Down the Vale, 2026.

 I went down the vale yesterday for the first time this year, cold but I was well wrapped up.

I'd hear there was a Golden Eye Duck there at the moment, which are a rare find there, I was lucky that a friend David was there and pointed it out to me, it was hard to see amongst the little gulls and tufted ducks, so I was lucky David was there.

I was then able to show another friend Emily where the goldies were!.

Has you can see here the tufted ducks are very much alike.

Emily thought this black and white one was the goldie but they are Male and female Goosanders, male the black and white one, the one with the rusty head is the female.

Quite a few Gadwalls about too.

Plenty of Squirrels too 

This chap is getting mobbed feeding the birds.

A splash of colour on a cool grey day. 

The swan family has still got one of the youngsters with them, surprised that one still there, usually see them off to start breeding again.

Heron there too

Back home there are loads of Sparrows on my feeders!.

Finished this jigsaw last week and it was so nice decided to frame it!.

Bought a pack of two photo frames from Amazon and they fit a 70x50cm jigsaw perfectly!.

Finished and framed this one too, birthday present from friend Jean.

The Bridge view Café was full on Thursday with a large group from St Georges church in Stalybridge.

Lady vicar on the right with the red hat.

A chap borrowed the mike and said it was nice to welcome the group and mentioned that it was their Christmas and New Years dinner 

They didn't show much appreciation by clapping for my mate singing but they said they enjoyed it.

This chap had his two English bulldogs there too, very well behaved.

They had a tub of ice cream each.

Bought these seat belt extensions from Amazon and it makes it much easier to clunk clink now! 

So its the end of January already!.

........................................