Short Sharp Stop at Charing

Hi folks,

Me again, just a quick blog of our jaunt to Charing on the way back from Ashford with Sue and the elusive Trevor.

First off the Church.

And this one for Kendo..................

This is after it's had to much to eat at Crimble.

It's amazing what Lightroom can do.

This was a bit spooky in the Graveyard, eat your heart out Michael J.

As we left I spotted this little darling tied up without an owner. Really like his Coat.

Well that's it for tonight as I am helping Trev via the phone line to get to grips with new software.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite,luv Mike XX

Lunchtime Date with Silver Dish!

Hi folks,

Another day of work, up at 7am to do an MOT, Trev then bless him took Sue to Aylesford whilst I checked over her car after it's major operation, all fine and hunky dory. (Her head wont fall off in a hurry),

 Did a few bits then Trev returned form Aylesford and I smartened myself up to meet Eileen for lunch.

Now Ellieen is a good friend of many years standing, about 30 . She is a Radio Ham and is married to Ken and the have two adorable puppies called Daisy and Holly. ( you can follow them on my front page link).

We have all been Citizen Band radio operators,in the past me with handles, me  being Blademaster, Sue - Microwave, Trev - Limpet, Ken - Nomad and Eileen - Silver Dish, we all then became Licensed Hams together except for Trev who was licensed earlier. A lot of messages have gone under the bridge since then with lots of fun in the process.

Eileen is also into card making, (her link is also on my front page). She makes the most beautiful cards I have ever seen and she made one for Sue for Christmas, and she LOVES IT!.

We sat for about an hour chatting about old times.

Trev having a cuddle

My turn, we had a lovely time and too soon time ran out and we had to part and get on with our days.


Thanks for looking.

bye bye, luv Mike XX

Daisy takes over at No 1

Hi folks,

And the good news is, Sue's head is now on and she is back on the road.

I with the help of Daisy went up and down the road delivering Christmas cards followed by Sue and Daisy going to Margaret's whilst I waited in for the postman.

Sue took her new Christmas present, her new Olympus with her and had a go with Daisy under different surroundings.

Met a couple of Snowmen and took them indoors.

That Bean Bag matches your top.

All in all I think Sue did a good job and at least she got some nice smiles.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, luv Mike XX

Daisy takes over Maidstone

Hi folks,

Well here we are again Tuesday and you all know what that means.

So after saying goodbye to Daddy we loaded the car and set off for Maidstone to take back one of her Christmas presents that her other Nanny had bought as well. My was the town busy, no sign of a recession here, the shops were heaving and it was only Tuesday and a week and a half to go.

First stop was Rupert the Bear in his car, I was going to put some money in but I saw the price, £1 per go and thought, what a rip off. I told Daisy that the cost was too much and she understood and we moved on. We exchanged her present and she didn't even look in the bag that we took out of the toy shop, is she a star or wot.

That done we moved down the town to have lunch then into the Royal Star Arcade to look in the shops, It was very nicely done out with loads of decorations hanging from the ceiling. It looked nice outside with the blue sky but the wind was freezing and we were glad to be inside.

Up stairs by the Loo's there were some Sofas and Daisy soon made herself at home keeping her feet off of course.

Next we went down to the ground floor to look at the Preserves. and she made friends with the lady on the stall who gave here a set of Crayons and a picture to colour. Daisy was on a roll.

See what I mean, the next lady on the next stall not wanting to be outdone offered Daisy a bow to tie around her waist, What colour do you want she said, red please Daisy replied so red she got.

Has she got the gift of the gab or what!

As we left the Arcade we still marvelled at the decorations which we thought were fantastic, well done Maidstone.


So back to the car we went, can I have a go on the swings she asked? sure we said and at Penenden Heath we bailed out for a go on the swings, put you coat on Sue told her. She said that she would be warm enough without it and after a few tears she put the coat on saying that she would keep warm running about, we knew better. We think she is growing up and NOT excepting what you say as Gospel.

After a quick 10 minutes in the play area she made tracks for the car. See told you I said.

Next stop was Gloria and Tony's place in Gillingham which is adorned with Christmas toys and ornaments they have out this time of  the year.  Daisy really had a good time pressing  all the toys' buttons and dancing as she made them sing and dance.

After a while and a cup of tea it was time to take a very tired Daisy back home to tea and bed.

That's it, thanks for looking.

nite nite, luv, Sue, Daisy and Mike XX

Manic Monday

Hi folks,

Well what a day, I think this working lark in getting beyond a joke. Up at 7am to put out the rubbish, then down the MOT station with a car that was delivered with no Petrol in it, typical. Then back home to fit a sensor then back for a retest.
 Next job was a flu jab and a Pneumonia jab, after a blood pressure test I got the flu Jab but was told I would have to wait till February for the other one as they run out!

 As Sues car is still out of action I dropped her off in Chatham to do some shopping in Iceland and she came home on the bus. Guess what the shopping beat her home as it was delivered free by van.

Next was the haircut, just a quick phone call and Diana, bless her was round with the scissors. After clearing up all the grey hair off the kitchen floor, next job was the Plumber who was coming at 3 pm. He arrived about 3.30 just after Sue and finished of the Shower room and a tile in the downstairs loo.

Time for  a tea and the car with a new MOT and petrol in it was taken away and paid for.

Well that was it really apart from the image Daisy wanted altered so here goes....

Opps possibly over the top, comments on a postcard please, no on the blog will do. I need to get into Photoshop and remove that blessed con trail that Trev likes so much. On reflection I think I will lighten the top a tad. Lets see what daisy thinks?

Oh almost forgot, up in the loft to get the Christmas decs down now that the dust has settled.

So that ends the day, phew I need a sleep now.

That's it, thanks for looking,

nite nite, luv Mike XX
.

Silly Saturday and the Eclipse.

Hi folks,

Well what a day Saturday turned out to be. First off had to take Sue to Aylesford as she was working in Homebase, you know the one that burnt down last year and is newly rebuilt, fine store it is too. Her car is still not fixed so I had to take her there. New part promised for Saturday and would arrive when I got back home. On the way back I stopped at the top of Bluebell hill to get a shot of the town in the valley below.

As it was early and the frost was still about I got this of Aylesford with all the factories letting off stream.

Really pleasant up there and nice and quiet with only the sound of a dog handler training his dog.

You can see that there is still a large amount of frost laying about where it is shaded by the trees.

So I thought I had better get home to fit the part to Sues' car. I got changed and started to finish her car off as much as possible until the part turned up. The part duly arrived only to be wrong AGAIN, what do I do now?  I phoned the Main Agent and was assured that the part would be with me on Tuesday morning, so there was nothing for it but to go out again and take some more pictures!  Could have done more to the Loo but the weather was too nice!

Rang Trev, and over he came, we drove to Aylesford to have a photo shoot before we had to pick Sue up at 2 pm. Here are a couple of shots I took.

This shot taken from the "new" bridge.

This was taken on the "old", now pedestrian bridge.

As you know we came home and decided to photograph the Eclipse, well its a long story but I missed it. It came up from behind the houses and was past its' best when we noticed it and by the time I had got into position it had gone. So this is all I got right at the end of it. Still I know what to expect next time. By this time Trev and I were freezing cold so we went to the Chippy for tea.

BTW the Loo is nearly finished, I got up at 5am and finished it. Got to titivate a few bits then it's all done.  "Three cheers" said Sue, me I said "Four cheers".

Thanks for looking.

Off for lunch.

Bye bye for now luv Mike XX

Allington Lock, Maidstone

Hi Folks,

On Wednesday the three Musketeers ventured if you remember to the Malta car park to have our daily fix of photography. The light was a bit naff due to the lateness of the day, we left our Sue reading her Kindle in the car and off we trotted. Where is everyone? the place was deserted as you well see there is not a single sole walking into the pictures, MAGIC.

First stop was the Lock keepers hut. A quaint little place opposite the lock keepers house  that Trev showed the other day.

Holding back the water, at the time we were there not much activity at the lock.

Sluice gates and Weir before the lock. Really eerie here, all you could hear was the sound of running water.

 As I arrived as if on cue, two magnificent Swans came out of the water to greet me. These Swans were not at all timid , this chap wanted to peck the lens.

These two are in love. After a few shots these two pressed themselves together. In the shot above you can make out the mark on their white fronts were they touched.

The light was starting to fade. Looking up the River from the Malta Inn.

Lights are coming on.

The Malta inn from across the river.

Close up with the 7mm lens, the picture has a bit of distortion as the lens is not on a flat plane.

Looks very inviting and warm in there, but time to go home.

Thanks for looking.

nite nite, luv Mike XX