Birmingham, Sunday 29th January, 2012.

We've brought Derek and Anne to Birmingham today (they've never been before) 'cos that fine olde British tradition has come 'round again: that's right, Chinese New Year. Here we are outside the Art Gallery and Museum, home of The Staffordshire Hoard, which they are going to visit on another trip soon. They're getting the lie of the land, that sort of thing.

Enter The Dragon: appropriate, 'cos it is the Year Of The Dragon.

Exit The Dragon. Like entering, only in a different direction.

Birmingham: where even pedestrian underpasses are like fantasy worlds.

Dog: gorrany sausages?

Anne: nope.

Dog: you can't come on 'ere then.

Passing under Broad Street.

Who's gonna tell Anne and Vicky that they look a bit like two blokes (ahem) relieving themselves just after closing time? Not Derek or Dave, that's for sure.

Evesham Cat's Protection, Sunday 22nd January, 2012.

I think we can all guess which one of these two little fellas is gonna be re-homed first.

Hands up all of you who think there is only one cat in this photo.

Delphi is a new male cat 'in residence'. His coat needs a good old groom but he's having none of it. Give us more time.................

Saturday, 21st January, 2012.

This is the very first shot of fungi we have taken this relatively dry and warm winter. It needs a bit of moisture to make it look a tad more glimmy, don't you think?

Meanwhile, back at HQ, David has ventured into the arctic wastes of our living room to take this shot of the Vicster giving her car a right good thrashing around our latest track variant which, as you can see, now incorporates the bridge. We still can't make use of all the track pieces in the set. So if any track designers out there can advise us on how to incorporate the last standard straight, given the size restrictions of our hall, we'd be very grateful.

Peugeot may have shocked the world of Endurance Racing this week by announcing their withdrawal from the 2012 World Championship but their 2010 car is alive and well and racing on our track! It is constantly harried by the plucky Aston Martin which, usually, gets beaten in the end (just like the real thing then).

Autosport International, NEC, Saturday, 14th January, 2012.

What is this strange fascination that draws us back to the vehicles of our yoof? Nostalgia!

Where's all the usual gubbins? Folk examine the all-electric engine of Lord Drayson's latest Le Mans sports car.

1955 Long Nose D Type Jag now worth a cool £6m. Might have something to do with the fact that Mike Hawthorn drove it at Le Mans. Only finished 6th tho'. Imagine what it would be worth if it had won.

The modern F1 bit of the show.

Thank goodness this blog doesn't have sound. Who'd want to hear David droning on about how he saw this very same car racing at Brands Hatch back in the day? That's right: nobody.

Mind you, you wouldn't be able to hear David above all the other chaps of a certain age, stood around gawping, eyes glazed over, saying exactly the same thing. Nostalgia? It's the future.

The 'Senna Display' was incredibly popular. The queues were so long that we never did bother. Too much else to see. But, as luck would have it, we eventually stumbled on the 'Exit' just as we were about to go home and so nipped in and took a couple of shots. Hope we didn't spoil that chaps shot. Bet he'd been waiting ages for an uncluttered view.

Yay! It's a 'bike. One of Tommy's, if we are not mistaken.

Vicky dwarfed by a monster truck and displaying a poster promoting Santa Pod (in case you were wonderin').

NB: The last time David went to the 'Motorsport Show' (as it was called back then) was circa 1974 when it was held at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Lunnon. It's come on a bit since then. It proved a good day out, and one that we enjoyed immensely, but it was pretty damn expensive for what it was. The Live Show was extra and should have been part of the overall price as it wasn't that great. Glad we went and sampled it, but shan't bother again. Much better value at proper events.

There, we have spoken.

Saturday, 7th January, 2012.

Mother and son, both doing well.

This may seem an unremarkable photo to you, but we'll have you know that it has taken 18 months of intensive TLC to get Emlyn to be this cuddly. Usually, he will deign to curl up on a lap but he has never ventured further north until now so, to put his head on Vicky's upper arm, is real progress.

There's no telling when he'll do it again, so Vicky must make the most of it.

N.B. This was posted five days after the photo was taken and Emlyn has reverted to norm. So, there you go. Still, overall, it's progress, eh?

Worcester Cathedral, New Years Day, 2012.

We've walked into town, done a little bit of shopping, and have now come into the Cathedral to light some candles and see if the cafe is open. It isn't, but there's an 'avenue of Xmas trees' to gawp at. Which is nice.

We particularly like this one.

Can we find somewhere to get a cuppa and a cake please, my feet are killing me.

Thursday, 29th December, 2011.

Emlyn is determined to keep the spirit of Xmas alive for as long as poss.

But after five days it is becoming almost impossible.

NB We wanted to throw away this fine example of IKEA wicker work (one of a pair), which young Emlyn is sat upon, some time ago but, as you can see by the damage he has done to it by using it as a scratching post, we haven't had the heart. It's more fun to keep 'em to see how long it takes for him to scratch 'em to the point of collapse. Oh yes, of course we have bought him a proper scratching post (at great expense). He's not interested in that.