Salford Quays in Manchester

Oh! I had been very busy these few days. I been to Oxfordshire to get some wallets for my sister. Move my stocks from Sheffield to another warehouse near my place. Today, I had been to Manchester, the  China Agency to apply for a visa for my husband. Pre-book the appointment for 10.00  a.m. but we were late due to bad traffic. Luckily, he got his visa and the document will be ready for collection at 3.00 p.m.

With this few hours free so get my husband to drive to Salford Quays. Heard of the Salford bridge and decided to go and take some photos. Drove to Salford quays unfortunately, it is so hard to find a parking space.  We had to drive the same place 3 times before we able to find a private parking space around some private housing.

Walking along the quay and looking for the Salford bridge. We reached Lowry Shopping Centre where lot of high street outlets stores. So we have  some fish and chips for lunch. There is a  path planted with row of trees along the quay. After we finished our lunch then go visited the Salford bridge, it is directly in front of the Lowry Shopping Centre. It is a lousy day today with heavy rain. We didn't spend any times longer around this place due to heavy downpour.

After we took a few photos of this Salford bridge, we walked back to our car. Walking along the quay again and this times it stop raining. We followed a different path way to our car. Due to the heavy rainfalls and the path with rows of trees became a serene place. Well cut trees with reflections on the paved bricks. 

This whole place is so dreamy and romantic but due to the rain this place is totally deserted. I don't think I am able to fully described this place so more photos are added to my post to illustrate this place which given me the good vibes.

The water sports are participated on these water. The Manchester United Stadium is directly opposite this Salford bridge. Also nearby there is a War Museum.

We drove back to the China Town but we still have another one and half hours wait before the 3.00 p.m.  My husband wanted to take a nap in the car.  Instead of waiting in the car. I went to visit the Manchester Museum.  Walked through the front entrance, the first impression, I had was this is such a small gallery. My mistake, the ground floor was for a cafe and store and toilets. The first level is make up of few galleries some open and some in work progress of changing new displays in there.

Every levels there are split galleries with different artists works. Some from all over the world. I really enjoyed myself in here.

This magic mirror can produced funny image. Thanks to the staff  willingly to let me take a photo of her while she is showing someone this magic mirror. The following photo is a dress make of pins.

At last, I came to the last level,  I don't like the works of the artists so I give this a miss. Next is the art and craft and this is a place which I love.

It make me go bonker that I can enjoyed all these great artists works. My  one hour is well spend and now is the time to meet my husband. He had collected his visa documents and pay for 120 gbp for  a visa. What a high price to pay for a visa, imagine £120.00 pounds Sterlings for a visa!!!
Ready to drive back home to fetch my son as he was representing the school in 3 sport events. Won a 2nd place for long jump but lost out of the other 2 events. After this we have a parent evening for Rayshauun on the school trip.

I think I must be crazy, doing all these stuffs within these few days. I had another 2 trips of moving my stocks back to my warehouse before I am ready for my holidays. Can't imagine how I am able to carry rushing up and down. I think I will spend my time on board sleeping all my way to Beijing.

After I had seen these great artists works and with this need to share with my friends so I spend my night writing this blogger before I hit my pillows.
Hope my friends will love this as much as I have enjoyed them.

Dated:  26/4/2012
Photos : supplied by Robert and myself
Place: Salford Quays and Manchester Art Gallery.

In my home town - Chase Water

I had read my local paper that they were leading a walk at Chase Water.  Read more into it then I realised that they had arranged to have this walk to show the local the progress of this place. It was supposed to finish by 2013.  I am getting curious about this place as I had been there before and there was basically no water as they de-water the reservoir. We set out to go and see  a container warehouse to store my stocks. After that he driving around Cannock for half an hour but had no ideas which destinations he wanted to go.  I hated been driving around and go nowhere than back home.  In the end he said let  go the Chase Water. Ah! Ah! after driving for half an hour then he decided to go to Chase Water. It only took him 10 minutes to drive there instead of wasting petrol for driving 40 minutes.

Walking for half an hour, it started to rain. The dam was half completed and we have to come here for another day again. On Sunday, I waited for my husband to go out with me  to take walk at this place again. He didn't want to go anymore. Instead invited my friends to go with me. We had to walk a long way to reach this Chase Water.  Didn't realised that this place was so big and with rolling fields and different lakes around it.

Follow the sign direction, showing a walking trail so we followed this direction and came across the above lake. There were swans and other wild birds swimming around the lake. Further from this lake we came across another lake but then we must go across a small running water path to the other lake.

I am stunned to see the sun set with the storming clouds. The whole place became another world and it just lightened up the lakes and the hills behind the lakes. So we climb up to the hill to try to snap at the sun set. 

Once we had climbed up to the top of the hills.  We rushed to take photos of the sun set as it went down so fast that we were unable to get any good shot. What a waste, but we were happy so I told my friends to shout as loud as she can and all the unhappiness will disappeared.  We were like 3 crazy women screaming out loud. We didn't realised that there was another photographer snapping photos, I think we had frightened him away.

We enjoyed ourselves so much that I didn't realised that it was almost 9 o'clock. We had no ideas where this path lead us to. Came across an overhead express where cars can go passed and now I had to call my husband for help. Ha! Ha! we are no longer in my home town anymore but in Brownhills. So my husband drove down to fetch us back home.  It took us 10 minutes to reach home. But it will took us an hour to walk home. 

Cooked for dinner for my family and friends and had enjoyed a good dinner after the 4 hours walk.

Oh! Oh! I will give 3 stars for this place. Hope all my friends will enjoyed this place and post. 

 I will be going to China and Hong Kong for 3 weeks to meet my sisters and friends for holidays. So I will not be updating till I am back. As I had not been China since 4th June 1989 . After 23 years now I going back to the Great Wall again. I will post on my blogger as soon as I am to. 

Date: 15th April 2012

Place: Chase Water

Photos was taken by me.

Kingsbury Water Park at dusk

I had been to the Kingsbury Water Park in November 2011, which the sky was grey and it seem that there was nothing much to see. I am not sure whether I am wrong and decided to go down there again. We left the house about 5.00 p.m. and it took us about half an hour drive to reach there.  When we were there and no car park so we parked at the side of the road.

Kingsbury Water Park was a major leisure facility with more than 30 lakes and pools. There were activities such as sailing, windsurfing, fishing and hosre-riding. Also there several hides to spot of birding.

This water park was about 620 acres. We came upon different pools and lakes so we just had to choose which directions to go. We came across the Hemlingford water so we decided to not to walk around this lake and proceed straight on.  Then we came across the Bodymoor Heath Water which was Tamworth Sailing Club.  The Private Club was closed so we climbed over the gate to take some photos.  Above the photos were the pier for the sailing boats.  Also plenty of wild birds especially one was badly hurt and its leg almost cracked. Even with a cracked leg still trying to fly and go into the water.
 The village of Kingsbury sits on a hill overlooking this wonderland of water. Had to obtain a day permit before you are able to fish in these lakes. The wildlife birds lying on the the grassland enjoying their nap.

The lake here was so peaceful and the water look so silky smooth. With the sun goes down on a different pool and the lake look calm with blue sky. We don't feel lonely or quiet  and time just stay still around these lakes.

My husband was trying to get the swan to posed for him but unfortunately he didn't get any. But he did managed to get  a photo of the swan dripping water from its beak. I think he was quite happy with himself with this shot.

Walking along the lake we can see that the blue sky with white clouds were reflected on the water.  Beautiful reflections of trees and clouds on the blue water. The lake became so colourful.

Further up we came a split road which lead to a oak trees forest where we can spot the wild life. We didn't follow  this track instead we followed a footbridge which took us to a miniature railway with children playground. The visitors centre and some of the attractions were closed to public due to the lateness.

We decided to pack up as the whole place became dark with only a few people enjoying themselves fishing. Walked back to the same path back to our car park and the sun set on the lake and it gave the lake a different colourful reflections instead of green,brown and blue colours. The lake was brighten by the sun set. 

So instead of rushing back home we were busy snapping our camera happily and trying to get as much shots as possible before the sun totally disappeared.

This park was  so beautiful it was difficult for me to describe it to justify it beauty. It was so lovely and you can sit near the lake and enjoyed reading a book with the soothing water sound and the birds singing around you. 

Scored for this place : 5 stars

Photos were taken by Robert Suen and myself

Date we visited the place: 10.4.2012