Wednesday 8th.2.23.

  We are well into February and its still quite cold outdoors, but the good news for me is that my energy provider asked for my gas meter reading and it turns out I'm well into credit and I even got a rebate sent to my bank account!. I had been worried as most people are waiting for that first bill, so feel a bit happier now, plus its getting warmer and lighter now.

I went to the ressers on Sunday for a walk and spotted these Great Crested Grebes, (in the far distance I might add) they were starting to do their mating dance and it brought back memories of when I first saw this happening in Beeston, Nottingham with my sister and brother in law and it started me Twitching, (bird watching).

Love is in the air.

Beautiful birds.

Plenty of Turfed Ducks about too.

The female Tufty.

Tuesday after a nice Mini fish and chips at Morrisons.

Went down to Reddish Vale and got a better picture of the pigeon with the twisted beak thanks to this lady feeding it whilst I took their picture.

Must be a Great tit nest near here as they were backwards and forwards for ages enjoying my mixed seed.

The cormorant on the top mill pond.

There were a pair of Gadwalls on the lower Mill pond.

The female was tramping up and down to get the stuff out of the mud.

also a Wigeon.

This Canadian goose really stands out with its spotty neck which are usually all black.

This fancy looking pigeon was following me round the ponds, I'm sure they recognise the hat!, a squirrel stood by my car waiting for me to stock up my feeding bag, alas I'd run out of peanuts!.  

Today I had to take one of my hearing aids to SpecSavers in Sainsbury's as the rechargeable battery wouldn't charge, so whilst there had a look round and was quite surprise that some of the prices were cheaper than Morrisons!.

As my appointment was 12.15 and I only had to hand over my aid it was dinnertime so decided to try out the café and that turned out well too and the Ham, egg (two) and chips were really nice as was the coffee and hot milk in a flask, tables and area were nice and clean too. 

Finished of the day with a visit to  my mate Bob as he'd emailed me about his traumatic day at the dentist the previous day and he'd not asked me to take him, so I had to give him a piece of my mind, he'd been a bit groggy when he came out!.

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One or two for Bob!.

A Texan goes to the dentist, your teeth are fine said the dentist. "nothing needs doing".

"Drill anyway" said the Texan , "I feel lucky".

Man to dentist , "Can you recommend anything for yellow teeth".

Dentist "A brown tie!".

  

Three ways to keep your teeth.

Brush after every meal.

See your dentist every few months.

 Keep your nose out of other peoples business!.

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Last day of January 31st.1.23.

 Last day of January today and went to Reddish Vale!, not been for a long time after my illness of a few weeks earlier in the month.

Quite a few Gadwalls on the top mill pond today.

A crow.

Lots of pigeons about, they were glad of my seed bag.

Couldn't get a better picture of this one with a twisted beak, because it kept jumping on my arm, but you can see its beak is not right.

Perhaps its the only way to feed with that beak, get friendly and get plenty!.

A couple of cormorants drying out.

They ride quite low in the water, perhaps that's because their feathers aren't as waterproof as other water birds.

All the swans are doing well, since the last time I saw them.

Someone has hung a fat ball feeder on the main path round the lower mill pond, appreciated by this sparrow.

Size comparison, Blackbird and Wood pigeon.

 

Cute little Blue Tit.

Was lucky to spot these Parakeets in the tree in the horse field.

What do you think Gladys?.

Give us a kiss and I'll tell you.

Finished the day by going to my mates for some flat washers to fit my wheel extenders to my Brompton bike.

The black fitting there with the writing on came with wheels which I didn't expect, but not the washers to make it fit, which seems a bit daft to me.

Still my mate Bob the builder came up trumps again from his now depleted stock since he's stopped building, the model world has lost a great builder there. He had numerous articles published in Model Boats magazine and even starred in "Coast" tv programme with his brilliant paddler "Great Eastern".  

That's Bob on the left with Mark Horton from the "Coast" program off telly, with "Great Eastern", the ship that took the first cable to America.

Easy Wheels.

Easy wheels extended, for when its stood on its stand, makes it more stable!.

Glad to say I got my statement from my Gas/electric supplier today and I'm well in credit which is a relief!.

Well, on to February now and hope its a better month for you all, at least it's getting longer days now. 

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If a Jogger runs at the speed of sound , can he still hear his Walkman?.

The advantage of exercising every day , is that you will die healthier.

If God meant us to touch our toes he would have put them further up our bodies!. 

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The past week, 27th-30th January.2023.

 The past week hasn't been very exciting, the weather has still been rather cold, but at least we have Pear Mill Café to go to and meet friends.

On Sunday I went to McDonalds drive thru for lunch and afterwards though it was drizzling, had a stroll on to the ressers with my bag of seed and monkey nuts.

Seems I wasn't on my own with that idea, has there were a few other families there with the kids feeding the ducks and swans.

Dad and Mum with junior.

Mum and Dad.

Guess which is which, I'm not saying anything about the one with the mouth open!

Couple of Cormorants in classic pose.

Noticed a new piece of equipment at the reesers, what is it you ask?.

Hopefully it won't be vandalised, as it could save someone's life. 

Cheeky Squirrel, enjoying the nuts. 

At Pear Mill on Saturday I found the lamp shade I'd been looking for since I'd changed my Florescent fitting in the box room (Workshop).

I'd had a bare new light fitting for a few weeks and most of the shades I'd seen at the Mill had been cloth and about £40+!.

There on Saturday was a nice glass shade and reduced from £8 down to £4, which I guess was because it had a large opening that would be too large for the bulb holder, I soon sorted that out with layers of Plasticard left over from my boat modelling days and made a fitting that was missing, I do love a bargain!.

Looks a bit more decorative but doesn't cut out much light for my Jig sawing or modelling.

Today at Lydl's I got another plant for my hall stand, bought from Pear Mill a while back, but the trailing ivy I'd put in it didn't survive, not light enough possibly, so will try this one!.  

So not a bad week considering the weather, and by the way apart from a bit of Catarrh I'm back to full health, well as far as you can be at my age!!

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Harry got very excited after finishing a Jigsaw in only 6 months?,   on the box it said "From two to four years".

A man swallowed all the tiles from a Scrabble set.

The doctors said the problem would eventually work itself out , but not in so many words.

His wife made him join a bridge club.

He jumps off next Tuesday.

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