My father had a rabbit and he thought it was a duck,
So he sat it on the table with its legs cocked up,
It won a silver medal and it won a silver cup,
For sitting on the table with its legs cocked up.
An old Lancashire skipping rhyme imortalised by Ray Moore the former Radio 2 DJ on his morning 'Bog Eyed Jog';
Sadly no longer with us, he was born next door but two to an old friend of mine in Cherry Lane Anfield within hearing of the Kop he claimed but if Liverpool scored, any house in Liverpool was within earshot, such was the roar in those days (the Toffee's ground was even closer!)
one of his memories from Cherry Lane he told was in WW2 in the 1940's a railway wagon loaded with munitions from Liverpool docks was set on fire during a night time bombing raid and blew up on the rail track running alongside Cherry lane, a steel wagon wheel was blown up in the air by the blast and killed a man in his bed two miles away in West Derby yet their houses mostly survived the explosion.
I did my daily inspection of my Nexus this morning and found it hopelessly clogged with leaves and blanket weed. The weed has been killed by the Cloverleaf treatment I put in last week and dislodged by the 10" airstone running all day yesterday. This is one of the bad design faults with the Nexus as it cannot cope with blanket weed or indeed anything over small leaf size. The 51mm waste pipe has a tendency to clog on the exit under central K1 holder and also any weed or waterlilly stems pulled through 110mm feedpipe from bottom drain catch on the airline feed to bottom of central K1 container, they then wrap themselves around K1 container stopping the filtering water flow through static K1.
This is what had happened as the central stainless K1 holder was clogged all around with weed and the K1 had pushed up and spilled over into centre and inlet flow channel now clogged with detritus, fortunately it floats! so I could sift it all out from detritus. I ran airline through centre for an hour to flush the sides of K1 container out then opened 2" ball valve to flush waste away and it clogged solid within minutes.The 2" waste pipe runs 40 ft to the bottom of garden so I ended up flushing it out section by section with a hose pipe, the worst blockage, a solid mixture of large tree leaves and blanket weed was at the filter end where it exits under filter.
To eliminate this problem I have seen an excellent system fitted to a Nexus that has a Grundfos macerator pump fitted to the 2" exit pipe, simple really, so why couldn't Nexus have thought that one through ?:
Maybe thats a project for me for next year!
Spring is nearly here!
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Still flushing my Nexus out on a daily basis but its got a lot clearer as the leaves cease to fall (or be ripped of the trees by gales of late) still the unusually mild weather is welcome as I can get on with jobs around the garden.
We have taken advantage of the mild weather and big tides of the last week to take the dogs to the beach at Kinmel Bay and walk along the tide's edge as it ebbs.
Big bonus here this time of year is its one of the few places you can see the very pretty snow buntings feeding on the dry seed heads of grasses and Sea Asters along the edges of the dunes on the high water mark of the beach,
Iolo Williams did a nature programme on them here a year or two ago.
Twice this year thanks to our Lavers tides table we have managed to walk along the beach from the car park at the back of Asda to the other side of the funfair at Towyn and back again without being pushed off the beach by incoming tide and yesterday was our second time we managed it, its a two and a half to three hour walk.
We stopped by the small patch of rocks and rough ground at the back of the caravan park Towyn where the new flood defence barrier was installed for caravan park to watch the free daily show of small waders mainly Sanderlings and Turnstones with the odd Oystercatcher and Herring Gull working over the stones as the tide ebbed.
If you sit quietly on the rocks they will ignore you and will come within forty feet of you so you can easily identify them, there is a small mussel bed here and the Oystercatchers and gulls were busy tearing these off and eating them. This weekends storm and big tides have taken out most of the security fencing on the seaward side of the static caravan park despite the new flood defence breakwater, ironically the only piece of fence left standing is the last forty feet or so by the entrance gate from beach!
Big advantage with the wind coming from the West or even better, the mild Southwesterlies is the fly fishing has been brilliant of late with two trips this month with Nigel to Nanerch and a trip to Graiglwyd planned for tommorrow. Nigel had his best day ever at Nanerch on the 10th with 11 fish between us and my best ever brown trout of 2.5 lb, all brown trout go back wherever we fish so very quick weigh and return to fight again. Graiglwyd has some monsters lurking in its depths and holds the current Welsh rainbow trout record of 29.5lbs, we fished there on Boxing Day last year and had a good day's fishing there despite the freezing cold rain and chilling wind but it is very exposed and halfway up a mountain and yes, we are certifiable!
Leigh Halfpenny was robbed of first place by politics last night I believe as Sportsperson Of The Year, how else did they happen to have the award already over in the USA to award to Andy Murray? or was that a fake too! so much for us phoning in and voting.
What wasn't fixed was yesterdays scoresheet from White Hart Lane 5-nil oh, how now AVB! you can bet Baldini has had a snipe and also Senor Levy. AVB said the red card changed the game? No, a crap defence and lacklustre performance had already changed the game, the red card was a wake up call, ignored!
We have taken advantage of the mild weather and big tides of the last week to take the dogs to the beach at Kinmel Bay and walk along the tide's edge as it ebbs.
Big bonus here this time of year is its one of the few places you can see the very pretty snow buntings feeding on the dry seed heads of grasses and Sea Asters along the edges of the dunes on the high water mark of the beach,
Iolo Williams did a nature programme on them here a year or two ago.
Twice this year thanks to our Lavers tides table we have managed to walk along the beach from the car park at the back of Asda to the other side of the funfair at Towyn and back again without being pushed off the beach by incoming tide and yesterday was our second time we managed it, its a two and a half to three hour walk.
We stopped by the small patch of rocks and rough ground at the back of the caravan park Towyn where the new flood defence barrier was installed for caravan park to watch the free daily show of small waders mainly Sanderlings and Turnstones with the odd Oystercatcher and Herring Gull working over the stones as the tide ebbed.
If you sit quietly on the rocks they will ignore you and will come within forty feet of you so you can easily identify them, there is a small mussel bed here and the Oystercatchers and gulls were busy tearing these off and eating them. This weekends storm and big tides have taken out most of the security fencing on the seaward side of the static caravan park despite the new flood defence breakwater, ironically the only piece of fence left standing is the last forty feet or so by the entrance gate from beach!
Big advantage with the wind coming from the West or even better, the mild Southwesterlies is the fly fishing has been brilliant of late with two trips this month with Nigel to Nanerch and a trip to Graiglwyd planned for tommorrow. Nigel had his best day ever at Nanerch on the 10th with 11 fish between us and my best ever brown trout of 2.5 lb, all brown trout go back wherever we fish so very quick weigh and return to fight again. Graiglwyd has some monsters lurking in its depths and holds the current Welsh rainbow trout record of 29.5lbs, we fished there on Boxing Day last year and had a good day's fishing there despite the freezing cold rain and chilling wind but it is very exposed and halfway up a mountain and yes, we are certifiable!
Leigh Halfpenny was robbed of first place by politics last night I believe as Sportsperson Of The Year, how else did they happen to have the award already over in the USA to award to Andy Murray? or was that a fake too! so much for us phoning in and voting.
What wasn't fixed was yesterdays scoresheet from White Hart Lane 5-nil oh, how now AVB! you can bet Baldini has had a snipe and also Senor Levy. AVB said the red card changed the game? No, a crap defence and lacklustre performance had already changed the game, the red card was a wake up call, ignored!
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Oops! well I was right about Levy and Baldini having a go but I never thought they would sack AVB this early in the season. Ironic but it was Brendan Rogers as their first choice apparently when he was still at Swansea.
I personally think its bad for the footballing community as a whole as it brings an unsettling influence on the players and fans alike and keeps the 'who's next' policy alive, not good.
AVB will be crying all the way to the bank again but this time with just a paltry 4 + million for his pain, tough innit!
More irony as Liverpool take on Cardiff at home next Saturday (12.45pm BT Sport) will Malky be next ? he has stated emphatically he won't quit, but with Cardiff's present owner and Liverpool's present form I don't think he will be given that choice, so, watch this space!
I personally think its bad for the footballing community as a whole as it brings an unsettling influence on the players and fans alike and keeps the 'who's next' policy alive, not good.
AVB will be crying all the way to the bank again but this time with just a paltry 4 + million for his pain, tough innit!
More irony as Liverpool take on Cardiff at home next Saturday (12.45pm BT Sport) will Malky be next ? he has stated emphatically he won't quit, but with Cardiff's present owner and Liverpool's present form I don't think he will be given that choice, so, watch this space!
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Almost a disaster with my Nexus filter on Tuesday, I went fly fishing up to Graiglwyd and went out 7.15 am to check my filter before I went. It was a bit clogged so erring on the side of caution I flushed it out as usual then put power back on but forgot to close 2" waste pipe ball valve in the dark and in a hurry.
Went out following morning and found pond had drained down about two feet through waste pipe and waterfall had stopped running,this was result of the level draining down to central exit pipe in Nexus.
The waterfall pump had been running dry from day before and not burnt out thank goodness, its an Oase and is a really tough pump so hope its ok as its been running almost continuously now since 2007.
Took five and a half hours to refill pond spraying water back in but it was a good oportunity to trim waterlillies and clean sides and bottom of pond off.
Everything seems back to normal this morning on my daily inspection and despite cold my fish were looking for food so I gave them some dried mealworms.
These dried mealworms are advertised by the pet food companies and the RSPB but this is the most expensive way to buy them.
I get mine wholesale from a company called Maltby Stores in Hull, £37.99 for 5kgs delivered, this is the cheapest about on internet I have found and they are good for all manner of bird food too, like suet balls, sunflower hearts etc.
For all you rugby fans out there the Six Nations Under Twenties tickets are on sale this week, been up to WRU Erias Park Colwyn Bay to collect mine this morning and got excellent middle of stand seats in the West facing stand that looks out over bay.
Went out following morning and found pond had drained down about two feet through waste pipe and waterfall had stopped running,this was result of the level draining down to central exit pipe in Nexus.
The waterfall pump had been running dry from day before and not burnt out thank goodness, its an Oase and is a really tough pump so hope its ok as its been running almost continuously now since 2007.
Took five and a half hours to refill pond spraying water back in but it was a good oportunity to trim waterlillies and clean sides and bottom of pond off.
Everything seems back to normal this morning on my daily inspection and despite cold my fish were looking for food so I gave them some dried mealworms.
These dried mealworms are advertised by the pet food companies and the RSPB but this is the most expensive way to buy them.
I get mine wholesale from a company called Maltby Stores in Hull, £37.99 for 5kgs delivered, this is the cheapest about on internet I have found and they are good for all manner of bird food too, like suet balls, sunflower hearts etc.
For all you rugby fans out there the Six Nations Under Twenties tickets are on sale this week, been up to WRU Erias Park Colwyn Bay to collect mine this morning and got excellent middle of stand seats in the West facing stand that looks out over bay.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Well the weekend got off to a good start with our now annual Christmas Carol singing across the road from us for all the local neighbours.
It was all started by a guy named George serenading his future wife on a trombone on the balcony of her house to woo her and impress her with the size of his horn.
It escalated from there to him bringing ever increasing members of the brass band he plays in to play Christmas Carols on the balcony.
Four years on and this Friday night we had 7 musicians playing and about 30 neighbours singing despite the squally wet weather, a very good turnout considering 'the orrible night'
We started off just with just 6 neighbours and 3 musicians for the first Christmas Carol singing.
Meanwhile George married and moved in and the Carol singing proved so popular that it is now an organised annual (and very enjoyable) event with hot mulled wine, mince pies etc.
Surprise surprise, Malky is still in a job despite Cardiff losing 3-1 on Saturday.
Perhaps the Cardiff fans, joined by I'm proud to say the Kop Choir; stating the 'bleedin obvious' through their explicit banners and chants finally got through to Tan who was at Anfield for the game, particularly as a large core of Cardiff fans at the Anfield Rd end continued their vociferous protests long after the game finished occupying the stand to voice their discontent!
Best of luck to Malky I say.
The moment of glory is fleeting but; Liverpool are finally top of the Premier League, for two days anyway, till Wenger the Frog's lot play on Monday then who knows? still it was nice, brief but nice.
It was all started by a guy named George serenading his future wife on a trombone on the balcony of her house to woo her and impress her with the size of his horn.
It escalated from there to him bringing ever increasing members of the brass band he plays in to play Christmas Carols on the balcony.
Four years on and this Friday night we had 7 musicians playing and about 30 neighbours singing despite the squally wet weather, a very good turnout considering 'the orrible night'
We started off just with just 6 neighbours and 3 musicians for the first Christmas Carol singing.
Meanwhile George married and moved in and the Carol singing proved so popular that it is now an organised annual (and very enjoyable) event with hot mulled wine, mince pies etc.
Surprise surprise, Malky is still in a job despite Cardiff losing 3-1 on Saturday.
Perhaps the Cardiff fans, joined by I'm proud to say the Kop Choir; stating the 'bleedin obvious' through their explicit banners and chants finally got through to Tan who was at Anfield for the game, particularly as a large core of Cardiff fans at the Anfield Rd end continued their vociferous protests long after the game finished occupying the stand to voice their discontent!
Best of luck to Malky I say.
The moment of glory is fleeting but; Liverpool are finally top of the Premier League, for two days anyway, till Wenger the Frog's lot play on Monday then who knows? still it was nice, brief but nice.
Last edited by pollygog on Tue Dec 24, 2013 11:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Number 1 for Christmas! joy oh joy we are No 1 for Christmas, Arsenal drew nil-nil against Chelski which leaves us as undisputed champions for Christmas at least. Anyone else get an early Chrimbo present?.
Question now is, will Arsene Wenger extend the season of goodwill and have 'The Special One' around for dinner tomorrow after yesterday's result?
Next two away matches are tough fixtures for Liverpool,we've got a visit to the Etihad Stadium Manchester City on Boxing day and Chelski on their own midden at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.Will we still be top?
I'm going now to sit in the conservatory with a pair of binoculars and watch a pair of mistlethrushes helping the fieldfares in stripping the berries off the holly bush in the hedge at the bottom of our garden. They were at it yesterday afternoon despite the atrocious wet and windy weather, they've already eaten all the Viburnum berries down there, they are really tough birds.
TO ALL OUR READERS
SEASONS GREETINGS FROM ALL OF US AT NORTH WALES KOI FORUM
MAY YOU HAVE A SEAMLESS FAULTLESS AND BLAMELESS CHRISTMAS
AND A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR
From the senior management consultancy dept.
Question now is, will Arsene Wenger extend the season of goodwill and have 'The Special One' around for dinner tomorrow after yesterday's result?
Next two away matches are tough fixtures for Liverpool,we've got a visit to the Etihad Stadium Manchester City on Boxing day and Chelski on their own midden at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.Will we still be top?
I'm going now to sit in the conservatory with a pair of binoculars and watch a pair of mistlethrushes helping the fieldfares in stripping the berries off the holly bush in the hedge at the bottom of our garden. They were at it yesterday afternoon despite the atrocious wet and windy weather, they've already eaten all the Viburnum berries down there, they are really tough birds.
TO ALL OUR READERS
SEASONS GREETINGS FROM ALL OF US AT NORTH WALES KOI FORUM
MAY YOU HAVE A SEAMLESS FAULTLESS AND BLAMELESS CHRISTMAS
AND A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR
From the senior management consultancy dept.
Re: Spring is nearly here!
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR MEMBERS AND GUESTS, HAVE A GOOD ONE!
Christmas was a non-event this year starting with a most disappointing Christmas dinner and ending with Cyn crocked up with a bad fall on icy flags in our back yard on Boxing Day.Still, after a four hour wait in A&E nothing's broken but houshold chores now prevail so it has put paid to my fly fishing trips for now.
No relatives coming to visit or to stay this year so we decided to have Christmas day dinner in our local pub for a change.
It was an unmitigated disaster from start to finish, the entire meal was pre-prepared and then microwaved to order like a Brake Bro's special. The soulless skinless boneless machine sliced turkey served up swimming in too much thin gravy, as was the pathetic thin square of Christmas pud swimming in too much lukewarm tasteless brandy? sauce.I have had better Christmas meals in transport cafe's, supermarket diners and works canteens in the past and at a fraction of the cost. To make matters worse it was in a busy pub and we were seated near the rear exit door with the smell of cigarette smoke wafting in on the cold draughts of air every time someone went in or out, Never again!
Suffice to say we left the house at five to two and were back home at five to three.
Looking on the bright side it gets lighter every day from now and my daffodils are just showing their tips through the grass around an old apple tree in the back garden,and even better?
SPRING IS NEARLY HERE
Christmas was a non-event this year starting with a most disappointing Christmas dinner and ending with Cyn crocked up with a bad fall on icy flags in our back yard on Boxing Day.Still, after a four hour wait in A&E nothing's broken but houshold chores now prevail so it has put paid to my fly fishing trips for now.
No relatives coming to visit or to stay this year so we decided to have Christmas day dinner in our local pub for a change.
It was an unmitigated disaster from start to finish, the entire meal was pre-prepared and then microwaved to order like a Brake Bro's special. The soulless skinless boneless machine sliced turkey served up swimming in too much thin gravy, as was the pathetic thin square of Christmas pud swimming in too much lukewarm tasteless brandy? sauce.I have had better Christmas meals in transport cafe's, supermarket diners and works canteens in the past and at a fraction of the cost. To make matters worse it was in a busy pub and we were seated near the rear exit door with the smell of cigarette smoke wafting in on the cold draughts of air every time someone went in or out, Never again!
Suffice to say we left the house at five to two and were back home at five to three.
Looking on the bright side it gets lighter every day from now and my daffodils are just showing their tips through the grass around an old apple tree in the back garden,and even better?
SPRING IS NEARLY HERE
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Took dogs for a short walk just around the block today because of bad weather and spotted my first snowdrops in flower in a neighbours front lawn, mine are just showing white tips so another week yet, next for me to spot is the first spring lambs of the year.
Another upbeat note for the angling fraternity and me of course, it's just 8 weeks to brown trout season opening, yes; 'spring is nearly here'.
My koi were looking for food again this morning but with not a lot of enthusiasm so I've left them until tomorrow and will check them again.
The wild birds are flocking to our feeders in ever increasing numbers attracted by the sunflower hearts and suet treats mainly but unfortunately it also attracts the local male sparrowhawk. Wednesday he caught a female blackbird and plucked it on our back lawn as there was a big cloud of feathers down there. Sadly they make no attempt to kill their victim but hold them down and pluck them while they are still alive and scriking, not nice!
He can't get the birds on the feeders any more though as after many victims plucked, the last straw for us was he killed one of our favourite visitors, a female Greater Spotted Woodpecker.
After some trial and error I now have a screen of 25lb monofil fishing line weighted down with lead weights hung to the ground right around the feeders and spaced about 6" apart, the hawks just cannot get through at speed which is how they catch the birds on feeder but the small birds can easily fly through to escape into nearby hedge. I have seen wooden trellis used for a bird feeder screen which looks more pleasing to the eye but I already had the line and weights and tanalised trellis is expensive. The sparrowhawk obviously caught the blackbird on the lawn close to a shrubbery where he plucked it.
Another upbeat note for the angling fraternity and me of course, it's just 8 weeks to brown trout season opening, yes; 'spring is nearly here'.
My koi were looking for food again this morning but with not a lot of enthusiasm so I've left them until tomorrow and will check them again.
The wild birds are flocking to our feeders in ever increasing numbers attracted by the sunflower hearts and suet treats mainly but unfortunately it also attracts the local male sparrowhawk. Wednesday he caught a female blackbird and plucked it on our back lawn as there was a big cloud of feathers down there. Sadly they make no attempt to kill their victim but hold them down and pluck them while they are still alive and scriking, not nice!
He can't get the birds on the feeders any more though as after many victims plucked, the last straw for us was he killed one of our favourite visitors, a female Greater Spotted Woodpecker.
After some trial and error I now have a screen of 25lb monofil fishing line weighted down with lead weights hung to the ground right around the feeders and spaced about 6" apart, the hawks just cannot get through at speed which is how they catch the birds on feeder but the small birds can easily fly through to escape into nearby hedge. I have seen wooden trellis used for a bird feeder screen which looks more pleasing to the eye but I already had the line and weights and tanalised trellis is expensive. The sparrowhawk obviously caught the blackbird on the lawn close to a shrubbery where he plucked it.
-
roselanekoi
- Posts: 322
- Joined: Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:38 pm
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Last couple of mornings whilst walking the dog the birds have been performing their 'Dawn Chorus', does this mean that spring is nearly here?
Colin
Colin
Re: Spring is nearly here!
Hi Colin, haven't we been here before? one swallow doesn't make a summer etc. Just this morning though I heard a thrush singing in the woods at the back of our house and a chaffinch on our hedge trying a few notes out on Monday, but, early days yet.
I have seen my first lambs! last week in the fields on the right of the Old Denbigh Rd (Elwy side) next to where the Trotting Ponies are bred and trained.
Before you know it we will be up to our armpits in frogspawn (hopefully) let me know when you get your first lot Colin and yes tentatively I can say, spring is nearly here.
I have seen my first lambs! last week in the fields on the right of the Old Denbigh Rd (Elwy side) next to where the Trotting Ponies are bred and trained.
Before you know it we will be up to our armpits in frogspawn (hopefully) let me know when you get your first lot Colin and yes tentatively I can say, spring is nearly here.