Evesham Cats Protection, Sunday 27th December, 2009.

(1) Long-Term Resident singularly fails to encapsulate spirit of Xmas Present despite surroundings.




(2) Tinsel and Derrick make a connection.

(3) Betty is as blind as a bat which makes her utterly irresistible, of course.

Batsford Arboretum, Boxing Day (26th December), 2009.

(1) We've headed down into the deep south today (well, The Cotswolds) in search of the White Stuff. The Cotwolds are impassible, says BBC Weather in that way of theirs. But when we get down to Batsford, there's not that much more than up in the grim north of Worcester.








(2) Yay! Says David. There must be nearly an inch here!






(3) Batsford Church and another chance for a nose around inside the warmth of one of God's houses.

(4) Howard bemoans the lack of snow 'round the back.

(5) A gate leading to a frozen waterfall? What's the point of that? Makes for a nice photo tho'.

Christmas Day, (25th December) 2009.

A swift walk down to the park to burn off some calories after breakfast and before din-dins. But what's this? There's been a thaw and most of yesterday's snow has gone? Boo!

At least David and Howard can take some consolation that there's some vestiges of snow clinging to the mud on the walk down to the river.

Thursday 24th December, 2009.

We're dreaming of a White Christmas and, although it is only Christmas Eve, we might be in luck this year after a light flurry of snow fell yesterday evening.

This is our first snow of the winter. We already had a layer of ice, now we've got some snow on top of that, and frost on top of that. So, it's not as bad as most other parts of the UK, but it's a chance to venture out with our snow boots on.




Gheluvelt Park is almost snow-bound. Note the lack of other people out and about. All doing last minute shopping, visiting rellies, or at home getting everything ready for the big day, we presume. Some might still be at work, possibly.


The steep gradient of an ice-bound footbridge holds no fears for those walking in their snow boots (oh no).

Tuesday 22nd December, 2009.

We aren't religious but we do like Cathedrals. It's the architectural scale. All those curves, arches and columns. So what better way to spend a Tuesday evening than at Worcester Cathedral for one of its carol services.

David felt a shiver down his spine as the lone voice of a young chorister began the first lines of Once In Royal David's City. Spine-tingling stuff. It reminded him of when he was a first year pupil at Icknield High School and the ruddy music teacher singled him out, to the amusement of his mates, for that very same duty at the School's Christmas Service. Nerve wracking it was but, to this day, he reckons he got away with it.

Of course, just months later his voice had broken and he was swiftly relegated to the percussion scrapheap to play the triangle or, if he was lucky, the tambourine.

Such is life.

Evesham Dogs Trust, Sunday 20th December, 2009.

We haven't been dog walking for some time. Since before we went on holiday in September, in fact. So it was about time we went again.

This young man with Vicky is Spud. Here he is having his midday walk. Little did we know that he had already had his midday walk with one of the other walkers. Funny how he didn't mention that, eh?

This is Rosie. She's already found a new owner but can't leave the DT yet on account of having got a nasty tummy bug.

Should Vic be sitting that close to Rosie's rear end in that case? Probably not.

Worcester, Saturday 19th December, 2009.

Now, here's a strange thing. At first glance they looked like a bunch of morris dancers innocently entertaining the shoppers in the High Street on the last Saturday before Xmas.

But, upon closer inspection, there were no wimmin and the blokes had blacked-up faces. Hmm, in these politically correct times?

No doubt, someone out there will confirm that there has been a long tradition in England of this sort of thing and that they are not morris dancers but mummers, or somesuch. But, until then.......

Thursday 10th December, 2009.

If you know anyone from Wales who has recently lost a red hulled plastic dingy, would you please let them know that it is safe and sound here in sunny Worcester. Thank you.

Redditch MCC Terry Cups Christmas Pudding Trial, S E Davis and Sons, Astwood Bank, Redditch, Sunday 6th December, 2009.

1) Whoah. Now that's gotta hurt.
















2)
For spectators, it's a question of standing around in the mud and trying to keep warm.

3)

A picture of concentration.

4)

Two avid Trials fans (yesterday).

5) The end of the section is in sight. My first 'clean' of the day. Nothing can wrong now....................

6) .

..........................bugger.

Friday 4th December, 2009.

1) OK, who's pulled the plug out?

2) Although the river has dropped the finishing straight remains sodden-to-sploshy.

Thursday 3rd December, 2009.

During the recent floods in Cumbria the 24 Hour News programmes often reported that many bridges had collapsed due to the scouring effects of water-borne debris upon the foundations.

Couldn't happen here in Worcester, obviously.

Well it better not, 'cos Vicky and I will be travelling across this one twice this evening.