Amelia Rose update, 23.5.2017.

In case you thought I'd not done much on my present build of Narrow Boat 'Amelia Rose' here is an update.

This is what it should look like when finished if you've forgot.

Looking drab at the moment hey.

Cut out the windows this week.

Used a strip of wood to make sure all the windows were at the same level.

And the other side showing the front windows as well.

Looking a bit more like it now.

The hatch cover is finished with a bit of canal art!.

Sister Barbara in OZ couldn't believe it when she heard I'd had a water meter fitted in Manchester 'The Rainy City'.

This was my back garden view the last week. 

This is the view today.

You wouldn't believe the difference in my water bill!, so my hose pipe has gone and replaced by the two water butts so my plants won't suffer!.

This week my mate Dave at the lake got his in-law who is a Eddie Stobart driver to contact the driver of the Volvo driver of 'Velda' at the Depot near Dagenham to send me these pictures!.

 

Still would like to spot it myself but this is a good start, so thanks to Dave and the Driver!.

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Doctor, Doctor, I need something to keep my hair in.

'Here's a shoe box'.

Doctor, Doctor, my baby is the image of his father.

'Never mind as long as he's healthy'.

Did you hear of the Dentist who found a cavity so deep in his patients tooth, he sent the guy to a chiropodist!.

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This week,10.4.2017.

This week at the lake its been a bit hectic, with the school holidays but not too bad if you get there early, suppose the little darlings don't get up too early in the holidays, and why should they!.

Wednesday it was off early to the Vets for Pepe's  Flea & worming tablet, then a dash up to Oldham for the lad's wash and trim, I know its a long way to go for that but he gets a good going over and he's not stressed going there which is the main thing isn't it!

Who's a pretty boy then??.

It's a good morning out for me as well, as I get to go to a local cafe that's near to without worrying if he's safe in the car, and the cafe is one half takeaway, sandwiches,pies and beautiful cakes made on the premises and the other half is a nice clean cafe with good prices.

Brought home a nice apple pie for after tea with some custard on.

I also like to have a scout round the charity shop for any books or other items

On the day I got a couple of books I'd not read and this nice plaque for 50p, You've got to buy that at that price haven't you?, bargain of the week!

Will look nice on my kitchen wall!.

Remember I mentioned that Velda had an Eddie Stobart truck named after her, well I can track her on my Iphone and today she was at Trafford Park near to where I live and here she is on the way home down the M6.

Good in't!.

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This reminds me of my favourite film, can you guess what?,

Its The Body Guard!, but he's falling asleep on the job by the look of it!.

Not Velda, but a nice message from Eddie Stobart's.

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Ellesmere Weekend 2014

Just spent a great weekend at Ellesmere Model Boat Show with my good friend Bob.

There were plenty of other members there at our stand showing off their boats and explaining the in's and out's of them to the visitors.
Here is a short video of the site to give you an idea of the action there

If you want to see more of the show
Click here

I thought this boat was a nice touch, built by a member of the Liverpool MBC for his daughter

It's a springer tug and you can have any design for the superstructure, 

And at the back it tells you what its powered by!!.

Plays Disney tunes from the sound system too!.

This past week been out with friend Marjorie, visited a couple of new (to her) garden centres  namely Gordon Rigg's GC  and All-in-One GC  in north side of Manchester, Rochdale.

My Star buy was this massive succulent, beautiful hey, if you like that sort of thing that is!.

This is a present from Bob and his good lady Joyce to add to my rapidly growing collection, good job the plants are not the rapid growing type 

And here is friend Bob and Joyce with Bob up to some more of his Photoshop tricks!

Got up a bit late today after all the walking round this weekend, so decided to make up for that by doing a bit of housework, I suppose you have to do it sometime hey!, other wise won't be Abell to open the doors for the pile up of dust.
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When the wife said she was going to change the baby.
He said well get a quieter one!.

Small boy watching his Mother do the washing up
"Mum where did you work before you got this job here with us?".

Children, what a comfort in old age.
And how soon they bring it on!.

Don't worry if our life's a joke
and your success's are but few
Remember that the mighty oak
was once a nut like you!.

Did you hear my last joke?,
We hope so they said!.
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Thats all for now folks.

Cool trip out

The cool (damp) trip out relates to the weather and not as in Cool that my grandchildren would say.

Though it is getting cool and damp out, it is a great time of the year to see nature closing down as seen by these colourful pictures taken at Debdale park whilst walking Pepe round.

This one near to the wardens offices

And this one at the two old disused lodges on Hyde Road.

Kids activity area.

As a bit of a project the past week found these dolphins at the back of the garage, put there and forgotten, so a bit of a mess. so it was out with the sandpaper and a good rub down and seemed no worse for wear after years in the open, resin you see!. 

Were brown wood effect originally 

Now painted with acrylic paints and sprayed with clear lacquer, so the finished result doesn't look too bad hey, they are going on the top of my lady friend Marjorie's porch!.

Marjorie is a keen gardener and has a beautiful garden at the front of her flat, but I don't think she would like the visitor to her garden my Sister in OZ had the other day.

I'm told it is a Blue Tongued Lizard, judging by the size of the flags it's on, it looks quite big.

So the slugs and snails that are about here at the moment with all this wet weather don't seem too bad now do they.

Yesterday though it was cool and damp it was off to Etherow country park with Marjorie, who is a carer this week for a friends 3 month's old puppy Alfie, who is a Border Terrier, very cute and quite intelligent for his age. 

Had a bite of lunch and a chat with some of the boat club members at the nice Cafe ( under the balcony veranda so you are alright with dogs there), it cleared up enough for a walk round the lake with Alfie who seemed to enjoy all the new smells and would have loved to chase all the ducks I'm sure.

It was a bit mushy underfoot but the rain stayed off until we got back to the cafe for another hot drink to warm us up.

On the way round my friend asked what type of tree was the one with Bronze bark on, I'd asked the wardens years ago but had forgotten, but my friend Bob checked out on the internet this afternoon and found it was a Tibetan Cherry Tree!.

This isn't the one from Etherow but gives you an idea what we are talking about, just get's better every year.

On the way home we called to do a bit of shopping and just got home in time for another downpour, so it was a nice day in spite of the weather!

By the way met Amy Norah on Sunday going to Sunday dinner, "No" not another woman this one.

Amy Norah delivering to Tesco Ashton.

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An elderly man went to his doctor and said "Doctor I think I'm getting senile. Several times lately, I have forgotten to zip up".

"That's not senility" replied the doctor, Senility is when you forget to zip down".

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A middle-aged couple were entertaining an old friend they hadn't seen for years.

"Shortly after we were married" said the husband recapping their life story, "we were blessed with a lovely chubby creature with cute bow legs and no teeth".

"Oh how wonderful! exclaimed the friend "you had a baby!.

"No" said the husband, the wife's mother came to live with us!.

Its the way I tell em.!.

Thats all folks

We're back!.

Yes we're back off holiday!.

Had a wonderful time in Bonnie Scotland this past week with Son John and family, this also included some of Joanne's family also. It turned out there were 8 of us and one baby and wait for it 6 dogs,  yes that's right six dogs!, there are not many first class apartments that will allow you in with 6 dogs are there.

The trip up to Scotland was very good with a stop over at Carlisle to do a bit of "Eddie Stobart" spotting and a stop now and then for a walkies and lunch for Pepe and myself.

It was all rather uneventful until nearer the destination, I thought I'd better turn on my Sat Nav as it all looks very similar round  there with all the fields full of wheat and corn as far as the eye could see, that was my first mistake!, as a little further down the road Miss Sat Nav said "turn left at the next turn" I did and after a ride through a farmyard scattering hens in every direction finished up in a quarry!.

Sat Nav's who needs them!.

On arrival, eventually!, I was just in time to welcome the other family members who had arrived via the beach to while away the time until we could get the keys to the very nice accommodation.

Pepe likes the living room!.

The view from my bedroom over the fields

And the outside view, that's the swimming pool on the right 

The welcoming committee for Joanne's Dad in the other new block.

School next week so there is still class work to catch up with.

The view from the front door to the seating area and across to the childrens play area.

During the week it was eating out in the evenings and as we had 6 dogs it was thought to be better having takeaways, first night of course had to be to the chippy at Anstruther the best in the UK

With frequent calls during the week at the ice cream parlour at St Andrews noted here as the best in the UK

And there we all are enjoying ourselves with some of the dogs.

But wait a minute there's one missing Me!

But that was soon corrected, by my good friend Bob when I got home!.

Some general views of St Andrews for you,

 Remember the film "Chariots of fire" thats the beach they were running on and then went into the large hotel in red.

Walkie's

 Dog's enjoying it the most

 Main Street, St Andrews style.

The harbour

Nice stone work hey, better than concrete!.

 Save me from this monster Dad!.

On the beach there are these exercise machines for the healthy option instead of the ice cream parlour! or after perhaps.

One for the young at heart, Doctor Doctor I feel sick on this bobbing thing..

Well that's it for today, hope it gives you a feel of what its like to be on holiday with 8 people and 6 dogs!,

By the way John's family took delivery of their new addition to the family the day after we arrived home and here I am with it yesterday at the sunday dinner do.

Meet Max, the chocolate Cockerpoo, 8 weeks old, what a little beauty hey.

Click here for John's holiday blog

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My dog's so obedient

He does as he's bid

The park bench said "Wet paint"

And that's what he did!.

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"Did you say your dog's bark is worse than his bite?"

"Yes"

"Well for goodness sake don't let him bark, he's just bitten me"

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That's all folks.