WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Wendyf]

I thought i was on top of the red mite situation...there has only been the odd few around and I pile red mite powder on the perches and in corners on a regular basis. They must have just got out of control over the last few days. i think it was a warm September when I got the first big infestation. Some have survived yesterday's onslaught so I'll have another go today. perhaps they enjoy being blasted with steam!
For those who haven't come across red mite...and you wouldn't if you have never kept hens, they are only red because they spend the night sucking hen's blood, then they drop off, find a nice hidey hole in the wood and lay hundreds of eggs which become adult mites in 7 days!!

[PanBiker]

From the birthday bash last night, one of Carla's presents, battery powered, dimmable LED Storm Lamp. Isn't technology wonderful.

[Stanley]

Looks like a good bet! Easier to fire up than a Tilley.
Wendy, you have my sympathy, we had them in the hen huts when I was farming at Whatcote in 1953. Being the new boy they gave me the job of picking up the eggs and moving the huts when necessary. They were on skids out in the pasture and I had to move them with the tractor. I got attacked by the little buggers every time I picked the eggs up. The only way I ever found to totally eradicate them was to burn the hen cote!

[Wendyf]

Hardly any mites around this morning, I'll keep up the intense inspections & dosing of mite powder for the next week to allow for eggs hatching out.

[plaques]

Handled my first 'Plastic' £5 note today. Slippery sort of things that need a vise like grip to keep hold of. I was even shown the UV light enabled water mark which is situated centre top rather than right top. If anyone doesn't like these new notes please send to "Plaques" care of OG.

[Stanley]

You've got to admit it's a good try!
Good luck with the Red Mite Wendy.....
The fact I overslept this morning and have put weight on! (Bugger!) I must be tougher than I thought..... See Family Matters, the news is even more positive.

[Stanley]

The terrible news from Syria about the deliberate bombing of the aid convoy. Even more worrying the way the blame is being thrown round. This is a funny old world.....
The fact that tomorrow is the 82nd anniversary of the mine disaster at Gresford, 256 men killed, 200 women widowed and 800 children left fatherless. The bodies are still down there..... It and Aberfan are always at the back of my mind.



The colliery on the morning of the fire.

[Stanley]

I got the appointment for my Flu jab yesterday.... Winter must be coming!

[Stanley]

The state of my old satellite dish.



Then James erecting the new one on the opposite side of the stack where it will not collect snow in winter. The signal is now 100% and the problem solved. There was general corrosion but the specific fault was corrosion of the terminals of the cable. They were OK when stripped back. We can forget that one for a few years!
I forgot to mention.... I saw a TV license detection van for the first time for many years. Cruising slowly up Wellhouse Street. No antenna on the roof like the old ones, I suppose they are using more modern detection systems....

[Stanley]

The fact that the most important things in my life are nothing to do with the international situation or the cavorting of selfish career politicians but the little things that directly affect me. Friends and family.... I can think of no better fields to invest your time and energy in!

[David Whipp]

The 'official opening' of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Exhibition at Greenberfield Locks this morning.

Barnoldswick's History Society and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Society have teamed up with the town council to put on a two day event celebrating 200 years of the canal. Both societies have put a display together telling something of the story of the canal.

Mike Clarke, authoritative canal historian - and Leeds and Liverpool Canal Society President - has been providing lots of detailed information about our canal throughout the day.

The exhibition continues tomorrow from 11am to 3pm.

[Wendyf]

Great photo David. I must try and get down to see the exhibition tomorrow.
My attention was attracted by a nettle lashing me across the face.....never try and clear a patch of nettles on a windy day!

[chinatyke]

Very interesting. I never knew it had taken 50 years to build it. People had patience in those days.

[Stanley]

Ouch Wendy!
China, big job with pick and shovel and they went bank at one time which didn't help.
How many High Speed drills and milling cutters there must be in the world! (And most of them need sharpening....)

[Tizer]

On the promotion leaflet for the Witchcraft Museum, Boscastle, Cornwall...

[David Whipp]

The first loaded barge for 38 years on its way to Liverpool passing through Greenberfield Locks this afternoon. This a a commemorative journey celebrating the 200th anniversary of the canal next month. The barge was carrying a load of sand (which the Canal and Rivers' Trust will be using). Loaded, the barge weighs in at 50 tons.

Was good to meet Wendy at the exhibition; we had a lot of visitors - and the barge was a bonus!

[Stanley]

Good to see you back Tiz, I hope you had a good break. The museum has a sense of humour!
Lovely pic David of a proper loaded boat.
The news from Oz.......

[David Whipp]

Good to hear Janet's up!

One of the things I learned from the canal exhibition was about the spur proposed for Settle.

Mike Clarke had a map showing the route from Greenberfield through the drumlins and up the Ribble Valley. What surprised me was that the route would have been at the same level as our summit pound for 15 miles and 1 furlong. Only for the last three furlongs would there have been any locks - lifting the canal about 34 feet.

Apart from getting to the limestone, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company were keen on building the canal to help solve their chronic water shortages. The company didn't have rights to water from the Aire, but would have been able to use the tributaries of the Ribble.

The plans were scuppered by the MP for Clitheroe who opposed the bill in Parliament.

[Stanley]

Janet's continuing good recovery and daily improvement.
A visit from my grand daughter Jess yesterday afternoon. Lovely woman. We looked at pics and told tales out of school.....
The strange way some people sharpen drills!

[Tizer]

On holiday we arrived early one morning at the National Trust car park at Pentireglaze on the headland near Padtsow. We were one of the first to arrive and we did our good deed for the day. The Trust have a transparent plastic box to hold free leaflets for visitors. It was empty of leaflets but there was something stuck at the bottom - it was a robin that had fallen down the narrow cavity and was unable to get out. After a few tries I managed to get my hand and fingers in far enough to reach the robin's tail and gently lift it. It lost a couple of tail feathers in the process but then I was able to get my fingers under its body and lift it out. It flew onto a gorse bush a few feet away and sat there watching us. I'm not sure whether it was grateful or blamed us for the indignity of losing some feathers! (If I'd got my hand stuck in the box we might have had to get someone to come and rescue me!)

The robin after being rescued from the National Trust information box...

[Stanley]

They'll have to redesign that box! Robins can be aggressive little buggers, you were lucky it didn't attack you!
You may be entertained by THIS. It's my bid for internet fame!

[Stanley]

The resignation of the England manager. he is greedy and stupid. Worst of all he is incompetent. The world has yet another reason for holding us up as objects for derision. See Bruff's comments about his tour guide comparing us to Italy under Berlusconi..... These faults are becoming a national disease!

[Stanley]

Allardyce blaming entrapment as he sets off for his villa in Spain...... My heart bleeds for him.....
On my early walk I found a large double decker in Town Square advertising 'treatments on board'. I looked it up on the web and found THIS. Do you think I should have a go?
The Stanley's Shed video has almost 4,000 hits this morning and the comments are very bad for my ego!

[David Whipp]

Good luck with the Elemis treatments Stanley!

Elysium Spa on Walmsgate were very excited to get the treatment bus...

[Cathy]

Enjoyed your internet link to fame Stanley, nice to see you moving and hear your voice.