New Buys, 22.3.2019.

As I said in a previous post I'd treated myself to the latest Nikon Camera the P1000, it's quite a bit heavier that my P900, Checking with my new Amazon Account found this Pistol Grip.

 at only £9.99 and free postage.

It can be used on its own on the camera or as you can see here screwed onto my Mono-pod, has a strap at the bottom  and a strange fitting at the top I haven't found the use for yet, or use it as a walking stick as well, so a good buy.

Then whilst out on Wednesday my Camera battery ran out, so onto the iPhone and ordered two + charger,

 

£18.99!, the real Nikon one was £45!, so that is a good saving and as long as I keep them charged won't be in the same situation again.

No wonder Model shops, in fact any shops are struggling to survive these days when you can buy stuff at a fraction of their price and also free postage in most cases, even from China!.

What with hearing aids, batteries seem to be a big part of my life, still it could be worse if you had a pace maker as well.

Son bought me a Fitbit for my last birthday and yesterday a got another medal which you get on occasions, this one was to say I'd got the New Zealand medal.

What will they think of next!.

 

Well that's it for now. 

What no joke did you say?, what about this.

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And another!.

That really is it, so ta-ta for now!.

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Camera Hood, 19.3.2019.

The other week I said to my Mate Bob the Abel!, I will have to buy a hood for my Nikon P900, and being a ex-design engineer he said why not make your own!!.

So being up for  challenge, I bought a paper cup from the info centre at Reddish Vale for 10p.

 

After a bit of careful paring.

Came up with this.

 But they are only waterproof/ stiff for a while so it was on to the next idea.

I like to get value for money so came up with a used pot from my dinner!, and cut that to the size of the paper cup

It fit's.

Then it was another fall of soot!, when I saw a stiffer plastic bottle that had had hand wash in it

So more careful paring on the neck got it down to the right diameter and my modeling band-saw came into its own with a nice smooth cut.
Its the camera angle that's making the top look uneven.

Then it was out with the Black satin finish spray paint, off the camera of course whilst this was being done!.

There you have it a nice smooth push on fit once the lens is extended, Bob said I have to spray the inside as well but just left it like this to show him the writing inside so he could see what its made of!. 

There you have it a camera hood for 10p and some household items found round the house.

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Wet and Windy again,12.3.2019.

It was up early for a change and off to Oldham for Pepe's six weekly Wash and Trim and whilst he was being pampered I was enjoying a drink and bacon buttie at the Village Bakery cafe just up the road!.

"I'd rather have had the Bacon buttie Dad, but I do feel better for the groomers efforts, and here she is, my friend Kate of Mucky Pups for the past seven years"!.

That's the next client a giant poodle, they are all giants to me!.

Then on the way home we called at Addisons pet stores a brilliant place in Lees, Oldham, with everything imaginable for animals and their needs.

I bought Pepe a new bed as it was on offer at £12.99 reduced from £29.99!.

Some dog food and Pepe's favourite treat Dried sausages a link of 10 for 50p.

Then it was onto the motorway down to Reddish Vale for a drink and hope the rain would stop by the time we got there, it hadn't but put Pepe's coat on and had a quick photo session behind the info Centre.

The interloper!.

The Dunnocks

Blue Tit

Poor little Chaffy with Bumble foot.

Not so popular, but feed the ducks and you get these as well.

Roland Rat.

Then it was off to Morrison's for dinner, A mini Fish and Chips, £4 what a bargain! also saw one of the regulars Sheila from the Vale

On returning home got a picture of friends Pug Geoff, fine and well after his castration.

"What have you done to me Dad"

So not a bad day even with the rotten weather!.

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What about this weather!, 11.3.2019.

This weather was a surprise after a nice week when you wondered if you should shed a layer!, good job you didn't. I didn't and still caught a cold and hacking cough.

Still enough of that, it didn't stop Pepe and I from going out and about, only stopped us visiting our friends Bob and Joyce which was unfortunate but didn't want to pass my germs on, so gathered up my bell and went out crying, Unclean, Unclean!.

Finally got round to see them today and as happens we had plenty to talk about, but that's a mark of a true friend isn't it if you haven't seen them for a while and you carry on from where you left off.

The wildlife down in Reddish Vale don't seem to know what is going on with the weather, the Terror-Pins were out sunning themselves and stretching after their hibernation the other week in the sunshine and have all disappeared again now.

"Let's get back under cover"

The Parakeets were still at it!, the cold doesn't seem to dampen their ardour  

The Great Crested Grebes are still dancing together. 

I Can beat you with one leg out of the water!.

I spotted is little fellow last week as well and didn't know what it was but added it to the Reddish Vale website I'm a member of and the conscientious of opinion was that it was a Reed Bunting.

A first for me!.   

A beautiful Long Tailed Tit, such delicate little things, makes you wonder how they survive in this weather. 

These Cormorants seem to have teamed up and the male in the background there was in full breeding mode with his body a bright Peacock Blue and a red patch under his eye, she doesn't seem to impressed does she, perhaps he's full of himself and not providing for her needs ?.

Pair of guys out on the town.

Wasn't too many people at the park yesterday so this Blackbird was most appreciative of our seed. 

The past week while indoor sheltering from the cold I took this picture out of the frame and made a collage of last years Birds of Britain calendar. 

Don't think it came out too bad and it goes well with my current hobby, perhaps in time I might get good enough to use some of my own pictures in the next framing!.

Well that's till next time.

Finished another Jigsaw and started another today, check the tab at the top of the page to see the ones I've done in the past.

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1st March 2019.

Ist of March already, where did February go?, come to think of it where did January go?.

Had a good week out again with Pepe and the Cameras in the local parks and all the wildlife is courting it seems, here is a couple of blue tits checking out the accommodation at Reddish Vale Country park.

 

Watched them checking out the box and then they proceeded to start cleaning out the old nesting material from the last occupants. 

This box was donated by one of the local MPs so you can't say that they don't help families rehousing in the area!.

Wednesday met friend David with his daughters puppy Geoff the Pug who is back full of beans after his scary illness last month, we think he picked up and ate something that poisoned him!, still all's well that ends well.

Started a new jigsaw this week, bought from a charity shop of course.

Nice picture, close to my heart at the moment.

Had a good day of bargains today!, I do love a bargain don't you.

First off called at the new Sports Direct at Crown Point North again after buying a pair of jogging trousers the other week thought I'd get some more whilst they were on offer 70% off and would you believe it they were a £1 cheaper!than last week, if I go in a few weeks time they might be giving them away hey?.

Called at the Banardos Charity shop next door but one and got a 3D Jigsaw that lights up, even if it didn't light up it was a bargain, but getting it home checked it out and it works!!.

Watch this space for when I've done it.

Also bought a piggy bank money box for my spare coins I save for charities I give to.

The mug is just for scale, that was a pressie from my good friends Bob & Joyce 

 Piggie has a plug in the bottom so I don't have to jiggle about or break it like you used to have to when we were kids.

Reddish Vale Country Park information Centre nice Cuppa's and snacks, a nice meeting up area for chats with friends.

Talking of meeting up with people, I'd seen a Chinese chap and his English wife a few times round the park and decided it was time to introduce myself and Pepe and it turned out they used to own a famous local Chinese restaurant in the area and my friend Bob knew the lady though being fellow artists in the area, small world isn't it?. 

Nice to met people and chat and you never know it might be the thing that person wanted or needed at that moment!.

 Strangers are friends you haven't met yet!!

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