Pfizer Jab

 I had my first Pfizer vaccine jab yesterday afternoon over on the other side of town. Only took 20 mins and that included  a 4 minute wait in small queue and 15minute wait afterwards to make sure I was OK to go home.  Hazel drove me there and waited in the car park.  Bumped into our nice neighbours Sue and Richard - Sue was having her jab just before me. We had a short socially distanced chat in the waiting area.  Good to see so many cheery eyes hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel!   Snowdrops seen on our walk in Lostock in the morning.

Doodle a Day

 

Sun Rise

 Yesterday morning - off to the Co-op to get some things we forgot when we went to Sainsburys.  The sky was looking very spectacular over by the Broken Cross.  This photo doesn't really do it justice.  I walked up and down to keep warm whilst Hazel did the shopping.  Luckily early Sunday morning the Co-op is very quiet.  Later we took a few bits over to G&A in Lostock and had a short walk from the station to the A556  bridge.  It was very cold so glad to get back home again.  Ordered some ink cartridges - they were very cheap so wondering if they will work or last that long?  We shall see.  Ink ran out right in the middle of printing a new 'zine so that was annoying.  Today is very similar - sunny and cold.  Staying in to get on with some collaging and mail art maybe.  Also watched a depressing Italian film about a young boy kidnapped by the mafia that was on FilmFour the other night. "Sicilian Ghost Story".

More Doodles In Lockdown

 Going slightly ga ga in 3rd lockdown.  Waiting for vaccine call to turn up.  Some friends have had theirs already.  Too cold to go out . Frosty slippy pavements.  I don't want to fall over. Our old flat iron weight lifting challenge is going well . I have 40 lifts to beat but could only manage 35 yesterday. I need extra porridge!   Hazel was up to 32 I think.  TV highlights have been the excellent doc. about the blues boom in Chicago in the 60's on Sky Arts (Freeview 11 ) and David Copperfield on Blu-ray sent to us by old chums Dick and Cheryl.  Directed by Amando Eanucci ?  Full of great actors and choice moments.  I think we saw it at the cinema a couple of years ago. Also playing a great sci-fi game on PS4 called The Outer Worlds - zapping monsters and bad guys with ray guns - what fun!  Also the odd mail art send out and a collage or two and my day is pretty full.  I expect it to be very similar when lockdown ends!  

Walk to River Dane

 Morning walk to the over flowing Dane and the squelchy tracks roundmthe orchard and fishing ponds. Saw three heron and a slinky fox.  They were all too quick for my camera sadly.  You'll just have to believe me!                                                        They promised a fine day but it was a bit drizzly and overcast.  

Exercises

 

Walk To Lostock

 This mornings frosty walk to Lostock via Hazel's Mom and sister's place to drop off groceries as they are still isolating - not been out for nearly 10 months now!  Hopefully they can get a vaccine jab at some point but doesn't seem likely at the moment.   These steam valve thingies are very sculptural and hiss when you get near them like petulant snakes!

More Doodles

 

A Walk To The Park

 Early morning wander over the park.  Puddles still frozen and bits of snow clinging to the grass and hedges.  A few dog walkers but we managed to avoid them.  First day of the 3rd lockdown.  This government are so slow on the uptake it's become a joke now. Useless bunch of no hopers!  All that money and private education obviously wasted on their feeble minds as they stagger from one disaster to the next - waffling  and lying - grrrrrrr! 

January 2nd

 This mornings Sunday walk to the River Dane and the still snowy orchard.  Most had melted away but quite a frost this morning and the fishing ponds were solid ice!   Avoided a few dog walkers and joggers - keen to dodge their clouds of steaming breath!  You can see why lots of people now are wearing masks on their daily walks what with a more virilant strain of covid doing the rounds - perhaps we should do the same?  It would keep your face warm too in this harsh weather.  Back home to do some doodling and make some mince pies.

Hoppy Nude Ears!

 Roll on 2021 - give us that vaccine quick!   Hoping for better things.

More Doodles

 

Covid Christmas

 A bit of a weird Xmas Day this year for obvious reasons.  Went over to Hazel's Mom and sister's for a socially distanced shiver in the back garden> Hazel took a pile of logs and sticks and she made a fire in the mexican stove.  Pulled some crackers through the slit in the door.  Ate some mince pies.  Home for some cheese and crackers.  Had a nice zoom chat to Archie and Meriel who are hunkered down in Fulham.  The usual nut roast and all the trimmings later in the afternoon.  Bucks fizz and crackers.  Watched lots of nonsense on the telly.  Hopefully next year will be back to normal.  Fingers crossed!

Dad's Letter

 I thought I'd better preserve this rare document - a crumbling clipping from the Tonbridge "Courier"  from 1965 when my Dad wrote them this letter .  I wonder if George Stapley ever got in touch?

Sunny Ponds

 Sunny walk around the park at Anderton - around the fishing ponds - dazzled by the light!   Hazel also went to the garden centre at Marbury to get some Xmas presents and a plant for her Mom who's birthday is next week. We also bought a small xmas tree in a pot so that we can plant it back out into the garden after crimblemess. 

Graham Gibberd

 RIP Graham Gibberd. Sad news about our old friend and neighbour in Lambeth who passed away with dementia recently. A lovely man who was very kind and generous - who put a rubber roof on our old leaky flat in Lambeth Walk just before Archie was born. Enormously knowledgable about the Lower Marsh area and wrote a definitive book on the subject which is now highly collectable. He will be greatly missed.

West Cheshire Museums Archive

 Donated to the Covid related archive at the West Cheshire Museums recently - Captain Covid Space Helmet and ray gun plus a the S.S. Corona tug boat all made from housegold waste and papier mache.  Glad to free up some space - most of these things are due to be stored in the loft.