Sunday 28 August 2011

The hedges didn't all get cut last Sunday!

The weather was so nice we compromised and took a drive out to Carburton Lakes to see if we could get some more pictures of birds. Unfortunately, due to some inconsiderate "car parkers" there wasn't any room on the little layby that gives the best views of the lake and the birds so we drove on a little further, planning maybe to call in at Clumber Park. That plan failed too. Clumber was open only to attendees at an open air concert being staged last weekend.

We ended up at the Dukeries Garden Centre which has an "attachment" in the shape of the Harley Centre. First time we've been and it was impressive (but we passed on the expensive cuppa in the cafe!) There's a farm shop, craft shop, a museum and a cafe as well as the huge garden centre. It's all part of the Welbeck Estates and obviously recently developed, or at least, "done up."

A very handsome courtyard - the Harley Centre

And beautiful water lilies in a pond in the courtyard


Got back home, and cut one of the hedges before relaxing in front of the telly and prepared for work on Monday.

The rest of the week passed quickly. Belper were away at Lincoln Utd on Tuesday evening but an hour and a half drive down there was simply too far after a day at work. We missed a good 2nd half performance by the Nailers, coming back from one goal down to equalise in the 5th minute of injury time and earn a point.

Unfortunately,  the team lost at 3rd from bottom Romulus yesterday so it hasn't been a great week for the lads. Still, early days I guess - new manager - several new players and the manager did say "Give me 6 games to see where we are."

As I said - I've booked Monday (tomorrow) off so we can go to watch Belper play local rivals Ilkeston. Should be interesting and a decent crowd. Ilkeston apparently have a large support (about 450 at their home game yesterday) so it should be a good atmosphere. I think I might leave the cameras at home tomorrow - have a go at just watching a game for a change!

Nothing else to report this week, apart from a couple of "grumbles" about the way the BBC News is reported but I won't bore you with all the detail. Suffice to say - when the stock market drops by around 4% then it's the main headline but when it recovers the losses over 3 days - it's not even mentioned. Another drop later in the week and we're suddenly in "double-dip recession" territory. To quote Private Fraser in Dad's Army "we're all doomed!" Seems "Bad news is the only news" is the maxim. Meh!

Oh - one more thing - it wouldn't be a Nortoner blog without a "flying thing" pic so here's this week's effort:

Ha ha - see yer!

Sunday 21 August 2011

A Week of Two Halves...

Tuesday - saw Belper Town throw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Brigg Town. It wasn't a defeat but it felt like one.

Saturday - saw Belper beat the league leaders, Rainworth 1-0. Rainworth had the only 100% record in the division.  (OK - it was 2 wins from 2 games but it was still the only 100% record!)

Tim Harrisons pics from the Brigg game are here:


and mine...


Tims pictures from yesterdays game are here....


I haven't got around to editing mine from yesterday yet but they can't match Tim's brilliant effort so I might not bother anyway!

My other photographic effort revolved around birds in the back garden (again - yes I know - yet more flippin' birds - but I find them a fasciniating subject!)

Got a nice shot of a Dunnock on a feeder. Unusual this - they generally spend their time scurrying around on the ground - in and out of the hedge bottoms - so to see one in a feeder is different.

And a young Greenfinch (or could be a female - I'm not that good at i.d.!)

Mind you - this fella sat there stuffing his/her face and let me get within about 10 feet of him/her before he/she left his/her perch so if I didn't get a decent snap it'd be time to sell the gear!

And on the way back from Belper yesterday, we stopped off in Bakewell for a bag of chips. The Goosanders are still on the river - looks like they've taken up permanent residence!


Think this fella's washing his hair!

Not a lot else to report this week. The hedges didn't get cut last Sunday so that is today's task. Must get stuck into them. They look a real mess.

Archers Omnibus first, then lunch and unless I can find a half decent excuse its gardening this afternoon. Still - I can listen to the Test Match on the portable radio while I'm doing it but it would have been nice to have a little run out into Derbyshire while the weather's fine.

Still I've booked Monday 29th August off (it's a Bank Holiday but we don't take it at work) and I've also booked Tuesday 30th too so a very long weekend will be nice! On the Monday, Belper are at home to Ilkeston - local derby so we can't miss that -  and on the Tuesday, we're hoping to spend the day at the RSPB reserve at Wath-on-Dearne - Old Moor, it's called. Hope the weather holds.

Next week - Belper are away at Lincoln on Tuesday and away at Romulus on Saturday so the Bank Holiday Monday game is probably the next football we'll see. Nothing else planned so we'll have to see what happens.

For now - that's that - See Yer!

 

Sunday 14 August 2011

Look Into My Eyes......


Taken at the Norton Show yesterday.

We've lived at Nortoner Towers for some 13.1/2 years now and we've never been to this annual event. There was showjumping, dog training displays, cheerleaders, a band performing in a marquee, car boot sale amongst other things

It wasn't bad although to be brutally honest - it wasn't worth the 3 quid admission fee!

More pictures here....


Not a lot else happened this week. I did take some pictures of the swans on the canal at the back of our steelworks. They have 4 cygnets left, having started with 7. I'm a bit surprised they lost another 2 because I thought the 6 youngsters they had when I last saw them looked fairly well established.


Hard to believe that's a shot taken in the industrial east end of Sheffield isn't it? The canal is quite clean these days actually. Twenty years ago, we used to joke about whether you'd die from poisoning or drowning first if you jumped in! It's full of fish too now!

Big ones....

And little ones..
The EvoStik League season started yesterday but we decided the long trip down to Newcastle-Under-Lyme to watch Belper Town's first competitive game under new manager Tommy Taylor was a bit of a trek , hence our visit to the Norton Show.

Belper lost 2-0 and comment from supporters on the BTFC Fans Forum suggests a real "game of 2 halves" with Belper missing chances in the first half but being generally outplayed in the second. You can see a report on the game on Tim Harrison's blog ("Cycling Photographer" link on the right) and Tims pictures are here:


Next game is Tuesday evening at home to Brigg Town. We'll be there and hope for a win!

Anyway - that'll have to do for now.It's a fine, dry day so I'd better get organised and tackle the garden.

Tarra for now.

 

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Locked Out

Interesting comment on a BBC blog about a current disagreement between "the media" and Football League clubs over reporting access and restrictions...... and money, of course.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gordonfarquhar/2011/08/locked_out.html

Monday 8 August 2011

And Whilst I'm at It..

Promised pics of Robin and Blackbirds....

"Oi! This washing pole could do wiv a lick of paint!"

 (We can identify it as "our" Robin by the black stripe under its eye)


A female blackbird feeding her youngster - though I reckon it's big enough to feed itself!!
Kids eh?


Check out the Snapper Blog....

Tim Harrison (Photographer to the Stars) has resurrected his blog. Check it out....


Link on the right... Cycling Photographer .... Or

http://cyclesandcameras.blogspot.com/


Enjoy!

Not A Lot To Report.....

...hence no bloggage until now.

Couldn't really think of anything to say. However, for anyone who is interested....

Monday - Belper Town lost 4-1 to a Derby County XI in a pre-season friendly. Tim Harrison's pics are here -


(Mine aren't processed yet and in any case - I spent most of the second half in photographic hints and tips discussion with Darlo who now has a Canon EOS 500D to play with! So I missed at least 2 goals)

Friday - day off work - ill! Suffered severe stomach cramps and vomiting over Thursday night and so took a half day off to recover. Early evening - went to PC World in Chessy to get a 1Tb WD portable external hard drive. Bargain at £69. (My 750 Gb is getting a bit full!)

Saturday - Belper Town 0-5 Matlock in the last of the pre season games. For some reason, (maybe still getting over bellyache!) couldn't really be arsed so put the camera away at half time and just watched the match. Interesting "Q&A" session with the new manager and supporters in the club house afterwards.

Tim Harrison saw the game through as ever and his pics are here:


Not a lot else has happened. Got some excellent pictures of a robin and some blackbirds in our back garden. I'll, post 'em as soon (or rather if) I get around to it.

Cheers