Last day of January 31st.1.23.

 Last day of January today and went to Reddish Vale!, not been for a long time after my illness of a few weeks earlier in the month.

Quite a few Gadwalls on the top mill pond today.

A crow.

Lots of pigeons about, they were glad of my seed bag.

Couldn't get a better picture of this one with a twisted beak, because it kept jumping on my arm, but you can see its beak is not right.

Perhaps its the only way to feed with that beak, get friendly and get plenty!.

A couple of cormorants drying out.

They ride quite low in the water, perhaps that's because their feathers aren't as waterproof as other water birds.

All the swans are doing well, since the last time I saw them.

Someone has hung a fat ball feeder on the main path round the lower mill pond, appreciated by this sparrow.

Size comparison, Blackbird and Wood pigeon.

 

Cute little Blue Tit.

Was lucky to spot these Parakeets in the tree in the horse field.

What do you think Gladys?.

Give us a kiss and I'll tell you.

Finished the day by going to my mates for some flat washers to fit my wheel extenders to my Brompton bike.

The black fitting there with the writing on came with wheels which I didn't expect, but not the washers to make it fit, which seems a bit daft to me.

Still my mate Bob the builder came up trumps again from his now depleted stock since he's stopped building, the model world has lost a great builder there. He had numerous articles published in Model Boats magazine and even starred in "Coast" tv programme with his brilliant paddler "Great Eastern".  

That's Bob on the left with Mark Horton from the "Coast" program off telly, with "Great Eastern", the ship that took the first cable to America.

Easy Wheels.

Easy wheels extended, for when its stood on its stand, makes it more stable!.

Glad to say I got my statement from my Gas/electric supplier today and I'm well in credit which is a relief!.

Well, on to February now and hope its a better month for you all, at least it's getting longer days now. 

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If a Jogger runs at the speed of sound , can he still hear his Walkman?.

The advantage of exercising every day , is that you will die healthier.

If God meant us to touch our toes he would have put them further up our bodies!. 

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The past week, 27th-30th January.2023.

 The past week hasn't been very exciting, the weather has still been rather cold, but at least we have Pear Mill Café to go to and meet friends.

On Sunday I went to McDonalds drive thru for lunch and afterwards though it was drizzling, had a stroll on to the ressers with my bag of seed and monkey nuts.

Seems I wasn't on my own with that idea, has there were a few other families there with the kids feeding the ducks and swans.

Dad and Mum with junior.

Mum and Dad.

Guess which is which, I'm not saying anything about the one with the mouth open!

Couple of Cormorants in classic pose.

Noticed a new piece of equipment at the reesers, what is it you ask?.

Hopefully it won't be vandalised, as it could save someone's life. 

Cheeky Squirrel, enjoying the nuts. 

At Pear Mill on Saturday I found the lamp shade I'd been looking for since I'd changed my Florescent fitting in the box room (Workshop).

I'd had a bare new light fitting for a few weeks and most of the shades I'd seen at the Mill had been cloth and about £40+!.

There on Saturday was a nice glass shade and reduced from £8 down to £4, which I guess was because it had a large opening that would be too large for the bulb holder, I soon sorted that out with layers of Plasticard left over from my boat modelling days and made a fitting that was missing, I do love a bargain!.

Looks a bit more decorative but doesn't cut out much light for my Jig sawing or modelling.

Today at Lydl's I got another plant for my hall stand, bought from Pear Mill a while back, but the trailing ivy I'd put in it didn't survive, not light enough possibly, so will try this one!.  

So not a bad week considering the weather, and by the way apart from a bit of Catarrh I'm back to full health, well as far as you can be at my age!!

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Harry got very excited after finishing a Jigsaw in only 6 months?,   on the box it said "From two to four years".

A man swallowed all the tiles from a Scrabble set.

The doctors said the problem would eventually work itself out , but not in so many words.

His wife made him join a bridge club.

He jumps off next Tuesday.

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Weekend, 21-22.1 23.

 Not been out much this weekend, too cold and still got a cough, the cold wind makes it worse so better not to aggravate it hey.

Finished another jigsaw, an oldie worldie one which I like, that could be me in the pram, had one like that!.

 After my friend Jean bought me a wooden kit mentioned in the last post, it started me off again and had bought another kit from Amazon last week, so plenty to go at this weekend in the warm and try to get rid of the cough.

The current kit.

This one plays a tune if you get it right.

The comments in the Amazon catalouge were mixed in that 50% said it didn't work so I was a bit concerned when I bought it!.

What's in the box?.

 So made a start, some of the instructions are a bit strange with the translation.

I usually go away and think about it for a while if not quite sure what it means.

Eight of these strikers to make.

The winder, lot of bits for that.

Strikers and winder fitted.

Rear of strikers and Drum spindle made.

Large cog wheel fitted with racket parts, perhaps this is were people go wrong?.

Drum spindle constructed 

Note bars fitted to wheel, light smear of PVA glue and my Mates laccy bands idea to hold until set.

Care must be taken to fit bars in right order

Coloured sound bars fitted!, 

Strange, scroll up and down on this picture and the drum seems t move!. 

Plectrum's fitted into note bars as per the music sheet provided!.

There are three tunes on the music sheet provided but if you are musically minded no doubt you could make any tune you wish.

Does it work, you ask and YES it does!, so the people in the comments that said it doesn't, mustn't be very good modellers hey. 

So the weekend was quite nice sat crafting in the warmth and looking out at the cold weather.

The jigsaw was a Charity one and will be going back in the week!.

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What do you call a woman who knows where her husband is every night , 

A Widow!.

A friend of mine is engaged in a custody battle,

His wife doesn't want him and his mother won't take him back!.

A study of economics usually reveals that the best time to buy anything is last year.

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