Out with the olde, in with the new (this is going to get emotional), Saturday, 30th January, 2016.

10:00am arrival at Bristol Street Motors in time for the official hand-over.

11:00am-ish.
Official BSM photo of the 'happy couple' on the red carpet.

2:00pm-ish.
Back home, had some lunch, cleared all the stuff out of the Lancer, and now off to Field's for the last time where it's going to become a courtesy car for folk wot need an automatic.
We could have sold it for  slightly more on We Buy Any Car but they were going to scrap it and our Lancer deserves better 'cos:
* it was amazing value when we bought it brand new (£10k)
* we had it for 10.5 years
* it transported us 213, 528 miles
* it was always regularly serviced
* always got through its MOT without incident
* it took Vicky backwards and forwards to work (84 mile round trip) countless times,
in rain, shine, snow and wind
* it has never let us down in all that time despite……..
* an attack by a rogue wheel off a wagon wot bounced over the central reservation on the M5 in the pissing rain as we were driving to Cornwall and smashed into the drivers-side front corner
a few years ago
(nothing a strong cable tie couldn't fix - the drivers window has rattled ever since)
* the bonnet release cable snapped which meant opening the bonnet was always a challenge
* the air-conditioning had gone but, hey, that's wot windows are for
* the Catalytic Converter had gone
* the fan belt was going
* liberal amounts of black paint corrector-pen has been used (applied with great 'skill' by the owners) all over the bodywork
* one of the MacPherson struts clonked loudly when we went over a bump but, hey-ho, all of those things just added to its character and made us love it more.

It's the end of an era.

Will the new car do as well?

Only time will tell.

Murky dismal - but in a good way, Worcester, Wednesday, 20th January, 2016.

11:05-ish:

It was 2 degrees and a little slippery in places yesterday so it's on with the heavy duty snow shoes today as the temperature is exactly zero degrees.

I may feel more secure underfoot but, cowin' 'eck, these buggers are big and heavy. I'd forgotten that.

Still, all good, exercise-wise.

The Pump House looms out of the fog.

Beneath The Veil Of Winter's Face  -

With all due thanks to Mystery (Canadian rock band).

When the warmer months arrive and you decide to sit down for a rest and to take in the view - think on!

Crow ice skating on the racecourse.

Cobweb and chewing gum (nice).

Same view as yesterday but murkier and more dismal.

Oops. Forgot about this fallen tree.

I'm not going to go around it as I have no idea how deep the water is under that ice.

Did I manage to 'vault' it?

Yes! 

Albeit in a very awkward way.

I got some mud on my trousers - don't tell Vicky whatever you do.

Off home now: 3.3 miles and 7,200 steps today, and I felt every one thanks to my cowin' snow boots.

Winter's here at last, Worcester, Tuesday, 19th January, 2016.

11:15am-ish.

Icy puddle in Gheluvelt Park.

It's cold. 2 degrees max.

Frozen lakes on the racecourse.

Best frozen spider web of the morning so far.

Damn! And I've walked all this way with my kayak strapped to my back an' all.

Kayakers can enter by the gate at Waterworks Road, no probs.

12:20-ish:

Frosty grass thriving in the shade.

Distance walked today: 4 miles, 8,500 steps. Blimey.

Another river walk, Worcester, Sunday, 17th January, 2016.

Another walk, another selfie.

This one is on Sabrina Bridge.

Another walk, another selfie Pt II.

This one, having crossed Sabrina Bridge.

River level dropping now.

Plenty of detritus under the Bridge Street bridge arches.

Swans and pigeons opposite (almost) the Cathedral.

Time to walk back home along the river.

Total distance walked according to Fit Bit: 4.23 miles. 

Fallen tree, Racecourse, Worcester, Thursday, 14th January, 2016.

As if the flooded path wasn't enough of a challenge you now have to hurdle a fallen tree if you wish to head into town along here.

Can't recall any particularly strong winds of late so we'll put this one down to the saturated nature of the ground having rotted the trees' roots.

Not so surprising given the racecourse is watered almost every day for the nine months of the 'season'.

Not saying anything, just saying.

Homeostasis? Worcester, Sunday, 10th January, 2016.

It's always nice when the river's 'up' 'cos it gives our constitutionals a purpose.

The river level doesn't seem to be altering much now.

This is the view of the Bridge Street bridge from Bromwich Parade on the west bank.

You can't walk much further along on this side without sturdy (and tall) wellies.

Vicky warns local dog to keep clear of bolshie swans.

Not sure the dog is listening.

Yes, I'm not adverse to a close-up but if yer come one step closer I'll 'ave yer!

Yay! Selfie time.

Back on South Par (on the east bank) and the water doesn't seem to have dropped at all.

A day's rain in Wales and Shropshire and the river will soon flood again.

It's starting to drizzle now so we need to get a move on to keep one step ahead of the rain.

Today's walk according to Fit Bit: 3.9 miles (10, 311 steps).

A bit muddy, Pitchcroft, Worcester, Friday, 8th January, 2016.

11:30-ish.

Decided to give the walk along Pitchcroft from the northern end a go today.

It's been a bit muddy in places but so far so good.

View to the north and where I've walked along so far.

Despite the river level having dropped a bit the path by the Collecting Ring is still flooded 

due to the water remaining on the racecourse.

No, definitely can't wade thru' that.

There is a path to the right but the gate is padlocked and, in any case, it looks as tho' the path is flooded opposite the grandstand anyway.

Time to turn back then.

The path on 'the allotment side' is still under water.

No change since it first flooded days ago.

Time to give up and return home via the back roads.

Same place, different perspective.

I'm hungry, Emlyn will be hungry, time for lunch methinks.

Levels dropping, Worcester, Wednesday, 6th January, 2016.

12:00-ish. Walked to the west bank of the river today for a closer view of some cormorants up a tree.

Same tree as yesterday. Not necessarily the same cormorants.

I'm guessing the river's flow is too fast for fishing?

View of river detritus from the west end of Bridge Street bridge.

This footpath was under water yesterday.

These are not my footprints by the way.

Now back at the Waterworks Road end of Pitchcroft having walked here down the back roads.

I would say that the river level has dropped by 6" to a foot since yesterday.

Having said that, there are three flood warnings for places just to the south of Worcester.

That's what new flood defences do, see? 

They shoot the water down to the next place without decent flood defences and those unfortunate souls living there take the consequences. 

And so the lunacy goes on.

Severn peaks (for now), Worcester, Tuesday, 5th January, 2016.

Midday-ish and we've walked into town along the main road to see what the river's doing from a different perspective (well, from different places).

This is the view looking south from the Bridge Street bridge.

The swans on South Quay are indifferent to their close-up.

A swans-eye view (sort of) of the Bridge Street bridge.

Plenty of space under the arches as long as you are not trying to navigate under them in a boat.

Detritus build-up under the bridge to its north side.

Two nests, and five cormorants, up a tree on the west bank of the river.

Another riverside walk (North Parade) under water.

Riverside cafe is open even if the riverside walkway isn't.

Wot? No kayakers?

Looking northwards over the racecourse - our normal route home.

A robin surveys the flooded racecourse.

We also saw a siskin but you'll have to take our word for it 'cos it was too small and quick to get a photo of it.

That's the second siskin we've seen over this past two weeks having never seen one in Worcester before (we used to see loads in N. Warks). Wonder what that's all about.

Severn Up (here we go again), Worcester, Monday, 4th January, 2016.

Walking into Worcester today but it doesn't look like we'll be able to go along Pitchcroft as the river has flooded to the west of Waterworks Walk……………..

as well as to the east. Never a good sign.

Sure enough, Waterworks Road is flooded and the racecourse is under water.

Sturdy wellygogs required. 

Perhaps we can walk to town along the 'allotments side' of the racecourse?

Nope, that's flooded an' all.

Plan C it is then.

Would you park your car here?

The Racecourse is totally under water.

How much is river water and how much is rain water on top of a high water table is anyone's guess.

We are now in the Cathedral. 

A little respite and a chance to remember those gone but not forgotten.

Checking out the display of Christmas trees.

View of the river and flooded land to the west of the river from College Green.

The steps from College Green to the riverside walk is under water.

The wall where particularly high floods are honoured with a brick is on the left through the gate.

A few feet to go yet, then.

View back to St Andrews church from the Cathedral grounds.

Kleve Walk, at the foot of this wall, is submerged.

The water is not right up to the top of the arches under Bridge Street bridge yet.

Heading back into town now and, hurrah! It looks like the awful '60's shopping precinct is finally getting a makeover or, better still, perhaps they are going to knock it down altogether? 

One can only hope.

Couple of shops to visit before a meal at Elgar's and then the walk home.

6.5 miles in total according to David's Fit Bit wot Vicky bought him for Christmas.

No wonder we are both knackered by the time we get back home.