Shopping

No real birding for me over the holiday period with Granddaughter Abigail to entertain after a trip to see her mum, on Boxing Day, had to be abandoned due to road closure at Sowerby Bridge due to the floods.

The ‘rat run’ to Sowerby via Luddenden foot, over the tops, became too dangerous with water cascading down off the fields turning the steep narrow lanes into mini streams.

We were worried that one of these ‘streams’ was going to take a wall with it, so we abandoned tying to get to Sowerby Bridge and came home to Bradshaw instead.

Yesterday we managed a short walk down to the Junction Inn at Scholes but there were no signs of Lapwing or much else about.

Today (Monday) was “Boundary Mills” Colne day. 

With a couple of friends, we headed for the Boundary Mills sales – not my cup of tea at all – but we have to make sacrifices at Christmas.

The highlight of the shopping trip (for me anyway) was when I arrived at the till with a candle.

One of us had bought a large fat scented candle and after 20 minutes in a long queue we arrived at the tills.

The ‘till lady asked “Can I wrap your big candle – young man?”

“Well certainly young lady, that’s the best offer I’ve had all day” I factiously replied.

The ‘till lady produced a long cane, slapped her hand with it and smirked.

“I think sir has got the wrong spelling of word wrap in his brain – I going to rap it not wrap it for you!”.

We had a good laugh.

(OK - so I’ve elaborated the exact scenario , just a tad , here and there but the 'till lady and I did have a good laugh -ok there was no cane!).

Ponden: 

On the way home from Colne we stopped for a few minutes at Ponden reservoir. I had the camera with me but no bins.

There were a few Mallard on the water, Sue may have seen a Male Goosander but it disappeared around a corner.

Leeshaw:

A short 5 mins. at, by now,  a very dull Leeshaw Reservoir did not produce much either with a Cormorant on the water and a few Mallard on the water and around the shore area.

We had a good look around for Little Owl but without success.

Some really boring pics!!

Above: A Christmas Dunnock taken through the dining room window

Below a few pics taken on the walk to the Junction Inn -  Scholes

Baildon Moor

Leeshaw:

The last bit of sun at Leeshaw