Orrell Water Park

Orrell water park is two disused reservoirs surrounded by woodland. I have passed by many times usually of a winter evening when the gates were firmly locked however last night we had an hour to spare so ventured in. You can walk around the lakes but beware of midges at this time of year!!

Fishing allowed and it was good to see these young lads actually fishing and not messing about.

(Oh why did all the youth clubs close????)

The Ranger's office. I wouldn't mind living there!

Most of the ducks had come up onto the banking for the night. This (Heinz 57) Mallard seemed more worried about the Coot than us

The sun was beginning to disappear and we had to make a move before the gates were locked by the Ranger.

We then managed to gatecrash a birthday party.

HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY JULIE

(that's the one on the left, the one on the right is Sue and she is only 40+++++)

A fun day at Martin Mere June 2009

The family fun w/e at Martin Mere was very successful. There was a circus theme and the children enjoyed face painting, circus acts, craft stalls and competitions as well as the usual attractions

As I was supposed to be working I did have to limit my time away from the information desk - well in theory anyway!!

The Chilean flamingos were as colourful as ever but seemed to be half asleep in the afternoon heat. The Greater Flamingos have produced 9 chicks so far and there are still a few eggs left to hatch.

A Coscoroba Swan takes an afternoon stroll

An Andean Goose

and 2 babies

Trumpeter Swan with her 3 babies (I believe there should be 4 but I could only see 3)

For the rest it seemed to be bath time -

well perhaps almost all !

This is Boris a Spur Winged Goose, he is quite a character and not to be argued with! He has a spur on the elbow of each wing which is used in defence and believe me he does know how to use his!!

If you look above the exit door as usual we have a family of swallows

And - Oh dear it's been a long hard day, did I hear someone say that I have to do it all again tomorrow?

Cactus flower - name unknown

My most lethal, yet for 2 days each year, also my most beautiful house plant!!

My children gave me this cactus plant years ago - in fact more years than I care to remember! It has never been re potted but recently it has started to flower. This year there are 9 flowers which start off as a phallic shaped growth - you can just see one on the left of the first photo. They then grow extremely quickly and it's almost possible to watch the flower opening. Unfortunately they only last for 36 hours at the most, as you can see a couple of these are beginning to wilt and within a further 12 hours they will close up and droop and then eventually fall off. They give off a rather strong sweet smelling fragrance.

I will be happy to hear from anyone who can provide a name for this cactus.

Wigan Council car park staff - thank you!

This morning we went to Wigan town centre and parked in the Mesnes Street car park. Whilst we were sat having a coffee in Smiths coffee shop we noticed a police van and the armed response vehicle outside and a copter hovering overhead. We believe there had been an armed robbery in Ashton in Makerfield and the getaway vehicle had been abandoned inside the multi storey. We carried on around Wigan and then returned for the car only to be told that the car park was closed and no cars on the lower floors could be removed until the police had finished their job. The car park attendants were extremely helpful - taking phone numbers for everyone involved so that they could ring us when the cars could be released.

Eventually we travelled home on the bus and I got to use my free bus pass!!!!! We received a call as promised at 5pm to say we could collect our car - yippee.

I would just like to thank all council staff involved, you did a good job in a difficult situation.

M6 circular walk - again!

Just to prove I am still trying to exercise between the showers I took my camera out with me the other day. Not a very good day for the camera though, the sun was very bright and in the wrong place - well that's my excuse anyway.

As usual we went across the fields -

Over the M6 bridge - view looking South towards junction 27 and the next bridge that we are heading for.

Up Mossy Lea admiring the view as we go!

This is Wrightington Country Club where I go swimming.

And back over the M6 at junction 27 - looking north to the bridge we have just come over.

My New best friend

I've eaten mine can I share yours now?

Afternoon nap?

Don't push your luck - know your place

I'll creep up while she's asleep, it's cold down there

That's better

Suppose I could use you as a foot rest then

Fleetwood Marina and Outlet Village

A few days ago I arranged to go to visit my dear friends Mu and Len whom I hadn't seen for a while. We go back quite a long way but sadly don't meet up regularly nowadays, I have to take the blame for this really but life seems so hectic lately and I don't get much free time. I need to enroll on a time management course!!

Anyway it was Len's birthday the day before I went, I had not posted a card so decided to bake a cake instead. I was upset when I arrived to find it had been his 90th birthday and I had not made him a card!! Of course they didn't mind, they were pleased to see me (I think!) and grateful for the cake but I wished a hole would appear in the floor and swallow me up!

So - - HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY LEN

I am sorry about the lack of card but I do hope you enjoy the cake, (further orders taken on the usual number).

I had arranged to visit about 1 ish and as I arrived about an hour early I had the bright idea of going onto the Outlet Village at Fleetwood. There was nothing much I wanted from the shops but I did take the opportunity to visit the marina behind the shops to take a few photos. The weather was, as usual, terrible whenever I go out with camera but I did manage a few shots before being blown away.

I thought at last I had found MY boat - called Princess435 - but although I could be a princess

(w e l l - sort of!!) I am neither 43 or 35 and definitely not 435 yet!!