Wet Wet Wet

We've certainly had our share of wet weather this week. The countryside is waterlogged and rivers in full spate. 

The forecast for Christmas week is perhaps snow and colder temperatures but there is no sign of that yet.

The non stop rain continues - and to be honest - the last thing I want is snow - hate the stuff !!!

I need to visit our allotment and find out if the land is under water . Not that there is much I can do about that ...

We'll soon find out if there is to be a change in the weather.

Manchester City - Champions League

Manchester City Football Club have reached the last 16 of the Champions League and again find that for the second consecutive year that they will meet Barcelona.

Last season they lost 4-1 on aggregate - 2-0 at the Etihad and 2-1 over at the Nou Camp.

Matches to be played 24th February and 18th March

City are confident they'll do better this time and will reach the last 8 !!!

Good Luck ....

Disaster ...

Community Shield

Arsenal 3 Manchester City 0

What more can be said ??

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Summer

Well summer has gone this weekend and been replaced by winter .  Rain rain rain windy and cold …

What happened to autumn ?

Can not imagine seeing any hot weather again this year !! Not in the UK anyway.

That's life.

The Beatles Story

You'll find these fellows around the Beatles Story Exhibition on the Pier Head Liverpool.

Liverpool Festival Gardens

The International Garden Festival took place in 1984 and attracted  3.8 million visitors .The park was created from industrial wasteland and the idea was to help Liverpool regenerate itself.

After years of neglect volunteers are now trying to regenerate the site.For details visit www.liverpoolfestivalgardens.com

A lovely spot - quiet and peaceful unlike my last visit in 1984 with all the crowds  and attractions.

River Mersey from Otterspool

The River Mersey from Otterspool looking over to the Wirral and I assume Birkenhead.

The promenade at Otterspool is another pleasant place to walk in a summer's evening

Freshfield Formby - Sand dunes and woods

Back to photographs of Merseyside - here we have the nature reserve at Freshfield. The woods lead onto the sand dunes and the coast.A really pleasant area to walk and picnic but can be very busy at weekends with lots of cars searching for parking space.

Here you'll find that rare creature the red squirrel .

USA Football Tour

Both Manchester teams have got off to a good start in their pre-season tour of the USA.

Manchester City beat Sporting Kansas City 4-1 and Manchester United beat Los Angeles Galaxy 7-0.

Over the next week their opponents will include Liverpool, Real Madrid and the best of Italy. We'll await the results with trepidation !!!

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National Wildflower Centre Liverpool

We visited the Wildflower Centre a few weeks ago - admission was free because it was early in the season and very few plants were in flower.

You'll find the centre in Court Hey Park.

For details see www.nwc.org.uk

New Brighton

As a child we would go to New Brighton ( Liverpool's playground ) - train to Central Station, walk across the city to the Pier Head and then the ferry direct to New Brighton.

The ferry at New Brighton has since closed and the large amusement park burnt down many years ago.

Many landmarks remain - the lighthouse with ships making their way down the Mersey, Fort Perch Rock but the marina I think is quite new. Within the last forty years - that new …

For more information visit www.visitnewbrighton.com

Liverpool's modern skyline

Another view of Liverpool from across the Mersey .. more modern this time.

Not far from the Pier Head.

View across the Mersey

View from the promenade across the Mersey.

The famous Liver Building in the centre .

Pirate Boat

This boat was attracting a lot of attention when we were walking by - lots of clicking cameras.

It would appear to be made from driftwood and rubbish washed up on the river  Mersey.

Wallasey Town Hall

Wallasey Town Hall - what an imposing building ..

The Ferry

Just the right place to stop for a pint of Guinness on a hot day …

Birkenhead

A view of Birkenhead from the Royal Iris

Seacombe Ferry

A floating jetty or pontoon at Seacombe Ferry - board the Royal Iris for your trip over the Mersey

Royal Iris

A few days away to Liverpool and a considerable number of photographs taken.Many of which I hope to publish over the next few weeks. 

What better way to cross the River Mersey than by the Royal Iris.

The garden again

More snaps from the garden …

Rain Rain Rain

We've had some rain over the last few days but here are some reminders of sunny weather.

Taken last week - tulips happy in the sunshine.

Spring

Spring is still with us and the garden is alive with colour -

Manchester United progress ...

Last night Manchester United progressed  to the last eight of the European Football Champions League.

Three goals from Robin van Persie saw them beat Olympiakos of Greece 3-0 and go through to the next stage of the competition.

Much to the relief of their many fans….

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The Miners

The miners of Ashton - long gone .. 

River Tame

River Tame at Ashton as it flows past the the Portland Basin

Portland Basin Museum

More pics from the museum - a butter churn, something ?? and a printing press.

No prizes for guessing the something - I've no idea..

Portland Basin

Just a few examples of the recreated scenes to be found in the museum at the Portland Basin

The chippy, church , pub and outside lav… memories ….

Ashton-under-Lyne - Portland Basin

A warm and sunny Sunday morning so a trip out on the Metro to Ashton and the Portland Basin Heritage Centre.

Well worth the effort - a pleasant morning was had.

The Portland Basin is the meeting place of the Ashton Canal and the Peak Forest Canal .

The museum displays the history of Ashton and it's industry and development. Shops,churches,houses and pubs have been recreated inside the museum- a trip down memory lane !!!

Here are a few snaps -

Allotment

A few sunny days and we have at last summoned up courage to start work on the allotment .

Not too bad a condition - some wet patches for which I have dug a shallow ditch in order to attempt to drain the water away.

Hopefully we'll be able to plant out our potatoes and onions early next month.

Jigsaw puzzles / Ravensburger - "The Farrier" "Happy Days Blackpool"

Recently we've taken to doing jigsaw puzzles - this hobby has accelerated over the last few months and we are now up to 1000 piece puzzles - quite an achievement for us.

As a child I really did not have the patience for them - now older and perhaps not wiser I have more perseverance .

Here are two recently completed - both by Ravensburger  - 

The Farrier - 1000 pieces this was hard and took us some time 

Happy Days Blackpool - was also 1000 pieces and some what easier.