New Years Eve

Well its that time of year again, another year nearly over and a new year yet to begin :o) lots and lots happened in 2010, too many to mention but here's a few:

January 2010

We went to Yorkshire Wildlife park and the heavens opened with snow, the conditions on the roads were terrible.

February 2010

For some reason we did not do one blog post at all!!

March 2010

We went to Harewood House and saw the Red Kites and had some amazing sunsets.

April 2010

Lucy was besotted with our resident garden mouse and staged a "No Move" policy for what seemed hours, we had a ride to Rodley Marsh, took lots of piccies in the garden and made ourselves members at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

May 2010

We had robins nesting in our garden, what an honour :o) and did lots n lots of walking :o)

June 2010

We did lots of visiting to various places, North Cave Wetlands, Sprotborough Flash, our local meadow, Yorkshire Wildlife Park and our Robin chicks hatched :o)

July 2010

We did lots of walking again, mainly the local meadow and had some fantastic colours in the garden.

August 2010

More walking around Worborough Country Park, local meadow and RSBP Old Moor. Then the big bombshell of being made REDUNDANT for the 3rd year in a row, bobbins!!

September 2010

Start me new job, yippee, the skys were fantastic with lovely sunsets, had to have me Gall Bladder removed, very poorly, recovered and went back to work.

October 2010

After being in work for a mere week, I got rushed back into hospital due to a blood clot!! They were really good and got me sorted, yet another week off from me new job, worried YES!! After weeks of going nowhere we finally managed to get out with the camera's again :o) Rivelin Valley, Worsborough Dale, RSPB Old Moor.

November 2010

Out with the cameras again, Rivelin Valley, got lost for hours in Wharncliffe Woods, had more lovely sunsets, had a sprinkle of snow and lots of ice, then on the 30th the heavens opened with SNOW it started at 6pm and snowed all night!!

December 2010

We had lying snow for weeks, ended up at home for one day as the roads were terrible, even though I got me ickle car out, the nutters on the road were too scary to drive with!! Had we 3 months review at work and they are over the moon with me :o) Next came the big freeze. On the 18th December we celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary :o) then the heating packed up cause of the condense pipe, heating sorted.

Now its New Years Eve and we shall be bringing in 2011 with Jules Holland and his Hootenanny and a wee dram or three lol all there is left to say is Happy New Year and I hope it brings everyone health, wealth and lots of happiness :o)

Debbie, Paul and Lucy xxx

RSPB Oldmoor

RSPB Oldmoor
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

We had a lovely walk around RSPB Oldmoor this morning, it rained all the time we were there but we did manage to see lots of birds, mind you a lot was too far away to focus on :o) Debbie

Happy Wedding Anniversary

Well six years ago today, we got married :o)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

LOVE YA LOADS

Debbie xxx

The Big Freeze

The Big Freeze
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

The snow finally stopped but now we are having a big freeze, down to -14/-15c in some places, the snow is still laying on the ground and Paul has managed to clear a path through so Lucy can see whats going on lol :o) Debbie

The Big Freeze

The Big Freeze
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

The snow finally stopped but now we are having a big freeze, down to -14/-15c in some places, this is the lamp at the side of our house, big icicles :o) Debbie

The Big Freeze

The Big Freeze
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

The snow finally stopped but now we are having a big freeze, down to -14/-15c in some places, this is the icicle on the outhouse drainpipe! :o) Debbie

The Big Freeze

The Big Freeze
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

The snow finally stopped but now we are having a big freeze, down to -14/-15c in some places, this is the lamp at the side of our house, big icicles :o) Debbie

1ST DECEMBER n SNOW

SNOW
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Got half way to work, rang me boss n got sent back home, (had a cry, cause its bloody scary on the roads) one car tried squeezing pass me on the wrong side of the road, another big thing overtook me, then a stupid man had his dog off the lead n it run infront of me car!! Thats my three for today, thank u.

My knight in shining armour saved the day, came all way home with me then had to set back off to work on foot

Debbie

SNOW

SNOW
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

another one :o)

SNOW

SNOW
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Its been snowing all day on and off, got home at 6pm and it had just started again, been non stop since, just nipped in the garden in me pj's and boots to get these piccies :o) Debbie

Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

bit early but this is second on the popular list with nearly 3000 views

Cloudy Sky

Cloudy Sky
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Just had to share this 3952 views on my flickr page!!

Local Meadow - Paul

Paul Cooper
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

As you can tell it was mighty cold, brrrrrrrr :o)

Local Meadow

Local Meadow
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

The moon was still hanging around for quite a while!!

Local Meadow

Local Meadow
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Local Meadow

Local Meadow
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

This morning we were up and ready to go for a walk, it was -4c, brrrrrrrr, but once we started walking you did not mind the cold :o) Debbie

Sunday Evening Sunset

Sunday Evening Sunset
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Last one :o)

Sunday Evening Sunset

Sunday Evening Sunset
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Another one :o)

Sunday Evening Sunset

Sunday Evening Sunset
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

By the time I get out of work I have missed the sunset and the sky is black as hell, on Sunday we managed to watch the sun set :o) Debbie

Wharncliffe Woods

Wharncliffe Woods
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Lucy did try climbing these :o)

Wharncliffe Woods

Wharncliffe Woods
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Some more Autumnal piccies :o)

Wharncliffe Woods

Wharncliffe Woods
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Wharncliffe Woods

Wharncliffe Woods
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Wharncliffe Woods

Wharncliffe Woods
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

This morning, for the second Saturday in a row the sun was out :o) so we decided to take a walk round the woods, I only took my canon g9 and I am very pleased with the Autumn colours again, we walked up and down hills and back again, now glad to be back home chilling :o)

Rivelin Valley - Part II

Rivelin Valley - Part II
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

The colours were fantastic at the weekend :o)

Rivelin Valley - Part II

Rivelin Valley - Part II
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Another piccie from the weekend :o)

Lucylulu

Rivelin Valley
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Lucy had a ball today and greeted every dog and its owner we met :o)

Rivelin Valley

Rivelin Valley
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

We have a fantastic walk round Rivelin Valley today, the sun shined all day and we had some wonderful autumnal scenes with lovely reds and yellow :o) Debbie

Worsborough Dale

Worsborough Dale
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Another frosty one from the weekend :o) Debbie

Worsborough Dale

Worsborough Dale
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Jack Frost had been out :o)

Worsborough Dale

Worsborough Dale
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Sunday morning we had a ride to Worsborough Dale it was frosty but the sun was out and it was lovely :o)

RSPB Old Moor

RSPB Old Moor
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Another shot from saturday :o)

RSPB Old Moor

RSPB Old Moor
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

We finally made it out at the weekend :o) it rained all day saturday but we still enjoyed :o)

Through The Mill

It's not been a good year for Debbie so far...

- Diagnosed with gall stones a few months ago, often suffering from excruciating pain.

- Made redundant for the 3rd year in a row but bounced straight back into a new job.

- Had the keyhole surgery to remove her gall bladder just 3 days into her new job which put the pressure on to get back to work as soon as possible but could barely stand for a week and a half.

- Rushed back into hospital 5 days after the operation, still in severe pain and no sign of things getting better.

Things were starting to look up this week, Debbie had 2 decent nights sleep for the first time in weeks but on Thursday night the pain returned although not quite a bad as before, neither of us got much sleep and struggled to make it through yesterday.

Debbie went straight to bed last night after work but the pain still returned with a vengeance and we were back at the hospital first thing this morning. They still don't know exactly what's wrong but they've tested for everything they can think of which has all come back clear which is a good thing.

Debbie has taken the option of stopping in overnight, with adequate pain relief on tap she might just get a decent nights sleep and with that, aid the recovery process.

So Debbie really has been through the mill and back again this year, surely it's time my lovely little lady got a break!

Paul.

RSPB Oldmoor

RSPB Oldmoor
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

We had a trip to RSPB Oldmoor yesterday, every time I go here I get very disheartend with my piccies (on me Canon 1000d), unless its a strong sunshine day, I get terrible shots as its always DARK!! Debbie :o)

In the Garden

In the Garden
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

On Sunday while Paul planted some trees in the wildlife garden and had a walk round with me camera and spotted some interesting spiders, Ladybirds and a Bumble Bee on the last flowering Budliea :o) Debbie

Evening Sunset

Evening Sunset
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

On Friday evening after doing the weekly shop, we stepped out of the supermarket to see a fantastic sky, I did not have my camera with me but I knew a man who did my other half Paul, so while he packed the car I was clicking away :o) Debbie

Worsborough Country Park

Worsborough Country Park
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Another piccie from our walk at weekend :o)

Worsborough Country Park

Worsborough Country Park
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

We had a magical walk today, the wind was howling, but we were shaded by the woods most of the time :o) Debbie

The Tax Man

At the end of the tax year, the Inland Revenue office sent an inspector to audit the books of a local hospital.

While the agent was checking the books he turned to the Accountant of the Hospital and said, "I notice you buy a lot of bandages. What do you do with the end of the roll when there's too little left to be of any use?"

"Good question," noted the Accountant. "We save them up and send them back to the bandage company and every now and then they send us a free box of bandages."

"Oh," replied the auditor, somewhat disappointed that his unusual
question had a practical answer.

But on he went, in his obnoxious way. "What about all these plaster
purchases? What do you do with what's left over after setting a cast on a patient?"

"Ah, yes," replied the Hospital Accountant, realizing that the inspector was trying to trap him with an unanswerable question. "We save it and send it back to the manufacturer, and every now and then they send us a free package of plaster."

"I see," replied the auditor, thinking hard about how he could fluster the know-it-all Accountant.

"Well," he went on, "What do you do with all the leftover foreskins from the circumcisions you perform?"

"Here, too, we do not waste," answered the Accountant. "What we do is save all the little foreskins and send them to the Inland Revenue Office, and about once a year they send us a complete dick."

Afternoon Walk

Afternoon Walk
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

The sun was shinning and we had a lovely walk round our local meadow, we do love this place, full of nature :o) Debbie

RSPB Oldmoor

RSPB Oldmoor
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Another piccie from our walk at RSPB Oldmoor this dragonfly was laying eggs :o) Debbie

RSPB Oldmoor

RSPB Oldmoor
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

We had a lovely walk round RSPB Oldmoor today, did not get into any hides as the ponds were swarming with Dragonfly so we were quite content to snap away :o) Debbie

Dramatic Sky

Dramatic Sky
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

While out this weekend I did some of my favourite photography - clouds :o) Debbie think this one is my favourite :o)

Local Meadow

Local Meadow
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

We had a walk round Wharncliffe Craggs this morning, but with all the horseflies we decided to head off to our local meadow instead we had a wonderful walk and finally got some grasshopper piccies :o) Debbie

In the Garden

In the Garden
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

One of our wild strawberries growing in the garden, waited 2 years for this to take off

Debbie :o)

Three Ladies in a Sauna

Three Ladies in a Sauna

THREE WOMEN, TWO YOUNGER, AND ONE SENIOR CITIZEN, WERE SITTING NAKED IN A SAUNA. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A BEEPING SOUND. THE YOUNG WOMAN PRESSED HER FOREARM AND THE BEEP STOPPED. THE OTHERS LOOKED AT HER QUESTIONINGLY. 'THAT WAS MY PAGER,' SHE SAID. I HAVE A MICROCHIP UNDER THE SKIN OF MY ARM.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, A PHONE RANG. THE SECOND YOUNG WOMAN LIFTED HER PALM TO HER EAR. WHEN SHE FINISHED, SHE EXPLAINED, 'THAT WAS MY MOBILE PHONE. I HAVE A MICROCHIP IN MY HAND.'

THE OLDER WOMAN FELT VERY LOW -TECH. NOT TO BE OUT DONE, SHE DECIDED SHE HAD TO DO SOMETHING JUST AS IMPRESSIVE. SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE SAUNA AND WENT TO THE BATHROOM. SHE RETURNED WITH A PIECE OF TOILET PAPER HANGING FROM HER REAR END.

THE OTHERS RAISED THEIR EYEBROWS AND STARED AT HER..

THE OLDER WOMAN FINALLY SAID.........WELL, WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT....I'M GETTING A FAX!!

LOL just had to share :o) Debbie x

In the Garden

In the Garden
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

This morning we move a tree in the garden that was getting too big, Paul has planted it in the wildlife part so the birds have more branches to land on, so I took the opportunity when the rain had stopped to walk round with my ickle canon G9 :o) Debbie

Local Meadow - Paul

Local Meadow - Paul
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

We had a fantastic day yesterday, first we did the gardening then it was time for a stroll round our local meadow, Lucy and Paul had a fab time as you can see :o) Debbie

Local Meadow - Lucy

Local Meadow - Lucy
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

We had a fantastic day yesterday, first we did the gardening then it was time for a stroll round our local meadow, Lucy and Paul had a fab time as you can see :o) Debbie

Ladies Toilets

When you have to visit a public toilet, you usually find a line of women, so you smile politely and take your place. Once it's your turn, you check for feet under the cubicle doors. Every cubicle is occupied.

Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the woman leaving the cubicle. You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait has been so long you are about to wet your pants!

The dispenser for the modern 'seat covers' (invented by someone's Mum, no doubt) is handy, but empty. You would hang your bag on the door hook, if there was one, so you carefully, but quickly drape it around your neck, (Mum would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR!) down with your pants and assume ' The Stance.

In this position, your aging, toneless, thigh muscles begin to shake. You'd love to sit down, but having not taken time to wipe the seat or to lay toilet paper on it, you hold 'The Stance.'

To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser. In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, 'Dear, if you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no toilet paper!' Your thighs shake more.

You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday - the one that's still in your bag (the bag around your neck, that now you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the same time). That would have to do, so you crumple it in the puffiest way possible. It's still smaller than your thumbnail.

Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work. The door hits your bag, which is hanging around your neck in front of your chest and you and your bag topple backward against the tank of the toilet.

'Occupied!' you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor, while losing your footing altogether and sliding down directly onto the TOILET SEAT. It is wet of course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too late. Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper - not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try. You know that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because you're certain her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because, frankly, dear, 'You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could get.

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire hose against the inside of the bowl and spraying a fine mist of water that covers your bum and runs down your legs and into your shoes.

The flush somehow sucks everything down with such force and you grab onto the empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in too.

At this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet toilet seat. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a sweet wrapper you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the sinks.

You can't figure out how to operate the taps with the automatic sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and walk past the line of women still waiting. You are no longer able to smile politely to them. A kind soul at the very end of the line points out a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when you NEEDED it?)

You yank the paper from your shoe, plonk it in the woman's hand and tell her warmly, 'Here, you just might need this. As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used and left the men's toilet. Annoyed, he asks, 'What took you so long and why is your bag hanging around your neck?

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with any public toilets It finally explains to the men what really does take us so long. It also answers that other commonly asked question about why women go to the toilets in pairs. It's so the other girl can hold the door, hang onto your bag and hand you Kleenex under the door.

This HAD to be written by a woman! No one else could describe it so accurately.

Debbie :o)

North Cave Wetlands

North Cave Wetlands
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

We had a lovely walk round North Cave Wetlands, I only took my canon G9 with me as it was too hot to be lugging me backpack, but again we had a fantastic day :o) Debbie

As you can see Paul is in his element :o)

North Cave Wetlands

North Cave Wetlands
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

North Cave Wetlands

North Cave Wetlands
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

North Cave Wetlands

North Cave Wetlands
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

Sprotbrough Flash Macro

Sprotbrough Flash Macro
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

We had a lovely walk around Sprotbrough Flash, just had to do my favourite of all photography - Macro :o) Debbie

A Walk in the Meadow

A Walk in the Meadow
Originally uploaded by Snowbabies

We had a lovley walk today in the meadow, nice chilled day :o) Debbie