Saturday, New Bike 23.10.21.

 We went to Pear Mill Café on Saturday for lunch with friends!.

When we got home I thought I would ring Harry Hall Cycles after viewing them on-line and asked if they had a M6R Brompton bike in stock, as they seemed to be scarce in most places online.

The chap there said they didn't have a M6R but did have a H6R (High,6 gears,Rack) in British Racing Green which I thought at my tender age would probably be better anyway!, "have you got a Broughton Bag for Pepe?" Yes one of those as well!.

So leaving Pepe at home I whipped down to Manchester City centre which being Saturday was packed out with shoppers and visitors and not a mask in sight!.

The cycle chap had bike and bag ready which was a good thing as I'd put a £2 coin into the meter outside and it gave me a ticket for 37 minutes!, shows you how long it's been since I was last there.

The saddle was like a razor blade and asked if they still did an exchange for a Brook's saddle which they still did, I was worried about my parking ticket and he said we will have you out of here before that runs out!, must have been used to it.

So saddle changed, a front and rear LED lights and a better air pump, bag and helmet and a help getting the lot packed into the car and I was on my way home, away from those terrible packed unmasked crowds.

But I must say credit where credit is due the chaps at Harry Hall Cycles are some of the nicest shop people I've met in a long time, well since I was there before about three years ago actually!.  

I was there and back home within the hour!, much to Pepe's delight. 

Parked in the front room, which isn't used much.

Pepe's bag fits on the front of the bike and as we have had one before he will be used to it.

Got a nice helmet that doesn't obstruct my hearing aids.

Not very good at taking Selfies! as you can tell.

Unfolded, those yellow things are the trouser clips 

Stiff when stretched out and curl up when you bend them, bit different from the old cycle clips aren't they. 

My good friend Bob had offered to give me his bike that he no longer uses but after thanking him said I wanted a Brompton as they are a Style Icon same as the VW Camper!.

Thanks again Bob!.

I won't be doing the Tour of Britain!, only trips round the local park and that only in the good weather.

Still remember the days when I used to cycle from home, Moss Side at the time to Newton Heath come hale, rain or shine and never give it a thought, but that was a lot of years ago.

Also during our early married life Velda and I had a tandem that we used to go to North Wales on a regular basic at weekends, but as said before that was a lot of years ago and a lot of water under the bridge since then, still happy memories, perhaps this bike is a way to recapture some of those happy memories hey!.

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But

We can try though, what is life without trying?.

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Doctor Doctor I feel like a pack of cards;

 I'll deal with you later. 

Doctor Doctor, I keep thinking there are two of me;

One at a time please!.

Doctor Doctor I feel like a pair of curtains;

For goodness, sake pull yourself together!.

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This weeks outings so far, 21.10.21.

 On our meeting with our friends at Pear Mill café on Monday I saw a chap I thought I recognized and mentioned it to the others, then he moved nearer the café and some of the ladies rushed over for some selfies with him!.

Who was it?.

Danny Sebastian from the antiques programs on telly.

  

Pepe of course, was more interested in his ham and sausages. 

Three months old here!.

Today on our visit, I finally bought the waxed cotton three quarter length coat fully lined and padded, which I'd dithered about for a while, put a bid in and got it for £33 instead of £40, do like a bargain.

Not a mark on it, will be a god send in the winter out with the camera.

Had another visit to the Windmill on Tuesday and whilst there got a few copies of the Christmas Menu's for the gang to check out for our festive meal out.

There you are, not bad for a three course, Mon-Saturday, bit dearer on Sundays.

Didn't even bother with the Christmas Day menu, £47.99!.

Our visit to the Ressers looks a bit grim, but it wasn't raining which the weather people had forecast with heavy rain and flooding.

Lovely countryside five minutes from my front door and only two minutes from the main Manchester to Hyde road.

Not worrying this guy, enjoying the stiff breeze, bit of sunshine on the Pennines in the distance.

Not bothering this little chap either.

The berries in my garden are looking very colourful at the moment, but the Thrushes will soon see they off, still that's what I planted them for 

Latest Jig saw done this week.

Had a visit to the charity shop this week as well and got three jigsaws and a couple of books so a good week up to now and its not over yet!.

As a matter of interest, by the way my homemade foot rocker seems to have cured my Plantar Fasciitis, which was a very painful experience I'm glad to be without.

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Out and about, 15.10.21.

 Today being a nice bright day, we were out early and over to the park, but not early enough as the birds had all eaten and disappeared again!.

I'm not that keen, so not getting up any earlier than usual specially these days now they are getting cooler.

Tree's are starting to change colour now.

Dinner for two.

Not just Black & White.

Nice little Dunnock

No birds around Dad, so lets go for dinner.

As it was quite cool decided it was a day for the Windmill carvery. at Denton.

Lovely grub, even went back for seconds with the veggies!

Its good for you they say, used to give it to the old people in hospital.

So then it was home with a doggie bag for Pepe's dinner,

but as it was still quite early, rubbed down some of the kitchen cabinet doors and varnished them with the doors open to clear the air!.

So ten done!, only another seven to go!.

Good stuff that Guinness certainly get's you going, probably during the night as well no doubt!.

Then promptly fell asleep, to be woken up by Pepe for his dinner, could smell the roast beef!. 

Finished another nice Jigsaw today as well 

"Girls day out"

Made in China, good fitting , but box half as big as European puzzles and some pieces bent getting them into box, so whilst the Chinese are trying to cut down on card perhaps, it seems to be at the detriment of the pieces.  

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Doctor Doctor, I have a ringing in my ears

Don't answer!.

Doctor Doctor, I've hurt my arm in several places, 

Don't go there again!.

Doctor Doctor, I think I'm shrinking,

Now settle down, you'll will have to be a little patient.

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Weekend 9-10 Oct 2021.

 This weekend was nice, sunny and dry, so we had a walk to Debdale park which is only across the road from us.

In the wildlife garden there was sat feeding the birds when a couple came and sat with us. the chap on one of those lay down bikes, he had problems with his legs and his lady carer was on her ordinary bike riding at the side of him, they had rode from Levenshulme which is quite a way!.

Then whilst they were having coffee at the new coffee counter a couple of friends came along, a couple of ladies from Reddish Vale Country Park, so we all had a good chat.

I also had a few coin swops that one of the ladies needed for her collection!, so it was a good meeting for all of us.

I got a first for me on the day, this female Bullfinch snacking on the yellow berries, I'd seen one of the members had added a picture of a Male Bullfinch, but alas he wasn't around for me on the day.

Plenty of Magpies about!.

This one sat on the bug hotel.

Enjoying the peanuts we had brought.

A Nuthatch in one of their classic poses. 

Back home the Goldfinches are eating us out of house and home, but we don't mind as they are so beautiful.

One of the last brood of babies, watched over by Dad.

Well the weather forecasters got it wrong again today, forecast said no rain until a week on Tuesday, but on waking up today saw it was dull and overcast, by the time I'd had breakfast it was raining!.

So it was off to Cineworld to see the new James Bond movie,

"No time to Die" a good film and loong! too, 2 hours 45mins but managed to stay awake and not have to go to the loo.

Won't describe the film, but horror of horrors Miss Moneypenny has turned Black, along with another woman 00 agent!, they weren't even as good looking as Hallé Berry!.

How times have changed.

Still after a bacon buttie and a coffee at the Snipe it was home to Pepe, I think I was forgiven after a few bacon scraps though.

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Madness takes it's toll;

please have exact change ready.

Fred tried to kill himself with an overdose of Aspirin, but after he'd had two he started feeling a lot better!

A beggar walked up to a well dressed woman and said "I haven't eaten anything for four days!,

She looked at him and said "God I wished I had your will power!".

It's the way I tell em.

Staircase finished at last, 7.10.21.

 Well at last I've finished my staircase, you might have seen that The new handrail was a bit different colour than the old one on the other side. Well today I gave the old one a rub down with fine sand paper and gave it a coat of the new varnish.

Looks better in real life, think the different shapes of the wood making the pictures look different.

So at last I've also got my Chain plant pot in place with the trailing ivy which hopefully will be alright in the dark hall, we shall see.

The chain Pot holder was bought at Pear Mill emporium on one of our visits for lunch there, got a few quid off as well, love a bargain! 

A couple of the table decorations at Pear Mill café today

On our visit to The Snipe yesterday, sat having our bacon buttie and was struck with the colours of this tree, that's the new Costa coffee in the background, haven't tried it yet, with a coffee from the buttie wagon at a £1 why would I?.

Nipped over to the Ashton Moss nature reserve afterwards, though not much of interest there so it was home to our birds on the feeders.

Had these couple of Collared Doves call in, must have heard there was good grub here.

The baby Goldfinches are doing well, they do love their sunflower hearts! 

My birds aren't as exciting as my sister Babs in OZ this is a Kookaburra in her garden, and has Parakeets and Cockatoos as well I believe, how wonderful that is!.  

I like Mother-in- laws tongue plants and they grow there like weeds and travel from garden to garden if not kept in check.

How about this Babs, and you thought I only eat English food!,

Sweet and Sour Chicken and rice.

A juvenile Gull on the Ressers the other day.

Dozens of them there, greedy little devils, but they have to eat same as all the others hey!. 

Well that's another day done and dusted!.

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I used to be a schizophrenic, but we're alright now!.

If all the nations in the world are in debt, 

where did all the money go?. 

Bills travel though the post at twice the speed of cheques.

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