Empty City, Worcester, Christmas Day, December, 2014.

'Can I open it yet?'

They're off out in a minute for a post-Christmas breakfast constitutional but not before completely humiliating me by making me wear this silly Christmas hat. At least it's better than the one they got me two years ago which was 7 (count 'em) sizes too big and fell down over me eyes so I couldn't see a cowin' thing. This one's got a strap and everything!

It's fast approaching 2:00pm and, apart from a line of taxis at the rank waiting more in hope than in  expectation, there's hardly a soul about.

Good to see that the Christmas Eve fast-food-hordes have given our street cleaners plenty to do when they report back for work on Saturday.

And, yes, there are (empty) litter bins every ten yards or so. Makes you proud to be British.

Vicky has got the whole of M&S to herself. Shame it's shut.

It won't look like this tomorrow.

David making friends with the only other person on the High Street.

It's only when there's nobody about and so we're not having to concentrate on avoiding bumping in to other folk, or negotiating the fast-food litter and such-like, that we can actually stand back and take in the architecture of the storeys above the shops.

Some of which is quite interesting and older than you might imagine. Or younger.

For Santa, with all his hard work out of the way, the immediate post-Christmas period can be a lonely existence.

So he's grateful that Vicky has rushed over to congratulate him on another job well done.

The buildings of King's School are eerily quiet now the Christmas Service at The Cathedral is over and all choirboy duties are complete.

Another brick in the wall:

The main purpose of our walk is to check out the recently inlaid brick commemorating the level of the 2014 flood.

Incredibly, 2007 was higher.

We demand a re-count!

It's now 3:00pm-ish and the racecourse is as deserted as everywhere else. 

Don't dogs get a walk on Christmas Day?

David would like to make it known that he's 'gobba cowd'. But he's not one to draw attention to the fact or mention it on a blog, oh no.

Christmas Italian delights (in the main) come courtesy of several raids made on Carluccio's during the previous months.

'Is it time yet?'

This bucking of the 2:00pm Christmas dinner trend is all very well but David and Emlyn are starting to feel light-headed and beginning to drool.

Vicky keeps saying 'it'll be ready when it's ready!'

At quarter past 6, some people are on the plate. They think it's all over. It is now!

Christmas Eve, Wednesday, 24th December, 2014.

It's Christmas Eve and it's that time of year when certain little boys get very very very excited about what Father Christmas might be bringing them down the chimney pot tonight.

The again, others, just want somebody to give them a couple of fishy biscuit treats in their snug igloo-thingy to keep them going.

It's getting Christmassy, Worcester, Monday, 15th December, 2014.

It must be nearly Christmas 'cos the Cathedral has got a Christmas Tree Fayre-thingy on…...

…..so it's official.

Olde chap baffled by sheer overwhelming number of trees.

There's a lot to read an' all.

Meanwhile, back outside, it's getting a bit chilly over the '60's/'70's architecture quarter.

This is the best that this end of town is ever gonna look.

Splendid olde teddy bears in an antique shop window looking for new homes.

Winter stroll, Worcester, Sunday, 7th December, 2014.

It's 3:00pm and we're having a little winter walk along the river.

It's cold and bright. Just the sort of day that we live for.

Much better than our 'orrid muggy summers.

And the light's so much better an' all.

Stratford-upon-Avon, Saturday, 29th November, 2014.

It's 4:45pm and we've emerged, after a near-four hour epic Italian meal at Prezzo's (where the food and company was lovely but the service was moody at best, grumpy at worst) into a Stratford winter wonderland. 

No surprise there, Christmas shopping and tourism is essential to our economy, after all, so there's some excuse but, as I have reported in a state of bewilderment to Vicky on several occasions over the past few days, there's one house in a street near our home that has had the tree, decs and lights since Nov 26th!

Not saying anything, just saying.   

Gheluvelt Park, Friday, 28th November, 2014.

Grimly-fiendish sort of a day today. Cool, damp, and cloudy. Typical November.

But even on a day such as this something can catch your eye and make you think it's worth getting the camera out.

Not many leaves left on the trees now but these ones still retain some flourishes of colour.

Unlike the majority of fallen leaves which fell over the past few days and have slowly turned into piles of dull mushy rotting vegetation.

Shan't take a photo of them. Oh no.

Gheluvelt Park, Worcester, Monday, 17th November, 2014.

Christmas is but a month or so away and yet Autumn has barely arrived. 

Plenty of leaves on the ground but many more are yet to fall. At least it's getting colder now.

This is Vicky's take on the scene.

Compare and contrast with David's effort at the top.

One includes the 'park furniture', one doesn't.

Consider each and choose a favourite.

But don't say anything out loud in case you've chosen Vicky's.

It'll only upset David, and you wouldn't want to do that would you?

A day late, Wednesday, 12th November, 2014.

I should have taken this photo yesterday but an elderly chap was paying his respects and, in any case, it was tipping down with rain and I was more concerned with staying dry. 

Sums me up.

Still, as that chap from the armed forces, who'd lost friends and colleagues in combat, said on the news yesterday, 'Everyday should be a Remembrance Day'.

Seems fair enough to me.

It's wot t'internet's for, of course it is, Monday, 3rd November, 2014.

Vicky said, 'the balls of yer feet are in a disgraceful state. I'm gonna take a photo of 'em and I dare yer to blog 'em!'.

Never let it be said I can't rise to such a challenge. So, here they are!

In my defence, I blame the NHS. 

Constantly telling me to stay active. Do plenty of walking and cardio-fit etc etc.

Well, what do they expect?

I reckon it's all a ruse to give NHS-approved chiropodists some work. Yeh, that'll be it.

A light lunch to keep one going, The Boston Tea Room, Worcester, Sunday, 2nd November, 2014.

Look at 'im - guilt seeping thru' every pore.

After all the stodge he ate yesterday he promised to be good today but he's had a 3 turkey rasher and mushroom sammidge for breakfast, he's having a pulled pork bun with beetroot coleslaw and chips for lunch, and he's got a bowl of Vicky's best beef and veggo stew to look forward to this evening.

And he says he's not spoilt.

Fireworks and Fair, Worcester Racecourse, Saturday, 1st November, 2014.

100th Anniversary of The Battle of Gheluvelt Memorial Service, Gheluvelt Park, Worcester, 31st October, 2014.

When we moved to Worcester about nine years ago, one of the things we really liked about the area was the local park. The fact it is called Gheluvelt Park had no particular significance to us but as we have lived here, and walked through the park just about every day, we have slowly built up our knowledge of the significance of the word 'Gheluvelt' and Worcester's pride in its part in the battle that took place there in 1914.

Today is the 100th anniversary of the battle and here are some of the photos I took as I walked past the memorial service as part of my daily constitutional.

I don't think words are necessary, particularly: simply google 'The Battle of Gheluvelt' for more info.