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.

Monday, 10 February 2025

Unlucky February, 10.2.2025.

 Well it's been unlucky February for me up to now, just hope this trend won't carry on now.

Firstly one of my front upper teeth fell out of my dentures, so it was out with the Gorilla super glue and it's gone back perfect, being an old modeller helps I suppose.

Then my car packed up and with all the cars in those flats in Stockport flooded out I've not been able to get into the garage of my choice until the 13th, (hope that's not a bad omen). but luckily my mate and next door neighbour goes' to the same cafés we do so I've been able to keep my outing the same!. 

I've been jigsaw puzzling the past week instead of out with the camera, the puzzle mentioned in my last post as seemingly impossible? well I've done it.

 


I've finished, only due to the fact that it was a Chinese puzzle and they mostly have letters on the back, ie A.B.C.D so gives one some idea!. 

Then I started a puzzle (500 pieces) that a good friend in Cornwall had had made from one of the pictures from my calendar into a puzzle using Snapfish.


Not quite the right colours but still a nice birthday surprise. 


This turned out to be a bit more of a challenge , as a lot of similar colours and no letters on the back.  

My friend Jean said I have some frames at home, send me the measurements, which I did and she came up with a frame I'd given her years ago, and would you believe it it was a perfect fit, couldn't have been better if I'd had it made, my luck might be changing!.  
Not a very good photo but the best possible, with the light on the stairs 

With some of my other favourite pictures I've taken in the past.

Another I've framed in the past, I like clowns, not everyone doe's.

It is strange but I've driven past this tree a thousand times but never noticed it before, (eyes on the road) but with my mate driving there it was whilst we were stopped at the traffic lights.
As you can see the tree has wrapped itself round the railings!, in the back ground there, is the carpark for Taylors Glass on Reddish Lane, Stockport.

The new light I bought for Alfies box 
 mentioned in the previous post seems to be ok with the switch incorporated into the clamp, so might be a bit more sturdy.
Yesterday was looking out of the back bedroom window and the squirrel proof bird feeder which was quite expensive and hung there for weeks with no birds using it, and there was a Goldfinch on it! and another on the washing line that used it too, Over the moon that the goldfinches are back!.
Well hope the change in luck continues when I take the car into the garage on Thursday, fingers crossed.
Thanking all my friends for the car lifts over the past week and into this week.
One of my friends from Reddish Vale photographers is in hospital at the MRI and has had a 14 hour operation on his jaw for the big C and bone cut out and a piece from his leg put in!, and I'm worried about a car!!.
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Friday, 31 January 2025

January 31.1.2025.

 Well that's the last of January, it's not been too bad here in Manchester, had snow for a couple of odd days but it doesn't last  long here.

We were at the Bridge view café on Thursday and had Chris singing there, so a good time was had by all.

The water in the canal was just on the edge of freezing, but not quite. 

Picture in the Café. 


Managed to get down to Reddish Vale on Monday (27th) it was nice and sunny but quite cold, good job I'd bought a good coat earlier!.
Plenty of squirrels about, good thing I had plenty of treats and food for them.
The resident pair of swans, hopefully they will be nest building soon.

Squirrel with some apple.


This one with a peanut.
Another one with seed.


This carrion Crow was tucking into some apple too.

Cormorant on the top mill pond.

Cormorant on the lower mill pond.

A pair of tufted ducks on the top mill pond.

Plenty of robins about, they arrive as soon as I do!.
Looks like the box under the viaduct (the one facing the river) is being looked at by a pair of pigeons.

Heron on the top mill pond.

 Nice group of Male Mandarin ducks in water near their favourite trees. 



Then off to Morrisons for lunch.

I've started a new jigsaw today, but it's going to be a long time doing this one!!.
I didn't buy this one, it was a Christmas or birthday  present, "Northern lights over Norwegian village".

Lots of similar colours there isn't there. 
Will take a long, long time to finish this one, but I have a lot of patience and will do it in the end!.
Alfies lamp burnt out this week so it was on to Amazon for a new one, different make, but very similar, with two bulbs!.
So will see how long this one lasts!.
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Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Wednesday, 22.1.2025.

 Since my last post I've managed to get down to the Vale for a couple of times, today looked a bit dodgy but the rest of the week looks worse so thought I'd better get a visit in before the next storm due tomorrow!.

My earlier visit last week produced these pictures, the weather this last couple of weeks had the river rising and here you can see how high!.


Squirrel with peanut.

Squirrel with apple.


Blue tit 
Great tit
Wigeon.
Nuthatch
Moorhen.

Today it was very quiet in the park which is good for us photographers but not for the wild life, as they are used to people feeding them!. Still it was ok as I always have plenty of seed in the car and people in all good faith don't realise that bread isn't good for the ducks!.

Female swan.

Male swan.


Any more food mate?.

Well cared for bench with floral tribute.

Dunnock in the undergrowth.

Crow with peanut.

Not sure what the collective noun is for these tufted ducks, the males are the ones with white on the sides.

Bathtime.

Couple of cormorants there today.

Plenty of robins that are quite tame and come up to you for food.



Male tufted duck.
Female tufted duck.

Male and Female mandarin ducks. 

How do you get so many colours on one duck, beautiful aren't they.

Then it was off to Morrison's for dinner and a warm up.
So it was another good day down the Vale

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