Reddish Vale Country Park, 31.5.2025.

 Yesterday it was off to Reddish Vale where I've not been for a while, but wanted to see the cygnets that had been reported on the group website.

First there was a Mandarin looking a bit dishevelled now the mating season seems to be over, though didn't see any babies on the day!.  

Think the crows know I have monkey nuts. 

 The pigeons didn't wait for me the throw the bird seed on the ground but covered me, thankfully not in poo!.

The swan family came over to see what all the fuss was about and soon tucked into the seed and mealworms

There were a couple of Herons high up in the trees at the top mill pond. 

Only one cormorant on the day.

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 Back home, I'd decided to do something with my bed headboard whilst waiting for the new bed to arrive I'd mentioned in my last post.

It was designed for twin beds, so first job was to remove the centre strip in the middle and repair the gap in the long strip. 
That went well and I filled in the gap with some of the strip taken out.

I'd bought two designs for a trial but decided on the black marble, the other one was ivy and didn't look right!, wasn't wasted though and put that up the stairs.

Then it was on with the black marble.

As you can see the small gap in the white strip as been filled in and is hardly noticeable.

Still needs some more below that's covered at the moment with the side tables, so ordered some more and it came this morning.

Might get a couple of bedside cabinets later, after I see what it looks like with the present system.

Just finished the lower black marble, Saturday night, sad isn't it, not the job, Me!.

 With the lights on!.

My friend Jean, red my earlier post about the white tailed bees and bought me a RSPB badge for my hat!, thank you again Jean.

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Debdale ressers, 30.5.2025.

 Tuesday 27.5.2025, went over to Debdale again to see how the Great Crested Grebes and Swans were getting on.

Always someone trying to get in on the picture.

First visitor was this magpie looking for Peanuts.

The two Grebe babies were doing well and looked double the size when I last went!.

Right over on the other side of the water so not so easy to get a good picture.

Dad was still chasing about fishing for the family.

The Coot babies were in fine form and they were definitely double in size since I last saw them. 

Still being feed by the parents.

This one is a bit smaller and still in the area them are not supposed to be!.

All five Swans were doing well and I made sure they had plenty of food.

Mum showing they how to duck under the water to get food.

I think they have learnt the lesson well.

Then it was off to Morrison's for dinner and some of their new chips which are very nice.

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#Gorton ressers again, 22.5.2025.

 Today it was over to the Gorton Ressers again to see the resident Swan family, can still see only 5 cygnets so perhaps the other two didn't survive!.

Looked like it was school time, with the parents showing the babies how to put their heads under the water. 

Looks like at least one has got the idea how to duck down and look for food under the water.

Not sure what dad was doing with them.

Even though the sailing centre was very busy the swans weren't giving up their territory which will have been passed down through the ages that this is their breeding place.

Don't worry kids they will be gone soon and we will have the place to ourselves again

In my last post I mentioned the sign that said "Don't feed the wildlife near the run off has it's dangerous for them"

This mother coot has built her net right near the sign!.

This one is a bit older!, but not by much as they soon grow up!.

The Great Crested Grebes were further down the lake so only got this picture, I didn't have the time to go nearer as I was meeting my mate for lunch at Morrison's.

My mate was having this mess with rice, luckily it didn't smell very strong as I'm not keen on Curry type meals.

But look at mine, that's a MINI fish and chips, as I'm a regular they seem to look after me, Or they think I need feeding up!!. 

As usual I only ate the fish and peas and a few chips.

Yesterday, on the way to the Bridge View café I called at Home Bargains at The Snipe in Ashton for bird food and whilst there saw there was a Bensons for Beds and had a quick call in to see if they sold electric beds?, a nice lady assistant said yes and took me upstairs to show me where they were, I said I'm meeting friends this lunch time but in true Arnie fashion said "I'll be back!". 

After a nice meal at the bridge with Christopher singing in the back ground and a game of Gin Rummy it was back to Bensons for Beds.

The nice lady was there again and after asking her where her accent was from learned she was Polish but spoken very good English which I found very refreshing after some of the past experiences I've had lately with some assistants.

This springs to mind.

So after a lay on the bed and the lady showing me the controls I Bought or should say Ordered this bed but not the headboard as I've got a built in one at home, that's saved quite a bit, then as I didn't have room or need a drawer underneath, that was a saving of 80quid! as well.

Then there was an offer on of 25% off until this coming Tuesday!. 

This is my headboard at the moment, will be having a think on how to change it for a single bed as it was made for a double originally! 

So as usual these days, it's a 4 week wait!.

Did ask about the removal of the old divan and mattress but they wanted £100 - the 25% to do that, I said no thanks the council will do it for nothing, since then my mate said he will take it to the tip for me, that's mates for you!. 
So a good week up to now!, The bridge View café we usually go to on Saturdays is closed for a family wedding, But is open on Bank  Holiday Monday so it's there next week instead of Dunelm.

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A word to the wise isn't necessary,

It's the stupid ones who need the advice!.

By the time you can make ends meet, 

they move the ends. 

Age doesn't always bring wisdom,

sometimes it arrives alone. 

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