T is for Teal

The A-Z challenge to-day is "T" for Teal 

Teal is a bluey green colour on the colour chart.

Its also a small fresh water duck related to the Mallard.

Handsome fellow isn't he, as in most birds and water fowl he is more colourful than the female.

The call of the male is a bright metallic Crik crik  ringing across the marshes, whilst female has a weak quack, that's not usual is it??

A few more duck's from our area 

Golden eye

Tufted Mallard

Mandarins see what I mean about males more colourful

And this one because my little duckling RJR likes it

Don't usually see these out of the water.

And last but not least is the fact that it's my Surname "Teal" hence the nick-name Duckie!

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

A bird in the hand is better than two in a photograph.

He was responsible for feeding the Pelicans in the zoo.

It wasn't much of a job but it filled the bill.

My wife does bird imitations she watches me like a hawk.

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

That's all folks 

"T" but not for the A-Z challenge.

Day of rest for the A-Z challenge.

So as not to get too rusty thought I would up-date you on the fact that I've recently replaced some of my power Tools.

Having helped John out over the years I've come to appreciate the power tools made by Ryobi, so as my Tool kit is getting a bit old I've gone mad and bought these.

Starter Kit with drill battery, charger and bag, also an impact driver

Then it was;

A circular saw and a Jigsaw.

One battery fit's all these.

Then thought what about a band saw.

So bought this one

And lastly a decent vice.

So there you have it, the old stuff which still has some life left in it, has gone to a good new home that's just been bought by members of our extended family, hope they give them as good a service has they  have given me over the year's

My Wife always said "A fool and his money are soon parted" there again how did he get it in the first place!!

Well that's blew my  "T" for to-morrow's Challenge out of the water hasn't it!, what's to-morrows "T" then, wait and see.

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

Sales 

"There's a salesman a the door with a young lady"

"Tell him I'll take one" 

"How did the new salesman do to-day?"

"He got two orders"

"One to get out and the other to stay out!" 

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

That's all folk's  

S is for SEA

To-days post is S for Sea.

As we are an island some of us have to go to sea! 

After seeing these video's I'm just glad it's not me.

Watch this video and then click on the one at the end of this video for another one struggling in bad weather

If you still think that's nothing to worry about try this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7ASvFEmMuk&feature=related

Yes after watching these video's I've come round to my wife's idea.

I'd rather have a plug in my water and if it get's too rough with my plastic duck I can pull the plug.

R is for Rig supply ships

R is for Rig Supply Ships.

I fancied building this Model from  Model Slipway has I'd had very good results in the past with their other kits, and this had a bow thruster which I'd not fitted before, and the rear deck had plenty of room for some scratch built features, and some nice little mini models in the kit such as a Waterfall winch and two Tugger winches either side of the large deck area. There is also a  electro-hydraulic deck crane located on the boat deck for cargo handling.

These work horses of the oil fields have to deliver to the oil rigs in all weathers and as you can imagine it's not a case of just throwing your rubbish over the side of the rig! its all got to be brought back as well.

Built for worldwide operations to service and tow drilling units, and support production platforms, Aziz and her sister ship Arif were commissioned in 1983 for Prince Offshore of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The kit manufacturer Laurie White was there on the day the Aziz was delivered brand new, probably looked like my model, I don't weather my models! perhaps the next one hey. 

My business card picture

The deck area showing the Winches, mini models in themselves

The deck area, the blue Fuel tank was a friend's Pill bottle, the jet fuel was a old railway wagon and the silver and brown ones were scratch-built.

The container was bought with the boat kit!

Equipment locker with RJR'S tools

click for video to see one of these ships in action

Not for wimps these jobs

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/apr/13/scotland

That's it for "R" for Rigs

Q is for Quest, Quotes and Questions.

Q is for Quest,Quotes and Questions.

My Quest at the moment is to complete my Narrow Boat Model and start my next project.

Just the windows to glaze, a bit of wiring and of course the name! 

Another Quest is to be a bit more creative with my cooking, make that a lot more.

Then again I want to be more creative with my photography and use my SLR camera instead of always using my Compact, there again carrying the compact makes sure you don't miss any good shots.

Q is for Quotes

Q is for Questions

Should a single crab have nippers.

Why is abbreviation such a long word.

Can a cross-eyed teacher control his pupils.

Is it cruel to sew buttons on flies.

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

That's all folks.

P is for Pedallo

To-days A-Z challenge is P for Pedallo.

One of our club members saw a picture in a newspaper a few years ago of a chap cycling on the river on a  Pedallo bike, so Martin being Martin decided to make a model of one, from the picture.

And this is the result.

He made the Victorian suit and found a boater hat from somewhere.

He once told me that if he could see the working parts it was no good and went into the bin, no working parts on show on this is there!.

Not content with this project, later on he said "Do you remember the Pedallo",  "Who could forget" said I, "Well I've made a full size one" he said. with a bit of persuasion he bought it to the Bury Model Boat club a few weeks later for their Open Day and it was a great success. 

The launching.

He always goes that extra bit and as you can see dressed up for the part as well.

And here he is on the water.

He then asked if anyone wanted a go, I was first in the queue! can't pass up an offer like that can you.

And there I am, and I must say it was steadier than a bike on the road, and not as much traffic.

This last year (2011) Martin was asked to bring it to the Help for Hero's Day that the club ran, all proceeds to the H-4-H fund, again it was a great attraction as you can see from the video's live action shots.

A couple more stills

Andy the then Commodore

And my good friend Bob the Builder!.

Knowing the British Waterways they would charge you passage and mooring fees every time you stopped though wouldn't they?.

What a great successful project this turned out to be.

That's all folks 

O is for other hobbies and pastimes

O is for Other hobbies and pastimes.

Over the years I've tried and done many hobbies and pastimes, on the basis that if you don't try it, you won't know if you like it or not. When son RJR was young it was model railroads, it was for him and that's my story and I'm sticking to it!.

Then it was ice skating which I then had to take the blades off and replace with wheels, wifey didn't like it after a bad fall, no roller blades in those days.

In later life I turned to Windsurfing outdoors and Cross Stitch indoors, kept that a secret for quite some time as I didn't want people to think I was effeminate, then I found out a lot of people couldn't do it anyway so that made me feel better about it, here are some of my efforts.

"If all the worlds a stage why do all the clowns live here?".

My mother tried to learn me to knit but I drew the line there, I think she wanted a daughter really, then my sister arrived and I was saved to do more manly things!.

Power kites are an Other of my things, but you need a beach for that really don't you, wide open spaces, toes digging into the sand whilst the Flexifoil kites, two in tandem try to pull you into the air.

The windsurfing went when my wife didn't want to join in, she said she liked a plug in her water!. That's when we joined the model boat scene, "I built em and she sailed em". I lose interest when I've finished the project, so then it's on to the next one.

The boat yard.

Velda sailing her Wyeforce Tug.

So it's on to the next letter of the A-Z challenge to-morrow, no getting bored with this!.

What will a "P" bring, relief perhaps?.