Dublin Denis

In the late 1990s I was working in The Harris Museum in Preston
and there was a display and sale of paintings by local artists. This one of Dublin Denis was painted by ex policeman Tom Tingle. I took a liking to it, so bought it and took it home. Barbara hated it.
(Some people have no taste)
Can we have a vote on it,

When Denis died in 2001 there were some articles in the paper about him

I was walking down cheepside one day and Denis was stood in a shop doorway with his fellow drinkers, they were all stood there with cans in their hands. Having bought the painting I couldn't stop myself from staring at him to compare his likeness to the picture. Denis saw me staring at him and we locked eyes, for a minute he didn't say anything, but when I carried on staring, he barred his teeth and said f--- off. So I did.

Anti-social distancing?

JC

AD

Another laugh!

Click here to watch this video

(Thanks Jim)

If laughter is the best medicine watch this.

Its a bit old but no matter

Oh Corona!

This will lift your spirits!

Click Here

ISOLATION CONTINUES

SPRING IS SPRUNG

"Walking round the garden I can see that Spring is here" I said to Val, my wife

"It's the start of summertime this weekend Clothead !" she replied. 

Well she didn't actually use those words but that's what she was thinking.... I could tell.

Here's why I thought Spring was here.

Our little "Flame of the Forest" bush is hotting up

In the front garden the Camelia (?)  is in full bloom

...and the daffodils are all opening in the far garden.

One of the delights of the reservoir banks (Nature reserve) at the end of the garden,  is the wild primroses that grow on them. They self seed and pop up all over the back of our garden . Some I leave where they are . Others I dig up and put them where I want them.

The wire frame is to stop cats doing nasties in the old footbath.

Our tiny pond has also been visited by frogs and somewhere in it's depth are several clumps of Frogspawn.

Did you notice the little man in the yellow outfit sitting amongst the rocks above the pond ?

Here he is.

He is one of several little strangers in the garden. Our neighbours (lovely people) spot them when they are on holiday and can't resist bringing them home. "We saw this and thought of you !" Can't imagine why.

Here's another.

Spring (summer ?) is defintely here though
My seeds are sprouting........

And my little rhubarb patch is pushing skyward..

Oh... and there is a large frog in the garden. (I do not refer to any of my French relatives !)

so....Finally (Thank G** I hear you think)

Did anyone step outside the other night to clap for the NHS ?  Val and I did and to make an even bigger noise we used this.

It is perhaps ironic to think that the last time this was used seriously it was to sound the "All Clear" after wartime traumas.  Let's hope that our present "Wartime" situation will allow us to ring it again soon to announce the "ALL CLEAR"

John W

p.s. Make sure you check out Anthony's post below this.

Exercise??

This is my kind of exercise....

Click here

(Make sure the sound is on)

AGD

NO WALKS? OH DEAR !

SELF ISOLATION !

With no walks to report on I shall have to bore you with something else.

Yesterday I spent doing some bits and pieces in the garden. I carried my GPS device in my pocket and much to my surprise discovered I had walked over 2 miles. As our garden is nearly 100 yards long it shouldn't have come as a surprise. Up and down twice would be nearly a quarter of a mile.

At the bottom of the garden there is a bell hanging on a tree...

Next to the back door there is another bell...

If I am needed (phone call etc.) This bell is rung and I ring the garden bell to say I have heard and am coming.

In the garden i discovered something I have read about and seen pictures of but have never seen for myself.

But what is t ?

I am fairly sure it's a thrushes "anvil" where a thrush will hammer snails against a stone (or brick) until the shell cracks and it can eat the contents. I was quite unreasonably excited by this. (sad git !)

In another part of the garden was a somewhat sadder discovery. At the foot of this tree..

were the sad remains of a "squab" (baby pigeon) which had fallen out of the nest above.

I think this is quite common as pigeon nests are very flimsy affairs of little more than a tangled platform of twigs.

Well I have probably bored you enough so I shall finish. Perhaps our other writers might put something more thrilling on line for you. 

Just a little more. Our very keen naturalist neighbour tells me that the reservoirs at the bottom of our garden. (Now a nature reserve) play host to thousands of resident and migrant birds. FOUR species of bats. Foxes Badgers and are even visited by Otters. Well, Well, Well !

JW

Caption Pic 21st March

"That will cool his ardour!"
"No 'otwater again ! Typical."
"Ooh.  Shiver mi Timbers."
"Can he have a hot shower instead?"
"A hot shower...in Lancashire ?  Hail, rain, sleet, snow. Yes... but hot showers? C'mon  get real !"
"Well, perhaps he'll just have to settle for a rub down!"
"A RUB DOWN !! 'e might be a thoro'bred but e's not an'orse."

Caption Pic 14th March

"That would impress the neighbours, sat on my drive!"
"But would it take four Meanderthals, rucksacks and poles ?.... and then there's the parking."
"Ah but he's just changed his car! Similar but a different colour!"
"Petrol, Diesel, Electric Ok ! But where would I get "Jet Fuel" ?"
"Possibly from Jet 2!"
"Go on  climb in! Nobody 's looking!"
"Bet they said that to Donald Campbell."
"What was it called ? Robin or cuckoo or something. "
"Speeding ticket Sir ?  No problem the police'll never catch you. "

Morecambe 4. 5 miles Walkers Anthony John R Vic James and Danny

A short walk on a sunny but blustery day.
We parked up on the large but almost empty car park by the Heritage Centre, on the edge of the original and older part of Heysham village. From there we crossed the road and walked down Main Street.

At the bottom of the street we turned off to the right, to follow a signposted footpath, which led us onto the coastal path.

The tide was out, and as we set off towards Morecambe we were being pushed along by a powerful southerly wind. 

Nearing Morecambe, the more recent flood defences were in evidence.

A garishly painted property......

.....with a colour co-ordinated resident.

The Battery. The aptly named but now closed, Thwaites pub.

Won't be long chaps.

Morecambe Bay

Anthony had arranged to meet up with some of our Meanderthal friends for lunch, and here they are.

Martin, John......

And, on the left, Lawrence, a strain of the meanderthal species
previously thought to have gone into extinction, but happily, meanderthals are not that easy to get rid of.

The tall guy in the middle, Morecambe's favourite son, who took his hometown as his as his stage name, the one and only Eric Morecambe. The one next to him with the short fat hairy legs is our very own, the one and only Vic

We had lunch at the Wetherspoons pub, The Eric Bartholomew.
H'm I think it was a good decision to adopt a new stage name.

After lunch we all went to have a look at Martins new car, then leaving our friends behind we set off to find where we could catch a bus back to Heysham village. Could we find the bus stop to take us back there? We could not, after quizzing a local lady and being misdirected we decided to get a taxi.

This Jacko look-a-like was moonwalking his way to potential stardom.

He certainly looked the part.
DK

NON AMBULANT 2

MORECAMBE SUPPLEMENTARY

Martin,  John W,  Lawrence.

The main body of walkers set off from Heysham heading North with a strong South-Westerly wind lending a hand.

The non-walkers arrived later in the morning,  parked near the lifeboat station. and walked, wind battered, the short distance to the arranged meeting point - "Eric's Statue" !  But before we arrived there, being men of a certain age, We called at this building......

……… to which Martin had a magic key ((Disabled !)

Then.... exactly as planned (most unusual) both groups met up at "Eric"

Regardless of government advice much handshaking took place. (see right of photo). Are we a vulnerable group ?   Er....................... Definitely. 

And then..... the the obligatory photo.

At last. Not before time. Vic gets a kick up the A*** !

Then we set off for lunch at the SAVOY.

Two people believed this.

I think they must be "Gull - ible"

In fact we dined as usual at Weatherspoons. An all round excellent venue. It was Anthony who introduced us to the delights of Weatherspoons. We all think he's a "Little Treasure"

Food and drink consumed the two parties walked together to Martin's car. Here the main group were to catch the bus back to Heysham and the parked cars whilst John W and Lawrence  prevailed upon Martin to drive some distance up the coast whilst they did a post-prandial walk to catch him up.

"You'll get wet there."  said Lawrence as we walked along the prom.

He was right !

GOODBYE  MORECAMBE