Reddish Vale Country park, 29.9.23.

 Friday, it was down to Reddish Vale park again, not too bad a day so had a good walk round.

On the lower mill pond there were the two Cormorants I'd seen on Tuesday.

This one lying down on the job.

This one drying out it's wings after fishing.

At the top end of the lower pond there were these two cute Little grebes, the grebes have done well here this year with a brood of four chicks.

The Terrapins were out catching the last summer sunshine

On the top mill pond this crow was enjoying the bourbon biscuits

Here it is trying to pick up two pieces, because it knows if it doesn't it will be gone when he gets back.

Today Saturday I went to the Bridge view café to meet my friends back from their coach trip to Dunoon. It was nice to see them again and specially as they had brought me a present each!.

Peter had brought me this teapot, has he knew I'd been looking for one to wean myself off coffee and get back to tea, after all it's tea that the British Empire was built on wasn't it 

Jean had bought me this pack of toffees.

Whatever next, you can take your dogs into the outside seating area of the Café, but not indoors

This nice narrow boat to there today, will be getting cool on them what with winter just round the corner.

I know they have heaters on them and people had bought them instead of houses, but there are still lots of rules and regulations to follow, same has houses, ie mooring fees and licences for each canal system.

Jean had arrived in her new (to her) car and very nice too, a Nissen Note, I'd been fancying one of those until my current car caught my eye. It is a very nice automatic and inside and out looked like it was straight out of the showroom.

Alfie's dinner today, he always heads to the green grape first, but does eat all the rest. 

So a good couple of days, there again at my age any day you wake up stretch your elbows out and don't feel wood is a good day isn't it!.

October tomorrow where did September go!.

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If each mistake you make is a new one- cheer up, you are making progress.

Are part-time bandleaders semi-conductors?.

Definition of an opera; where a man gets stabbed and starts singing instead of bleeding.

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This week, 25th-28th Sept.2023.

 Monday it was off to Pear Mill to meet friends David and his wife Sheree who were keeping me out of mischief in the absence of the other two friends who are on another coach trip to Dunoon in Scotland.

After a good natter it was off home and as the weather wasn't too bad for a change did a bit of gardening in the front.

You can just see the leggy bush I've cut down, my man and wife neighbours who were both gardeners at Debdale park assured me it would sprout up again in the spring and be better for the trim.

You can also see my feline friends who come visiting every day, though  think its only for the food!. 

Tuesday it was down to Reddish Vale again and it wasn't too bad on the day with the sun coming out once the streets were aired!.

There's always a place hard to get at!.

The duck weed on Sunnyside pond is as thick as ever, this turtle is covered in it.

This turtle is about twice the size of Alfie, I've seen one twice this size on the top mill pond.

Won't be long now before they disappear for the winter by burying themselves in the mud. 

There were two cormorants on the lower mill pond on the day.

Drying off its feathers as they're not as water proof as ducks feathers to help them whilst diving for their fish dinners.

They look quite tetradactyl whilst flying.

Wednesday is was threatening rain so did a bit of housework, well you have to sometimes don't you!.

Called at the Chemist opposite where the Fir Tree pub used to be for a Flu Jab, no waiting straight in and done.

Covid jab booked in later in the month, getting to look like a second-hand dart board now!. 

Then it was off to the Windmill for lunch and it didn't disappoint me with the usual Carvery and a half pint to help it down!.

I've been going there for about 50 years now and it's not changed much, though they have added a pizza counter, though that doesn't seen to do much at dinner time, perhaps it does better in the evening with the younger folk. 

I only have the turkey now, whereas I used to get beef as well for Pepe.

Back home Alfie is quite happy with a salad mix with grapes and cauliflower!.

Today it was off to Pear Mill on my own, but that doesn't bother me as it gives me a chance to browse round the stalls without worrying I'm holding up people.

Then I jumped on the motorway and made my way to Sainsburys, aren't motorways great, you can get from A to B in no time at all.

I like the SmartShop at Sainsburys where you can scan your items and put them straight into your bag then show your phone at the check out and pay and its done!.

So all in all a good week up to now, Reddish Vale again tomorrow weather permitting, hopefully a Kingfisher hey!.

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Remember when we spent money like there was no tomorrow,

Well it's tomorrow!.

What's the best way to stop water coming into your house?,

Don't pay the water bill!.

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The weekend, 22nd -24th Sept.23.

 This weekend has been a washout again, with it raining on and off all weekend.

Friday I went to Reddish Vale Country Park, was only there half an hour when the heavens opened again, but I did manage a few pictures for you.

The young couple of dog walkers from this van set off in the rain with their charges all happily wagging their tails!.

At Sunnyside pond this heron looked as though it was wading though pea soup the duck week was so thick. 

Must have to wait for movements has it can't see though that lot surely!. 

 This squirrel was enjoying a monkey nut.

With a bourbon biscuit to follow

Only went to Portland Basin Café on Saturday and a bit of shopping on the way home.

Today Sunday I went to McDonald's for lunch and saw they are doing the monopoly stickers again and one of the top prizes is an electric car!, I wonder how many of those are won at the end of the competition, that's of course if anyone wanted one!.

Then it was on to the Gorton lower ressers, but of course it started raining again as soon as I got there, so fed the birds and ducks, they must have been hungry with no one visiting.

As you can see the weather was a bit grim

This guy was very adventurous but he was soon followed by a lot more than I didn't manage to snap as I was covered with them. 

 As I didn't manage to take many pictures today, I thought the new readers might like to see a few of my earlier pictures taken here.

This pair of Great Created Grebes had a good brood a few years ago and I managed to get the babies riding on mums back whilst Dad was catching little fish to feed the babies.

I suppose mum tells dad who has had some, or perhaps its the biggest gets most in the real world.

I'm glad to say they all survived that year. 

So there you have it another rainy weekend, still we are used to it in the Rainy City!.

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Man to friend. "Your wife sings like a pirate".

Friend says "What do you mean?"

Man, "She's murder on the high Cs".

What do a lawsuit and a viola have in common?,

Everyone is much happier when the case is closed.

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Thursday, 21.9.23.

 Its not been a very nice week this week up to now, it's rained every day so no need to worry about your plants Val!.

I went to Pear Mill Café today to meet my friend Peter, yes another Peter!, had on my new shirt from the charity shop, the owner of the café even remarked on it, but wasn't too pleased when I'd shown her the price, £2.50!, would have been £20.50 there!. 

We had a good chat on our own as our friend Jean's car was in Intensive care and not going to recover!, so it's a bit of a shock when that happens isn't it.

It started out a nice day, so on the way home I called at the Gorton Lower Resser's to see if anything interesting for you.

That's all gone now Duckie, any more seed, we can't cope with monkey nuts.

Look at the size of the feet on this Moorhen.

You eat the seed and I'll keep my beady eyes on this shady guy in the hat!.

 Great Crested Grebe. 

The resident pair of swans in fine form.

Was only there half an hour and you've guessed it the rain came again!.

So called at Asda on the way home and then it was home for some washing, at least the rain keeps one in for some housework.

Back home it was a nice dinner for Alfie, with grape and apple in the menu today, too much fruit isn't good for them though it seems.

His table manners aren't very good as you can see.

He does like a slice of apple as you can see, he also likes grapes  and I do too now, and finish the tray off before they go off, so he's helping me to eat more healthily.

Finished another jig saw today, only a 500 piece one this, it's back off to the charity shop tomorrow.

So another wet day but good for the garden Chris.

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A chap walks into a butchers shop and says "Have you got a  sheep's head" 

The butcher replied "No it's just the way I brush my hair!".

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Steampunk event, 16.9.23.

 Yesterday, Saturday my friends and I went to our usual meeting place, Portland Basin Café on Saturdays now and this week we were pleasantly surprised to see crowds of people with cameras I knew and they had come to photograph the Steampunk people!.

I'd only see them as a team on Tenable on the telly, but they were all very sociable and were quite happy to have their photos taken in fact they were insisting!.

so here are a few of my pictures.

Carol Singer, appt name hey.

There was a stall there in case you wanted any dressing up bits, and even a cat model dressed up. 

Starting young!.

Looking more like a pirate, but was told there are all types of dress.

These two going for a walk in the area.

Perhaps the wife wasn't into it.

A note from the committee, the pies have arrived, do you remember who used to say that?.

These two were very eager to have their picture taken.

The stall holders.

Happy looking pair hey.

These were happier.

So there you have it, its all something to do with Jules Verne and H G Wells it seems, if you are interested you can just enter "Steampunk" into the search on the internet, plenty of stuff on there.

It just proves to you doesn't it, it takes all types in this world and they aren't doing anyone any harm.

The only thing I thought was that they could have made a lot of money for charity, but when we asked they said they only dress up for their own  pleasure.

At least my hat wasn't out of place for a change!, but I'm not quite into these though.

Sunday 

Didn't go out today, stayed in and did a few household jobs.

The new bird feeder I'd bought a few weeks ago hadn't been touched, then I moved it today. 

Within 10 minutes there was this lovely Great Tit on it!

Must be in a safer place for them now.

Still got loads of Baby Goldfinches coming to the feeders.

Think this one is from an earlier batch, has its just getting its red face.

  I finally put up my Garden camera after working out how it worked Had it a few months so it was good to get it up and working, got a solar panel on top so no need for loads of batteries, though there are some in for back up.

So a nice quiet day and some long overdue jobs done!.

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How about the cannibal who ate is mother-in-law,

She still didn't agree with him!.

Did you hear about the cannibal that passed his mother-in- law in the woods.

 

A butcher backed into the bacon slicer and got a little behind in his orders.

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