A "Greenfield Weekend"

... in more ways than one ...

Worked my work in Greenfield on Saturday morning/early afternoon - headed home - change, camera - headed back for another try at Rugby League - sadly Saddleworth Rangers have STILL to break their duck this season, although they did take the lead ... and it all got a bit feisty late on !!!  Pics from game at

Saddleworth Rangers 6 Elland 20 13Jun15

... and Sunday - a quick 4 minute train ride up to Greenfield (just like going to work !!!) and a wander up to Pots'n'Pans, over to the reservoirs and back to Mossley. Hardly "flaming June" though !!! Pics at

Sunday Walk 14Jun15
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Playing with Macro ...

... and I mean playing !!!!  Trying out the 24mm lens with some extension tubes - aim being to get closer ... but it's a right bugger focus-wise, especially when hand-held - and being an f2.8 lens there's so little actually in focus !!!  Hey-ho - something to work on anyway ...

Macro Flowers - 10Jun15

What next ??? No idea ...
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Mossley All Stars v Manchester City Old Boys

Paul Scholes in a Mossley shirt - a man can dream !!!

A charity game organised by Mossley kitman Gaz Worrall ... all in aid of the Alex Williams "Believe and Achieve" Trust - early Sunday crappy weather managed to disappear (mostly !!) before kick-off and we were treated to a fun afternoon's football with some "names" on the pitch.  It finished 7-5 to the Mossley All-Stars, but I'm sure most people weren't counting.  A cracking attendance I believe (around 500 turned up) so some good cash for the above charity.

Some pictures from the game can be found here (although you'll find loads more on't'web - not that often you see that many snappers at a game up at Seel Park !!!!)

Well done to Gaz - and all who helped out ...
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Whit Friday ...

Some odds'n'sods from the Whit Friday Band Contest at Friezland ... looking for a new angle on an old theme - don't think I quite found it, but hey ...

Whit Friday 29May15
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Bank Holiday Weekend

A local "scratching point" ...

One of those "silly" ones for me - shot off after work on Friday down to (rented) cottage between Buxton and Leek to meet up with several peeps - good Friday food and drink - bed - then up at stupid o'clock to drive back to Greenfield for work - work - then back down to cottage to make the most of a Bank Holiday weekend.

Weather not brill (OK we were 1500 foot up and fairly well "exposed" !!) but we made a good shout of it - a bit of a walk Saturday evening - a gentle wander on Sunday - and me and Mrs Smiffy did a big 'un around the Roaches on Monday.  Some pics from weekend at

Bank Holiday Walkies

... and then it was back to work on Tuesday ...aargh !!

Sport/Photos this weekend - who knows ??? It IS Whit Friday on Friday (!!) so maybe some pics of brass bands and drunken idiots ??  Saddleworth Rangers are away on Saturday - maybe some cricket instead ?? We'll make it up as we go along - such is summer ...

'Twas a case of "Goodbye Mr Chips" !!!

One quick addition here - on the Thursday night I'd been kindly invited to the Ashton United "Volunteers Evening" (due to photos I guess) - it was a bit of a hoot - a "casino night" where no money changed hands - I ended up skint (in a virtual sort of way !!) - a jolly evening was had anyway (I now know how to play Blackjack anyway !!) - and it's nice to be appreciated - thanks to all at Hurst Cross !
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Saddleworth Rangers v Wigan St Judes

Some tattoos from today ...

Yes ... it was my first attempt at Rugby League !!  Got off to an interesting start when "The Man on the Gate" tried to charge me as a concession !!! Must admit it's happened a few times at Ashton Cineworld (honest !! That's why Mrs Smiffy always sends me up to buy the tix) but I refused the kind offer here and paid the "full whack" of £2-50 - which included programme as well.
Now I have to admit I'm certainly not up to speed on Rugby League - having been brought up by my Dad to appreciate Rugby Union (and Welsh Rugby Union in particular), it wasn't until I moved "oop North" that I started to get some exposure to the "other side".  It's took a while - but this was not only my first attempt at snapping RL - but also my first ever visit to a "live" Rugby League game.  I was aware of the circumstances though ... two teams who were both looking for their first win of the season, so something had to give.  Unfortunately it was the away team who went away with the points thanks to a penalty with 5 minutes left on the clock. Some pics from the game at

Saddleworth Rangers 21 Wigan St Judes 23

Fairly satisfied with them as well - so it looks like I've found something else to snap over the summer (will also try to get some cricket in as well).
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Walking ... with the Enemy ??

Sunday - fairly well focussed on a windy hillside ...

Wednesday - pretty good zoom options ...

Football is finished - so where do we go from here ??  OK the walking continues - so here's a couple of albums ... one from last Sunday and one from tonight.

"With the Enemy" refers to the camera used - I've been given a "bridge camera" - and it's a Nikon (Coolpix L110) !!!   It actually belonged to my late Dad, and so I thought I'd give it a go on a couple of walks - saves on weight for starters ... and I'm fairly impressed with the results so far (still need to download a user manual and get to grips with the full range of options but we'll get there ...)

Above Bacup 10May15

Mossley/Greenfield 13May15

Reckon the biggest problem is "no viewfinder" - as in having to hold the camera out and look at the screen while taking a pic - less chance of "anchoring" yourself to avoid camera shake (although I have discovered the "vibration reduction" option - which does help).

Let's see what Saturday brings ... going back to the "big camera" ... and you may be surprised !!
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