Joanne Shaw Taylor ...

 I don't just do football y'know ...

... played at Uppermill Civic Hall last Friday.

Now I'm guessing there are a few (many ?) out there saying "Who ???"  Let me tell you this is one seriously good musician.   She's from the Birmingham area - plays the Blues (but is apparently an Aston Villa fan !!).  While Mrs Smiffy was (ironically) down in Birmingham watching Neil Diamond (£75), I was watching JST (£17-50) - reckon I got the best value for money (although wife might disagree !!).

A tremendous night of "dirty blues" - plus I had the chance to take a decent camera (grateful thanks to JST Management) so some pics from the gig at 

Joanne Shaw Taylor - Uppermill 10Jul15

Various reasons for the "delay in transmission" of pics (which I won't go into here) - but I do try ...
.

Slowly Coming Out of Hibernation ....

Well what else happens when the football season "isn't" ???

Just a few weeks of work work work work ... but things are now starting to happen - more to come this very eve ...
.

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
.

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 ...
.

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 ...
.

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
.

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 !
.