Valentines day.

Valentines day is just a money making scam, why do you need a special day to tell someone you love them, why do you have to buy a card on a certain day?

I just don't understand it!

If I want to tell Tony how I feel I tell him no matter what day it is, if I want to send him a card to express my feelings or to make him feel special I do it , it doesn't need to be a special day.


I depend on Tony for a lot of things, I would not be able to go anywhere if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be able to do so many things I have taken for granted over the years, I am grateful for him every day.
So I don't need a special day but seeing as how it is valentines day here is Tony...

The photo of the day

Tony

My very special other half.

Until tomorrow...

More snow...

The snow came back today!
The garden was covered in an hour or so, but it didn't stop the squirrels. There were two of them in the garden as the snow was falling, one taking nuts from the boxes , doing the usual snatch, grab and run. The other squirrel had found one of the new feeding sticks I had put out. It is a long stick of sunflower seeds and what looks like honey which I tied to the cross bar, there is another one which is a long suet stick also tied to the crossbar which I thought the blue tits might like or even the woodpecker.
Anyhow the squirrel sat on the crossbar in the snow eating the bits he kept pulling from the seed stick, then he would lean down to pull off more then do a tipple - over - tail round the crossbar back up to eat his paw full of seed. He must of been there more than an hour in the snow, before he finally decided he had either had his fill, he was too wet or cold then off he shot away along the wall to wherever it is he goes.

Todays photo of the day

Squirrel in the snow

Just below squirrel you can see the new seed stick he has taken a liking to.

Until tomorrow...

A time to dance...

Just the photos again today

Todays photos of the day

Are you dancing?

Are you asking?

I'm asking!

Come on then, let's twist!

Sorry I just could not resist.

Until tomorrow...

Passing Stanley Ferry...

We passed Stanley Ferry today while we were out and about, that is where our boats were moored (or parked in Tonys case) when we lived aboard. It feels a long time ago now, it is in fact only 3years and 4 months ago. We had to move off because Tony got fed up of pulling me out of the canal and nearly blowing up the boat because I couldn't feel the button on the gas cooker was the last straw I think.
Any how I am waffling, I tried to take some pictures as we passed, a bit difficult with trees and hedges in the way but I managed a couple. I tried to sneak one of a workman dancing but I got caught...

I also took some of the  aqueduct 

but the photo I am going to use for the photo is I think atmospheric or at least I hope it is that is the look I was after when I altered it a little.

Todays photo of the day...

A view over Stanley Ferry including the Aqueduct.

Stanley Ferry Aqueduct was built between 1836 and 1839 to take the Aire and Calder Navigation over the River Calder in West Yorkshire, England. It is one of the earliest through arch bridges in the world and is considered to be the largest^{[clarification needed]} aqueduct executed in cast iron.^[1]

Designed by George Leather Sr. and built by H. McIntosh, the aqueduct has a span of 165 feet (50 m), a width of 24 feet (7.3 m) and a depth of 8.5 feet (2.6 m).^[2] It is still in use today, though an additional wider concrete aqueduct was constructed alongside in 1981 and the bridge was then renovated.

Stanley Ferry is also the place where the Tom Pudding tub boats were loaded with coal from local collieries between 1863 and 1985 and transported down to Goole in long trains by canal.

The site is one of three historic fords crossing the River Calder near Wakefield. Because the water was deepened for navigation a ferry became necessary, but was replaced by the first bridge in 1879.

Like many through arch bridges, the design of the bridge is often confused with the tied-arch bridge; many bridges have both characteristics. However in this case the bridge is of cast iron, which would be weak in tension. Although the aqueduct channel is in the right position to act in tying the arch, it would have no strength in this direction. At Stanley Ferry, the outward sideways thrust of the arch is retained by its abutments, as for the simple arch bridge.

I just thought I would give you a bit of history and information about the aqueduct and Stanley Ferry.

Until tomorrow...

England are victorious over Ireland

England beat Ireland at rugby 12-6 well done lads.

Todays photo of the day

Bike Rider

It is a German plate, I wonder if he is coming, going or just passing through?

Until tomorrow...

An afternoon of rugby

This morning I lazed in bed as is my normal weekend routine if we are not going anywhere. I watched a few programmes I had taped during the week, then decided to get up and go down to the shed. (This was after Tony had very kindly brought me coffee and toast in bed.)

I wrapped up warmly took all the gear I needed cameras flask chocolate...

I stayed in the shed for a couple of hours then packed up to go and watch the "six nations rugby "on TV.
The first match of the afternoon was Scotland v Italy, Scotland wupped Italy good style 34-10
The second match France v Wales, the Welsh were victorious 16-6.

I hope England do better tomorrow when they play Ireland...

Christopher texted me earlier to tell me he had posted some photo's on-line from his wheelchair basketball session today. I do not have a facebook account (in my opinion it causes nothing but trouble so I refuse to have one) but for anyone that has one, who may be interested in learning about or maybe even joining in (you do not have to be disabled) with wheelchair basketball, I will give you a link to the facebook page where you can see the photo's and read more about it.

https://www.facebook.com/BarnsleyDestroyersWheelchairBasketballTeam

It all looks at bit too fast and dangerous for me, thats Chris in the middle picture, no he isn't disabled but he enjoys the game and mixing with the other players and finding out how hard or difficult life can be for the people that are but also that they can still be treated like everybody else most important that they can still have fun.


Now to todays photo well in the garden there was not a lot about. The squirrels were a no show. I am beginning to think they are being fed better somewhere else!
The visitor I did photograph however is another of my favourites and is not seen too much at the moment, I took a few pictures again I could not decide which to use so I made another collage.

Todays photo of the day

Goldfinches

Until tomorrow...

Rounded up like sheep...

Tony and I went out in the car today, as we drove down a track on our way to the garden centre we spotted a dog in the lane ahead. Tony slowed down as the dog was not on a lead.
The dog was a Collie a sheepdog type, as we approached the dog crouched down just like they do when herding sheep, then it suddenly ran towards us. We thought it was going to attack the tyres of the car. However the dog began to circle the car he was rounding us like sheep, it was amazing.
Up ahead in the road were a couple talking, the dog belonged to one of them we discovered as we drove past them and she finally took control of the dog.

So today I am putting on two photos because I could not decide which to use neither of them are exceptional but they fit in with the story.

Todays photo's of the day

The collie Dog waiting to herd up the car.

The Collie Dog circling the car.

Until tomorrow...