Welcome to my new Blog



Welcome to my Blog.
My Blog is mostly about my hobbies, ie Model boats, Cross Stitch, Gardening, Days out and about, Lego Technics and Photography you might recognize the hat rather than me. My models and other hobbies can be found in the Tabs at the top below the header picture.
There will also be entries of days out with my camera, weather permitting of course.

Tuesday 30 July 2019

Out & about, last post- 30.7.2019

The weather hasn't kept us dog walkers in since we found out a couple of new venues that are dog friendly.
Friend Jean's daughter was up from Devon and we all had another trip to the Pear Mill Antiques Emporium and Cafe I had found to be dog friendly at an earlier visit, and the others were not disappointed. We had a completely different set of crockery from last time, its quite a novelty to see what we will receive each time.

Pepe likes the place too as our dogs got a plate of nice boiled ham to share!.

Anyone out there that collects teapots would be in their element as the place is full of them in the cafe and also in the shop, all shapes, sizes and themes!.
We also had a return visit to the Kingfisher Pub in Greenfield, that's nice even if its raining as it's also dog friendly.
View from the Marina on a nice sunny day, managed to miss the rain.

On the canal walk to work up an appetite for lunch.

Unfortunately the Fun Day at Reddish Vale had to be cancelled due to the bad weather on Sunday, such a shame, not only for the revenue it could have generated but the work that Pam and her team of volunteers had done to make it the best year yet.
I believe Daryll will be having hot dogs for dinner for weeks to come,.
All the muffins that were bought have been given to a local drop in centre, that's a nice gesture isn't it rather than going to waste!.
Talking about food this heron has found a nice fat frog for lunch.

Another one for luck the herons not the frogs.
Nature is cruel at times but even heron's have to eat don't they.

Gotcha!, the grebe doing well for dinner too, that looks a big one.
Another heron that prefers a bit of fish, a perch I think. 

That's a wicked looking beak isn't it.

This Baby Grebe doing well and looking like it getting a bit of brown on its neck or is that rust? with the weather we have had the last few days.


A cormorant has appeared on Sunnyside pond today.
Back to front view. 
Who is going to give way here?, the terror-pin wants to be at the top as do all creatures.

A nice little cute duck for you after the earlier blood and gut's.

The resident Swans seem to have gone back to the top lake after their eggs didn't survive on the lower lake? Mink there with young ones!. 

Young Robin before it get's its red breast.

Plenty of them about at the moment, this one's got it's shorts on.

Well that's it again, The Gardens did needed the rain even if we didn't hey.
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Behind every successful man is a surprised Mother-in-law.

The pen is mightier than the sword, but only if the sword is really quite small and the pen is really really sharp!.

Never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
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Tuesday 23 July 2019

Peregrine Falcons at Pear Mill Stockport, 21.7.2019.

This past Sunday had a trip to Pear mill again as last week only saw a bit of a tail on top of the very high chimney.

In the old days they didn't just throw things up in concrete, they gave them a bit of character as in the base of this chimney you can see the Pears.
Looking like some maintenance work being done at the moment, unless they have found another Fred Dibner, lets hope not.

A big pear on the corner of the building too.

This week I did better as I sat there and didn't get distracted by the Cafe and the Antiques dept
Outside the showrooms.

My patience paid of and there was this beautiful bird that had just finished it's lunch on a pigeon  


Though I'd missed the young brood and their fledgling it was still nice to see at least one of them. 

Perhaps now I know where the car park is and their nesting area I will get to them next time!.

I wondered what this Magpie was doing in the Falcons nest, thought it can't be housekeeping, then when I looked closer on the PC at home realised it was having a quick snack on the Falcons last kill, if it's not careful it will be dessert.

Then it was to the mobile catering wagon on Halfords car park for a bacon Buttie, before continuing on to Reddish vale to see other friends.
A quick cuppa and on to the lake (no I don't walk on water ) to the lake side where these cute little Mallards were.

Donald with Huey Dewey and Louie.

No wonder children like feeding them, problem is the kids don't realise bread is bad for them, there again chocolate is bad for us but we still eat it don't we!.


Can't beat a good shake after a diving session.

Henry the Heron wondering if he could manage a bit of Terror-Pin, think its too big even for him.


Aah well back to the posing.

From a previous post.

A young Robin before it get's its red breast.

A bit of a Do (do you remember that good TV program) this one is on this coming weekend, if last year is anything to go on it will be great again, lets hope the weather holds out for them!.

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Whats a polygon?
A dead parrot!.

Why do seagulls fly over the sea?
Because if they flew over the Bay they would be Bagels!.

A chicken crossing the road is Poultry in motion.

Why are woodpeckers smarter than Chickens?,
Ever heard of Kentucky fried Woodpecker?. 
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Thursday 18 July 2019

Trip to The Kingfisher Pub Greenfield. 18.7.2019.

Today saw Pepe and I out on a trip to the Kingfisher Pub in Greenfield, where we had called in months ago but was being refurbished and wasn't open until the next day!.
A friend of mine had been told that it was now in full swing and was DOG Friendly!, so I went to tsee for myself if the information was correct, and it was.
We were early and saw members of the management outside having a last smoke before the rush and they confirmed that there was a section inside that was ok to go in with your dog.
We said we would have a walk along the canal to work up appetite and here are a few picture along the way.
At the rear is a nice narrow boat marina, and at the side of that is a Tesco store.



This boater has the same interest in cacti as me.

Fancy swing bridge to get into the marina.

The canal walk towards Uppermill.

Lock gates though the arch.

Quite a deep lock this one.

The only baby duck seen on the day.

A cute little thing, kept diving for the seed that was sinking, just like the saying , 
Ducking and Diving.

Another tunnel which we found went under the road in Uppermill.


And there we were in Uppermill

Nice bench

Some more men in sheds, just like those at Reddish Vale.

A local celebrity, Ammon Wrigley, Poet and Historian.


Saddleworth Museum and Galley.

Narrow boat used for trip up the canal at weekends.

Jackdaw.

Path back to the grub!, that fencing reminded me of my time as a volunteer at the Donkey Sanctuary behind Debdale park, where the handyman and myself did fencing like this for the donkey paddocks.  

The doggie area in the pub.

Pepe on the chair under the poster for two Sunday Roasts for £12.

This lady gave Pepe some chicken that was for her dog.

Some of the menu.

I had the Fish & Chips and it was lovely.

Outside at the side of the canal, I held the ladies dog whilst she went for a drink and the loo's, then she did the same for me.

Large car park.

On the way I'd called at my favourite Charity shop Barnardo's in Ashton and got a book and an unusual jigsaw puzzle, that looks like another challenge!.
I went to the Newbank Garden Centre in Uppermill and got the plant and though the cafe will allow dogs in the front I was already full after the pub.

As soon as I got home repotted the plant in a pot I had spare before I sat down and fell asleep which I intend to do after a meal at  dinner time, its an age thing you know.

It was a nice change to go somewhere different, and the weather helps doesn't it.
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A couple of parrots are sat on a perch, One says to the other "Can you smell fish?. 

What do you call a woodpecker with no beak?.
A Headbanger!.
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