An event hosted by The Bridge View Café, 22.8.2024.

 A good day yesterday when I met my two friends at the Bridge View Café, though it was packed out I'd got there early and managed to get a table.

Outside there was a group of people setting up something!?,

 but I was told I'd have to wait and see, so snapped this whilst waiting, gives something to explain what it's about.

 

Then it was all set up!, rain had stopped play for a while.

The accompanying band. 

Then the lady clog dancers started their dancing, looks like the little girl would have liked to join in!.

No ! that's not a Burka in the foreground it's someone's coat over a bollard!.

 The bridge the Café is named after,

A different view from a painting in the café. 

Outside again there was this narra boat moored upon the other side of the canal.

All sort's and colour's of boats pass though here, if you are a Corrie fan you might remember Gale's husband tried to do away with their family by driving into the canal here, years ago!.

This is the boat that was the project The Princess Royal, Princess Anne came to see last month, that the Bridge Café hosted for her.

I was told by the regular crew that Anne had a go on the tiller too going down the canal.

If it's good enough for royalty it's good enough for us.

It's a very with it boat as it's driven by an electric motor and used for taking wheelchairs and people with special needs on board, note the chequer plate ramp. 

This is the view as Jean and I left, gives you the idea of the size of the museum in the background, and it's free inside!. 

So another good day was had by all, with Christopher doing his singing again  

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Did you hear of the two cannibals sat eating a clown and one turned to the other and said does this meat taste funny to you?.

Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level then beat you with experience. 

What do you call a cat that has eaten a whole duck?

A Duck-filled-fatty-puss

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Another good day today, 21.8.2024.

 Today it was off to Reddish Vale Park again, it was rather dull outdoors but still quite warm.

Had a drink and a chat with the Lady Sarah at the Coffee Dream Machine, here is the program for this week.

Had a walk round the lower and upper mill ponds, still plenty of cormorants about.

On the hunt for dinner.

Drying out.

Honest the one that got away was this big!. 

Female mallard on the lower mill pond.

I'd taken a pear for the blackbirds, but the squirrel got to it first and tried it, but I don't think it was liked very much it he left it after a few bites.

The big Terrapins on the upper mill pond were out sunning themselves but the small ones that are usually on the lower pond weren't out, must have been too cool for them, as it was for me so didn't linger long

Couple of herons there today too

Then it was off to Morrison's for dinner which was a bit quieter today thankfully, (I was a bit later as I had an 3-00pm appointment at Specsavers afterwards) the fish and chips were just as nice though.

Whilst in there spotted the two ladies Rachel and her mum Helen who used to own the Café at Pear Mill, so that was a nice surprise to chat to them for a while, not too long though as Helen had had an hip operation so I didn't want to delay them.

Then it was off to Sainsburys and Specsavers for my eye test which went very well as the Indian lady who tested me said there was no difference from my test two years ago, these plastic eyes are holding up well as its a lot of years since I had my cataracts done!. 

I had the extra £10 scan which scan's the back of your eyes and she talked me though the scan and what was good, ie the part that you see colours and various other things I've already forgot, they can see a lot of your health though your eyes and she said I'm good for my age, but as I said it's the legs that are going nowadays, just old age I guess!.

Still bought a couple of pair of reading spec's as I've dropped the old ones a few times!.

I upset them there but I won't go into that here, if you see me ask me about it!.

Back home my buddleia plant in the centre of the front garden is doing very well, had white and purple flowers up to now, perhaps the pink ones are late flowering  

Been to the Bridge Café to Portland Basin this week and they were quite busy, but I always manage to get a table there and had a game of chess with friend Jean.

Busy in the car park.

Struggling will this jigsaw at the moment, but patience is the way to go isn't it. 

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Did you hear the one about the burglar who fell into the cement mixer?.

Now he's a hardened criminal!.

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Nice day down the Vale, 16.8.2024.

It was a nice day down the Vale today with not too many kids in the park, perhaps all dashing down to the sea like Lemmings!.

First it was a visit to the Coffee Dream Machine to see the Lady Sarah and get a drink.

She said her daughter had got some good exam results, enough to get her into university which is a good thing in one respect But!, a parents worry in there to!. 

Another visitor to the café was this little cutie, reminded me of my departed Pepe though!.

Been some new signage put up in the park recently.

The info centre is still looking nice with a new bench and flower tubs in front of it, though not in operation at the present time.

There were still plenty of Cormorants in and around the park in various stages of drying out or preening.

Under arm deodorant needed for this youngster?.

A nice Heron on the lower mill pond.

Managed to capture this male kingfisher today in the same place that the young lady Emily saw it earlier in the week.

Was quite active fishing for his dinner.

Made my day, yes it doesn't take much theses days!.

A bit of  greenery for you don't ask me what it is, but nice and colourful at the side of the path. 

Unusual coloured pigeon, they are very attentive these days, what with the information centre closed for bird seed, though the lady Sarah at the Coffee dream machine is selling it and the money collected going to the upkeep of the park.

I must say the volunteers are doing a fantastic job keeping the park looking its best, I try to help out by carrying my secateurs with me and trim off any branches sticking out on to the pathways, it's not much but every little helps as they say!.

Today's visit to Morrisons for dinner was ok, though the available  tables were scarce with the kids that I'd thought earlier had fled to the coast being sat in the café there on free meals and free refills for the mums. Where are all the starving kids the media keeps telling us there are in this country, can't be that starving as most of the free meals ends up on the floor!. 

This was my Mini Fish and Chips today, just enough for me!.

Finished another jigsaw today and got a couple more from the charity shop on the way home. 

This one going to the Bridge view café tomorrow where they are on display to take one home free if you go there for a meal.

This is my next jigsaw looks a bit of a challenge

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