27 December 2018

Still sorting out stuff including a few presents. Assembling the Lava lamp took fiendish dexterity. Slipped out to the local shop for a few bits and couldn't resist a crafty pint in the Bulls Head.

26 December 2018

Boxing Day. Journey home after lots of packing and sorting out. It's about five degrees colder here - brrrr. Took a couple of photos before we left.

I love bark, its wonderful stuff.

25 December 2018

Christmas day. I've lost interest, to be honest, and can't be doing with all the conspicuous consumption, at a time when we need to be saving the planet. I've never been religious, though from an environmental perspective I can see the appeal of paganism. Dancing naked in the woods? I'd give it a shot but not at this time of year.

Susie and Georgia open presents

Ted

Smoked Salmon starter

24 December 2018

Christmas Eve. Sunny day. Went for a wander around the church next door. This is where we got married. Oddly, they've allowed a load of shrubs to grow up by the main entrance rendering the church virtually invisible. S and I went for a decent walk on local footpaths and ended up passing by her old primary school in Snibston.

The Old school, now a house.

The Lych gate

23 December 2018

Gloomy day but at least I managed to get a colourful picture of some moss.

22 December 2018

Bits of shopping and getting stuff ready for Xmas. Its a magnificent house with six bedrooms but has seen better times.

21 December 2018

Off to the dreaded mother-in-law's for Xmas. One consolation is the environs which are interesting and full of wildlife. Lots of Pheasants, although, predictably they all scarpered as soon as I tried to take a photo. Here is one running away.

20 December 2018

Thursday. Haven't sorted out a single Xmas card so far so I got stuck in. S has skived off this for several years now much to my annoyance! What an exciting day! With 1st class stamps at 67p a go I may not be able to afford to send any much longer!

19 December 2018

Go to hold my hand up here I didn't take a photo -  damn! But here is a very recent one I took of a field.

18 December 2018

Off to Manchester for an Xmas drink with Peter and visit some iconic pubs. All the beers we had were less than 4%. Good to see session beers making a comeback. The Petite in the Marble Arch was 2.8%. Good stuff! The Crown & Kettle has the most magnificent ceiling of any pub in England.

The Castle on Oldham St.

Crown & Kettle

The Marble Arch on Rochdale Rd.

17 December 2018

Monday. Another walk by the Weaver on a fairly bleak Winter's day. At least we are getting close now to the shortest day. It was so gloomy I had to lighten the photo.

16 December 2018

Here's a photo I took of a Cormorant on the Weaver. Used the Zoom on my pocket camera - which isn't very good. They usually fly off when I try to take a photo so I suppose I got lucky this time!

15 December 2018

I'm not great at the art of selfies but here's a photo I took of myself with my new Rohan jacket - doesn't crease and is machine washable. This is about as posh as I get.

14 December 2018

Great day out in Manchester with Adrian. We recorded another Gobshite video in the Britons Protection.

The Emmeline Pankhurst statue was unveiled today to Mark a century since Women's suffrage.

Annoyed that I just chopped the top of the Town Hall. I was trying not to!

13 December 2018

Sorting out and wrapping Xmas presents. A quick trip to the local rubbish Spar which has loads of stuff but never the thing you actually want. In this case wholemeal flour for bread making.

Rio likes sunbathing

Village trees

12 December 2018

Took it easy again today but cooked up a stonking king prawn samber for tea. Hmmmm must clean that stove.

11 December 2018

Tuesday. Starting to recover from the blitz. Summoned up the energy to go to Liverpool for some Xmas shopping. Very productive visit as I got all the things I needed. And I managed to avoid going to the pub for a pint.

10 December 2018

Very quiet day. Still recovering. Made one of my favourite soups - watercress and celery - very tasty.

A small Xmas present I bought myself arrived!

9 December 2018

Still feeling a bit rough and beginning to wonder whether I've got cirrhosis. Had a long soak. Better take it easy this week.

A Susie classic occurred today. She had to travel to Heaton Moor to see Ash and Charlotte to collect the vaping cig she'd left there last weekend. When she returned she realised she'd left her handbag there with her purse etc so muggins had to drive over and collect it. One hour forty minutes round trip was pretty good given that I stopped off to do some shopping in the Coop.

8 December 2018

Saturday. Worse for wear. Thought I was reasonably well behaved last night. The past week's merrymaking has caught up with me. Can't stand the pace anymore. Lay around and had a long soak in the tub.

Here's a pic I took of Adlington Hall - after midnight.

7 December 2018

Taking it easy today in preparation for the works Xmas party with free taxi, free food and a free bar, at Adlington Hall. Made some bread in the morning.

Took a few photos of the Party none of which came out very well. A good time was had by all.

Is it the camera or my vision?

6 December 2018

Even quieter day. Resting my liver from the excesses of the previous five days. Hope I haven't done any permanent damage - it feels a bit like it! Lots of strong coffee in order.

5 December 2018

Quiet day. Dropped Paul off at the station early and went to work at the foodbank. A frustrating afternoon at the CA where the new email system is not working very well.

The village garage. The only picture I took that day. 

4 December 2018

Tuesday. Better weather so off to Liverpool. First the Walker Gallery and then in search of some food. After wandering for a while hunger drove us into a cafe which was American themed which neither of us appreciated at first. It was rammed but the food was mediocre and odd - most dishes seemed to consist of eggs and toast - there were at least twenty of them.

Then we went to the Tate to see the OP Art, followed by a trip to the White Star and the Ship and Mitre. The latter has a really good choice of food.

The Walker

In the Tate

3 December 2018

Miserable weather, pouring with rain. We decided to skip our trip to Liverpool and went into Northwich. Later in the day, it brightened up and we went for a walk by the Weaver.

2 December 2018

Left Heaton Moor for home. Paul arrived at about 3.30 and we sneaked off on a pub crawl of the village. Pints in the Bulls Head and the Oddfellows. Good to see him again.

The house that Ash built

In the Oddies

1 December 2018

The start of Winter. Came back from Chorlton after visiting our old house and later in the day we went over to Ash and Charlotte's house for some fine beer and a curry in the Heaton Moor Tandoori. A fine time was had by all. 

Our old house on Albemarle Road. Note the splendid green door which I had installed.

In 'Bottle'

30 November 2018

Friday. The start of a busy weekend. I'm off to cousin Simon's tonight for the pub quiz, tomorrow we're going to Charlotte and Ash's and on Sunday Paul is coming over for 3 nights.

Theresa, Tom and Simon at the quiz

29 November 2018

Trip to Knutsford today to have a look in Waterstones for some Xmas presents. Couldn't find anything I thought was suitable for Carol so returned empty handed but managed to squeeze in a crafty pint in the Lord Eldon.

28 November 2018

Feeling guilty because I did have a lazy day off both my volunteer jobs today, though I had a good excuse due to lack of transport. Seemed to spend much of the day sorting things out - household chores - so would have been better off at work.

The Sleeping Beauties

27 November 2018

In contrast to yesterday, it was dull and raining. Went into Northwich to get some supplies.

26 November 2018

Monday and it's a lovely sunny day. Went for a Winter walk by the Weaver. Now, almost all the leaves have gone.

The Blue bridge