Third week in July, 2025.

 Third week in July already, where does the time go?.

Been a bit quiet for me the past week as my mate and his wife have been away of a weeks holiday.

The first Monday I went over to the Gorton ressers and as the weather didn't look too good only took my small Nikon A1000 camera, but the pictures it takes aren't too bad are they!.

The black hills in the background, not the black hills of Dakota, Doris Day used to sing about, rather the Pennines.

 At first only saw the adult swans and thought "Oh no where are the babies?, but they aren't babies anymore, has they were off on their own further down the lake fending for themselves, but wait there's only four there.

They were soon joined by the fifth one when it saw I had food.

So all present and doing well.

The sailing club, no one out on the water, there had been three school coaches outside when I arrived on the car park. 

This magpie isn't taking any chances with its peanuts, one in it's beak and holding on to the other with it's foot.

These youngsters didn't stand much chance. 

Has I was leaving to go to Morrison's for lunch noticed this in my rear view mirror, on the sailing club wall, I 've shown the full picture a few times in past posts.

Put some stuff on my car doors from Amazon to stop me banging them on the wall. 

Had a couple of visits to The Bridge View Café during the week with my friend Jean and we have been playing Cribbage as our third team member for Gin rummy is in hospital, was a sudden thing after a visit to the GPs it was into hospital within two weeks! and operated on!.

This Monday (21st) I went down to the Vale for an hour before meeting my mate for lunch at Morrison's.

It's been a long time since I last had a bird on my knee!.

On the right there, is usually full of water, but not at present.

These baby mallards have taken over this Coot nest and settled in and not giving it up.

Mum still watching over them.

Terrapins on the top mill pond.

Heron on the lower mill pond.

It's a bit of a flasher!.

Looks like the Reddish everglades doesn't it.

Plenty of mallard babies about.

Little Grebe on the lower mill pond.

Moorhen on lower mill pond.

Lot's of blue dragonflies on the lower mill pond, but they are too quick for me  to get a better picture.

Had a sit on this nice bench but didn't stay long as the pigeons were following me and I didn't want them pooing on this nice clean bench.

Last but not least, my lovely daughter-in- law on holiday with my five Great- grand children.

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Second week in July,2025.

 Monday the 7th of July it was off down the Vale, it was very warm so didn't stay too long.

This site of pebbles on the right is usually full of water, but has you can see it's dried up with the hot weather.

Watched this young heron hunting along the bank on the other side of the top mill pond, I thought I might get a picture of it with a fish in it's beak  

But like me it was out of lucky!.

Amazing, that the Little Egret is still around on the top mill pond.

Plenty of mallard babies about.

Mum giving them a few lessons on what's good to eat.

Here are a few Mallards that are a bit older.

Plenty of Terrapins on the top mill pond.

A few smaller ones on the lower pond.

From the other side of the pond.

Floral display on a friends bench on the lower mill pond, always fresh flowers there.

Black headed gull on the lower pond, not many of these about.

Then it was off to Morrisons for lunch with Chris the Singer.

Back home I thought the new electric bed deserved some new bedding so here's what it looks like now!.

Teal blue the colour!.

The computer stand I tarted up earlier was so nice so decided to go a bit further.


That's the top done as well.

That's it now as I've used all the materials up, waste not want not!.

Tuesday at the Bridge View café, they don't usually open on Tuesday's but they had a DO on so we were invited too!.

Learned this crowd come three times a year for their meetings, they must like it hey!.

Thursday 

It was off to the Bridge View café again and it was full again, there again I think it's because my mate Christopher was singing. 

There was another crowd booked in at the back but there was no reaction from them and I thought perhaps like me they were deaf, but when they were leaving quite a few told Christopher that they had really enjoyed it. I think artists like a bit of inter-action when they are performing as well.

My gang always give him a good slapping  clapping 😇 he's really good though, pop down to the Bridge View café to see him any Thursday.

Last night Friday I noticed the moon was quite lower down and a nice reddish colour, perhaps deflecting all the fires around with the hot weather!.

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This is the joke section isn't it.

What's this government thinking trusting the French, with 700 million already paid out and the boats are still coming!, and the French fishing boats too. 

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