Back again, 16th 3 .23.

 Today I was off to Pear Mill,  where my roving coach friends had returned from their latest mystery trip which had turned out to be to Llandudno, wonderful town, brings back happy memories for me as I went there on our honeymoon many years ago (1960!!).

I've been busy with my wooden modelling this past week and finished this model, another one from the Ukraine company UGears.

What was in the box?.

A bit monotonous really with 20 of those links and 8 hammers to assemble, still in keep one out of mischief hey. 

Nearly there.

finishe dwith one of the tunes programmed in.

Kept me out of the cold weather, but went out to Reddish Vale Park for an hour for some exercise and snapped these. Then it was off to Morrison's for fish and Chip with peas for the veg!. 

These Mandarin ducks were on the lower mill pond, saw some on the river but too far way to get a decent picture. and not save to get nearer!.

Was in the Manchester Evening News today the Fire Brigade rescued a woman and her dog from the river!.

As you can see here, some of the spring flowers out now, even though its bitterly cold in the wind.

I was showing this to one of my friends today and she said what about the water companies discharging human waste into the sea, or words to that effect!.

Been having trouble with SpecSavers with one of my hearing aids but won't go into that sager, suffice it to say don't phone me text me instead!.

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Beethoven was so deaf he thought he was a painter!.

If blind people wear dark glasses,

Why don't deaf people wear ear muffs?.

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This weekend, 10.3.23.

 Been a cold wet weekend for me, friends were on a mystery  coach trip, which turned out to be to Llandudno, and with the snow and wet you wouldn't want it to be any further would you!.

Friday I went to Reddish Vale Park, though I think I was the only one there as it had been a thin covering of snow earlier and others might have thought it would return later.

Plenty of daffs out even though it was very cold.

The squirrels never let you down, always ready for a few nuts.

Nice little Dunnock, this part is raised off the ground so they are quite easy to see, even though they are ground feeders.  

A blackbird in the trees.

Saturday it was slightly warmer and it was off to McDonald's for lunch in the carpark at Debdale park, which is only across the road from me, just in case the weather turns again.

As you can see that's snow on the Pennines in the distance

Everywhere is in bud, even the plants don't know where they are with the weather.

The cormorants make you feel cold, keep diving under the water and coming out spreading their wings to dry out

The nuts for the Magpies were very welcome, the Magpie here trying to find somewhere to hide their nuts before the squirrels see them. 

Poor Junior on the ressers can't understand why mum and dad keep chasing him away, looks quite sad or is that my overactive imagination, he will have to watch out or they will get really mad at him/her. 

The parents will be looking for a nest site soon.

Then it was off to see my mate Bob to make sure he was alright, a nice hot drink and a chat about old times and trips out with our model boats. 

Nice dinner at Sainsburys on Sunday, the gypsies in their caravans had descended on the carpark in the week but they were all gone by Sunday which was a relief.

Today, Monday as my friends wouldn't be back till later in the day from their coach trip, I had a table to myself at Pear Mill, still the staff are very friendly and chatty.

Ever get that feeling someone is watching you?.

So not a bad weekend again, you have to make it work for you don't you, can't understand all these people these days that seem to have jumped on the Mental health wagon!, there is always someone out there worse off than yourself isn't there!.

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What's the difference between a Scotsman and a canoe?,

A canoe tips occasionally!.

What's the difference between a Scotsman and a coconut?,

you can get a drink out of a coconut!.

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First weekend in March, 6.3.23.

 It's been a good weekend for me, also the bookies I guess when you see some of the surprise sports results, ie Man Utd loss 7-0, the Women's football, Chelsea lost, and on the darts, Van Gurwen the favourite lost to a 62 year old unknown!, so not everyone's weekend!.

Friday I went to Reddish Vale country park and had a first for me with a Male Bullfinch.

And a female bullfinch.

 Have to thank a friend David for the location.

Lovely birds.

Also the female Kingfisher again.

Blackbird.

Robin.

Blue Tit.

Great Tits.

Nuthatch.

Plenty of these greedy little devils about too.

So that's a site I will be returning too, soon as!.

Then it was off to Sainsburys for dinner.

Nice staff and nicely presented meal.

Then it was home to finish the current project.

A model treasure box, Ugears again the firm from Ukraine!.

What's in the kit?, 5 boards and the instructions.

At one stage I could have done with another set of hands with all the gears and cogs, but the little clamps from my boat building came in very handy.

Five stages to open the box and five stages to close it!.

Saturday it was too wet to go out but managed to go to Sainsburys again for dinner, Ham eggs and chips.

Then it was Sunday and I usually stay in as there are too many people about, so no birds really, but I don't mind as the workers after Saturday shopping flock to the parks with the children.

So it was a home cooked meal if you can call a frozen meal home cooked.

Sweet and Sour Chicken and Egg fried rice, one of my favourite meals

Who remembers those knives and forks?, you used to get them from the petrol stations free when you bought so much petrol, not like these days when you get screwed with the price!.

There was also tigers tails you got to put on the petrol caps to say you had a tiger in your tank!.

It's march again but the forecast for the next few days isn't too good with -6 forecast for tomorrow night, out with the hot water bottles Bob!.

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Ever wonder about those people who pay a fortune for those little bottles of  Evian water.

Try spelling it backwards...

When you think about it, its dearer than petrol at £1 a bottle!!.

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1st of March 2023.

 1st of March already, where did February go?. 

Even though it was drizzling this morning, thought it would be stopped by the time I got out and down to Reddish Vale park, not been for a while as it's been too cold to be sat round with my camera.

Spring seems to have sprung in the park with plenty of bulbs sprouting up.

This Moorhen is getting her nest ready on Sunnyside pond.

Someone has hung some feeders up behind the seats at Sunnyside and the Long Tailed Tits were enjoying the fat balls in them.

What cute little buddle's of fluff.

There was also some Mandarin Ducks on the pond as well!.

There were four males and one female.

All fighting for this ladies affections.

 Then all of a sudden a flash of bright iridescent blue and there was a female kingfisher!.

She flew across the pond and settled on one of the islands in the middle of the pond and sat there for quite  while.  

You can tell its a female has the bottom of her beak is orange, males beaks are all black!. 

So it turned out to be a really good day, rounded off with Fish and Chips with mushy peas at Morrisons!.

I've been getting a bit mixed up with all the USB cables round the house lately and a friend told me about these tabs from Amazon.

£5.99 for 50!, what do you need 50 for you might ask, well I started to fix them on all my leads and I've used 15 so far and not finished yet, some I have to put my thinking cap on to remember what they are for, it will come to me no doubt when I want to charge some thing up.

Velcro and you write on them what they are for.

Treated myself to a new Vac last week, the old Dyson was getting a bit passed its sell by date, so I thought I would try something different this time, the |Dysons are getting too dear these days, don't know where they get their prices from, saw a hair dyer of theirs the other day £500+, makes you glad you don't have much hair.

Bought a Shark! with all the attachments.

The carpets look like new now, got some real suction on these vacs!.

Free standing too.

The old Dyson was charged on the wall with this device.

The wall repaired and not looking bad though I say so myself!.

Bought a pair of led lights too as the single led bulb that replaced the old Neon strip light whilst very bright, I found I was in my own light so one of these led strip lights cured that.

They are rechargeable though a USB cable, are motion sensed or ON or Off.

This idea swings into place at night.

They are good for display as well!.

So been a good day all round, I  might sleep a bit better tonight as well, after the fresh air and the Vacing.

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A critic is a legless man who teaches running.

He joined the Foreign Legion to forget his wife, Unfortunately the sergeant major  looked just like her!.

He took two marriage vows,

Silence and Poverty!.

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