It's 1 o'clock and time for lunch, dum-de-dum-de-dum, Barbourne Works, 23rd October, 2015.

They've not left me on my own as much today.

They've just come back home from a walk around the racecourse, evidently, and now it's time for some lunch. At this juncture, it's always important to position oneself where they can't miss you - like right under their feet.

Yep, that should do it.

Sandwell Crem & Avoncroft Museum, Thursday, 22nd October, 2015.

It's midday and, having driven up the M5, we are at Sandwell Crematorium to remember Vicky's Mum who passed away 14 years ago.

It's now just gone 1 o'clock and we've driven back down the M5 to Avoncroft Museum.

It's got an Edwardian cafe so we've had some lunch and are now going to explore all the olde buildings (and telephone kiosks!) restored and cared for here.

Vicky has never been here before. I came here circa 1980 and presumed it had only just opened then as there was only a few buildings in a field at that time.

Transpires it actually opened in 1962. 

I guess removing buildings from their original locations around the Midlands and re-building them here stone by stone, brick by brick, and plank by plank must take time.

Look at the bow on that, Dave.

Yer can't beat a bit of blacksmithery.

There's fire and heat an' all sorts.

The merchant's house (circa 1450).

Merchant's house interior.

Sisters doin' it for themselves.

Homes for WWI Heroes.

Occupied until 1980.

The living room of the above.

Kids raised in the pre- 'Andrex generations' look away now.

There are lots of apples in Worcestershire.

The Toll House.

Incarcerated in the gaol house.

It's so much bigger inside, Vic.

It's 3:15 now and we've still got time to go to Webbs Garden Centre for a cuppa tea and a pastry before having a quick mooch around the place. Then a drive home to feed Emlyn bang on 5 o'clock (he's a man of routine is our Emlyn).

Brockhampton via Suckley, Wednesday, 21st October, 2015.

Here we are at Holloways in time for lunch at 12:30-ish.

We originally planned to go out much earlier to Brockhampton and then have lunch here afterwards but this morning was…..ahem……a bit drizzly, so we've changed things around.

We're nothing if not flexible, oh yes.

I'm having Chilli Beef Cottage Pie……………

…………and Vicky is having Beef Salad with Balsamic Vinegar.

Vicky loves her Balsamics.

Having had lunch we stop to take in some of the scenery to the east of Suckley.

Dunno what these are exactly but they're lovely.

This constitutes a 'major thoroughfare' around these here parts.

On the opposite side of the road is a field full of (Hereford?) cows……………

………….and a father of the house.

Impressive.

Heading west along the A44 to Brockhampton.

We've arrived and parked up.

Should we wear our wellies? Nah!

Howard and David, ready for a woodland walk.

Vicky's Dad passed away in 1994 and in the spring of '95 we made a donation to The National Trust to plant some trees here in his memory at a time when the Trust was developing this woodland walk. 

We have visited a few times in between and, as the years have gone by, it has become harder and harder to be sure which trees are 'his'.

They've grown so much - as has all the undergrowth.

But this is definitely the spot!

Making our way down to the fishing lake.

Look closely and you'll see Brockhampton Hall at the top of the hill yonder.

It's so quiet here. You can here the sploshes and plops of the fish as they rise to the surface to nab insects and the like every now and then.

Vicky's top bears testament to an encounter with a very friendly labrador cross.

She won't be let in Waitrose later this afternoon looking like that.

Vicky (with top cleaned a bit) and the view to the east over Brinksty Common.

As above but without Vicky.

It's now 2:45pm and we've found a 16th Century Inn that says it serves 'Afternoon Tea'. 

However, it closed at 2:30.

Only in Britain, eh.

Oh well, still thirsty, it's off to Droitwich for some provisions and then home via the vets where we pick up some meds for Emlyn. 

It's all go!

2 cheap day returns for Birmingham New Street please, Tuesday, 20th October, 2015.

Worcester Foregate Street, 11:15am, waiting for the 11:24am train 

which is going to be (oh joy) 7 minutes late.

It's coming from Hereford and is all of three carriages long.

Let's hope we can get a seat.

We get seats facing rearwards and arrive in New Street pretty much on time at 12:15-ish.

This is not a patch on the other 'Grand Central' we have visited but at least it is a bit of an improvement on what was here before.

Roof above the concourse.

A couple of floors higher up and Vicky has her eyes on John Lewis where we head straight for the cafe and have sammidges and tea. 

Thus fortified it's time to wander around the shop itself -

 the biggest John Lewis outside London, evidently.

John Lewis interior jaunty-angle jobbie.

Reflections in John Lewis.

Shopping finished now and who's that entering stage right?

I know him from somewhere.

Outside now and Station Street has been transformed.

John Lewis exterior and Birmingham cityscape.

Back inside and time for refreshments before catching the train back.

One tea, one hot chocolate, and a pastry, please.

Very thick hot chocolate indeed!

The train is on time shock.

Vicky with the 2:50pm to Worcester.

It doesn't leave for another 20 minutes yet but it is already almost full. 

Amazingly this train has just two carriages.

We grab two seats whilst we can.

By the time it leaves there are as many folk standing as sitting.

After a rotten journey on an overcrowded stifling-hot train with no ventilation (just like an overground Underground journey) we get one last cuppa tea at The Boston Tea Party and then take a slow walk home along the river. 

It's lovely to be back in the peace and tranquility of Worcester.

And to think we used to love Birmingham.

It must be an age thing.

Nearly home now.

Looking forward to a cuppa tea and a rest before dinner.