflower seeds.

Now using the new feeder.

Starling time on the fat balls

Wood pigeon on next doors garage.

"Frozen".

 

Will have to get this one back in the workshop when it gets a bit warmer and have a look at her make up, try and get a bit of a smile on her face and a bit warmer looking complexion,and eyebrows!

The Yellow Cotoneaster looking good in the snow, the Blackbirds love the berries.

The Red Cotoneaster looking good in the snow, the Blackbirds love these berries too.

The last few days, being cooped up did a couple of jigsaws a friend had bought me for Christmas, it was a nice change from the Lego!.

As you can see two 500 piece ones!.

Nice old scenes of the days when we could congregate in Cafes

Check out the Tab for Jig Saws done at the top of the blog for these done!.

Well only another 13 Days to my next Vaccination.

Just had a text from my Son to say we are going into Tier 4 at Midnight tonight, will it ever end!

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Never judge a book by its movie.

Constipation is the thief of time,but diarrhea waits for no man. 

Where there's a will I want to be in it!

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Boxing Day, 28.12.2020.

 Boxing Day and you wouldn't believe the amount of people at the Mcdonalds drive-thu!.

The Debdale car park was full to bursting so we had to park on the road outside, same as a lot more people. not many masks about but I suppose people don't bother being outside, but not using the 2 metre apart though!.

Popped over the car park at McDonalds to see how the Hyde Road project was doing and it looks like it's nearly finished except for the cosmetics ie banks and walkways grassed and bushes planted.

Just passed that lamppost on the right is a pathway up to the Gym and Holiday hotel.

Still think those scruffy shops on the left would have been a better route, but that's only my opinion.

Just read on the internet that President Trump wants an airport named after him, thought that was an honour not a request, having said that perhaps a large cemetery named after him would be better after his "Wearing a mask is un-American campaign" he certainly didn't do the American people any favours in his last year of office, 250,000 dead is it up to now?.

For any doubters/ doomsters I've had no serious after effects after my first jab of vaccine only a painful arm for a couple of days, but what's that against the other alternatives the virus and death!.

On a more pleasant note, whilst searching for an old photograph for my mate came across this photograph I'd taken a few years ago!. 

Isn't nature wonderful, might take your mind off the bad weather outside for a minute. 

Another was this one of my mate's paddler "Jennie Deans" in war time configuration with the dazzle paint work doing a grand job.
Taken at Bury Model Boat Club a few years ago, happy days!.

Another oldie was this pair of model birds, I still have the Mallard  on the left!.

Both dummies that have been motorised.

Enough of the old days and back to reality, only 15 days to go to my next vaccination, if you are one of the waverers, think of the alternatives, I remember the doubters when I was young, with mothers worries about Diphtheria and polio!.

Me and my friend Bob, who with his wife Joyce had our jabs on the same day  and look at us now! 

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A barking dog never bites. well, not while its barking!.

Why should you watch out for when it's raining Cats and Dogs,

You might step into a Poodle.

What sort of animal is a slug?,

a snail with a housing problem.

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Christmas Eve, 2020.

 Christmas Eve 2020 and things are looking up.

Had lunch at MacDonalds today and after our eats had a quick walk to the lower reservoir, it was quite cold and its not crowded there, so with our pockets filled with bird seed, when we got there we were mobbed by all the birds there!.

The Canadian geese were eating out of my hand.

Still need to preen even in this cold weather.

Juvenile gull, enjoying the rare bit of sun. 

                                               Pepe, among the graffiti.

There's a dog over there off its lead, Dad.

Another thing we are glad about is the fact we had our First Vaccine jab yesterday, and that's very good to get within the first week of roll out.

It was very well organised and after booking in at the entrance were taken to a row of chairs in the hall and wondering what the idea was, noticed a big digital clock at the front and when the row was full we sat the with our sleeves rolled up and someone said Now and all our row was jabbed and the time entered on our record, then the idea became clear as we were told we had to sit there for 15 minutes on the clock before we could leave the premises.

We were then given our information  sheets of what to expect in the way of after effects, one of which was to not get pregnant within two months of the vaccination!, not much chance of that when the day was all for over 80s!.

  The date of the next appointment in 21 days time with the time that was on the digital clock when we were jabbed all very precise. my appointment on the day was 3.21!, I was a bit early so next appointment is 3.17 pm this was all written at the top of the information pamphlet.

All very well done, I had been wondering if we would be stood out in the cold for ages at our age!, but as I said, everything thought of.

Had a bit of a sore arm as warned, but nothing as bad as some of the jabs I'd had in my army  days, one of which we were given 24 hours excused duties because your arm was like a lead weight and couldn't even lift it, happy days!.

The other good thing today was the news we have a Brexit deal so now everyone will be able to get sorted out with the paperwork which will be terrible to start with no doubt!.

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Merry Christmas to all our readers. 

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The four stages 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?, because he had low Elf esteem

What's the most popular Christmas wine?.

"I don't like sprouts!"

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Four & twenty Blackbirds, 22.12.20.

Four & twenty Blackbirds.

 Well not quite!, but the Cotoneaster plants in my garden have really come into their own at the moment and I've have plenty of Blackbirds feasting on them, seem to like the red berries most at the moment but the yellow ones will probably be eaten later.

Was well worth planting them last year, covered with berries at the moment.

As you can see by the rain drops on the birds backs it was drizzling most of the day.

Fed the gulls at Mcdonalds too today, from my stock of food in the car.

Bought another Feeder today that is easier to keep clean, its no good leaving food out if its contaminated by not cleaning the feeders regularly!. 

Lot of bird flu about at the moment so they need clean wholesome food.

Got my Christmas reading in stock as I think its going to be a long haul coming out of this pandemic!.

Should keep me busy for a while.

Being over eighty at the moment has its advantages, and I'm due for my First vaccine jab tomorrow, so all being well after another 21 days another Jab, then another week I will be a bit safer though still in Tier 3, possibly 4 by then, but safer, fingers crossed!.

Sat in the car park today saw loads of teenagers bunched together and not a mask in sight, they don't seem to bother as they think they are safe, no thought for their parents or Grandparents they could transmit the virus too!.

Stay Safe every one!.

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Can a half wit work part time at NASA?.

Do illiterates get the full effect of alphabet soup?.

Does killing time damage eternity?.

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Sunny Day today, 14.12.2020.

After lunch at McDonalds had a drive up to Oldham, (North Manchester) to deliver the families Christmas presents and say hello to two of my favourite dogs Jessie & Max my families two cockerpoos.

As we aren't allowed to mingle on the day, thought I would go today as you never know there with it being a lot higher it could be snowing and difficult to get there in the next couple of weeks!.Had a meeting outside with Son and daughter-in- law and the dogs, John even brought one of his works heaters outside so we wouldn't get too cold.

They have been very careful over the various lock downs, and I've not seen many people as my hobby of bird watching is better with no one about!.

Talking of bird watching see below.

 On the 5th of this month I posted this picture and stated what I though was a young Great Crested Grebe!, but after seeing a picture posted on another of my website memberships, it dawned on me that I'd seen a picture of one of these birds.

The bird on the left is now what I think is a Great Northern Diver!, not seen one of these in this area before so perhaps be forgiven for the first description. 

You learn something new everyday in being a twitcher!.

A first for me!.

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You know your children are growing up when they stop asking you where they came from and start refusing to tell you where they're going. 

A couple for Jacob!.

A taxi was involved in an accident in Edinbugh.

Sixteen passengers were treated for injuries.

What's the difference between a Scotsman and a canoe.

A Canoe tips occasionally.

Its the way I tell em! 

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Another dull wet week, 7-11.12.20.

 Another dull, wet, cold week, but had a few short trips out locally to stay safe, would be a shame to fall at the last fence wouldn't it!.

The work at the Hyde road widening is still an ongoing situation but slowly getting there.

 This is the end near the traffic lights, they could have put in a filter here to filter the traffic going into the Gym, McDonald's and the Park, but I suppose its cost enough without my ideas.  

The bowling green in Debdale park ( the one nearest to me) that was stripped off and reseeded only a week ago seems to have done well, there again its had plenty of water on it the last week.

Was at the Snipe retail park today to get some containers from B&M and of course had to stop for a Sausage & Bacon sarnie at the mobile food stall, (in green on the left).

B& Q seems to be in the middle of a refurbishment and all the signage stripped off, we shall see. 

My car in the foreground here, had its first wash since the 2nd lock down and it needed it!.

Whilst having our lunch, noticed work being done on another part of the large car park, The part nearest McDonald's had been sectioned off and I was told it is going to be a Costa Coffee place  

This pile driver was making a lot of noise, luckily I could turn off my hearing aids, so you see there is a a good and bad side to most things!.

Common Starlings, are not so Common when you seen the beautiful colours on them 

This one on my feeders at home.

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Why do we use the word "Politics"to describe the process of government?,

 Poli in Latin meaning "Many" And "Tics"meaning "Bloodsucking Creatures".

What's Light,white and sweet and hangs from trees?.

A meringue-utan.

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December already, 5.12.20.

 December already where has this year gone?, I know a lot of  people think it's dragged with the virus but if you have plenty of hobbies and read I lot as I do, the time seems to fly, there again it does seem to go quicker when you get older and I'm in the upper age bracket for the first Jabs!.

I'll let you know how I go on, that's if my arm hasn't dropped off, will have to ask for it in my left arm, then I will still be able to type with one finger instead of two!.

Today another weekend of Hyde road being down to one lane, perhaps it will be the last time as the whole project was supposed to be finished by October, there again they will have an excuse with the virus!, though usually they haven't worked at weekends only to cause chaos now and then.

Not been out much recently with the cold weather but managed a KFC the other day for a Lock down type picnic with a friend where we sit in our own cars and chat to each other though the windows!.  

On the way home afterwards called at Gorton Lower Reservoir.

Sorry if this makes you feel cold, but it was.

Had seen this chap getting out of his car with four loaves in his carrier bag, no wonder the birds were getting excited.

Seems like Debdale is a Swans creche.

Think this one is getting a bit aggressive now and trying to claim his territory. 

Everyone seems to like feeling the birds 

It wasn't until I was adding this picture to this post that I realized there was a young Great Created Grebe in the picture on the left there.

A cute white duck there today.

A dunnock in my garden when I got home, how do they manage this weather?, put plenty of fat balls out here.

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Is a  chicken crossing the road "Poultry in motion".

Why are Woodpeckers smarter than chickens?, have you ever hear of Kentucky Fried Woodpecker!.

We are born naked,wet and hungry, Then things get worse!

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