Midland Hill Climb Championship, Prescott, Sunday, 26th June, 2016.

10:30-ish:

Team Tony Team Manager, Paula, gratefully accepts from Vicky our season-long sponsorship contribution in the form of a very essential sponge. 

Tony looks unconvinced whilst a smug David - looking forward to many hours spent in The Team Tony Hostility Unit at future meetings quaffing exotic drinks and scoffing canapés - is, fortunately, just out of shot.

Howard tries out Tony's Empire Evo out for size.

Verdict? It's a bit big, we're gonna need a custom seat insert.

Don't tell him yer name Pike!

Martyn Pike - 1974 Ford Escort Mk I - leaves the start line.

We like this sports car but can't identify it 'cos 866 in the programme 

is a single-seater and this clearly isn't.

That won't come out!

Bill Chaplin (Tony's car sharing driver) - heads toward The Esses.

Tony through The Esses (David's version).

Tony through The Esses (Vicky's version).

Gloucestershire.

Quite pleasant, as it goes.

Simon Marsh - 1300s DJ Firehawk Suzuki - at Pardon Hairpin.

The Hill Climb equivalent of a Euro 2016 'team huddle'?

We know the hill climbing community like to innovate but this lot are taking the p*ss.

No idea why David is checking whether it's in focus or not:

he's got his long-distance specs on!

Splendid conveniences no longer in use.

Still better than anything at Donington!

Proper Mini's are so tiny.

Tony heads towards Orchard Corner in his final run of the weekend.

Half a second quicker than his last run, according to the commentator.

2:45pm-ish.

Back at the car park and we are appalled that several owners of inferior cars have had the temerity to park next to us.

Off home now before the rain arrives.

Emlyn RIP, Wednesday, 22nd June, 2016.

Emlyn, our beloved cat, passed away peacefully this morning after a brave battle

 against cancer, arthritis, and old age.

We shall miss him terribly.

Here is a photo of him in happier times:

he's just been told to keep out of the way whilst Vicky cooks the Sunday Roast.

Bevere walk, Tuesday, 21st June, 2016.

Midday-ish:

Deceased shrew-like creature.

Quite possibly a shrew.

Even tinier than you'd imagine.

This is what we like to call 'The Darkness On The Edge Of Town' 'cos it's where we walk to on a winter evening to look up at the stars on a clear night.

There used to be few street lights/houselights, see?

But now they have built a new housing estate.

Vicky remembers when it was all fields 'round here.

How long will it be before they build on this field?

Buffet at Auntie Louise's: Erdington, Sunday, 19th June, 2016.

12:30-ish:

We have raided our local M & S and Waitrose and brought two cool boxes worth of buffet fare to Auntie Louise's to recreate our take on The Queen's 90th Birthday Patrons Lunch.

Auntie Louise is 92.

David can't get Auntie Louise to smile but Vicky can.

Let's get stuck in!

Cathedral & Park, Worcester, Tuesday, 14th June, 2016.

Lighting a candle for Aunt Bette on what would have been her 85th birthday.

Lines and curves.

Chairs.

More lines and curves.

Rain-sodden ferns in Gheluvelt Park bring back memories of the temperate rain forests of 

The Land Of The Long White Cloud (aka New Zealand).

(Born to be wild) Flowers, Worcester, Friday, 10th June, 2016.

Saw these flowers on the way to the Vets to get Emmy's repeat prescription.

So took these photos on the way back home.

The property appears to be unoccupied.

A great advantage if you are a wild flower thriving in a front garden at this time of year.

Summer's here - time to plod, Worcester, Monday, 6th June, 2016.

11:40-ish.

Wild flowers along Pitchcroft.

Great for folk wot suffer with hayfever.

There are two options for a walk into town.

The direct route along the main road which offers no shade or 

the walk along Pitchcroft which provides some shade for part of the way.

Pitchcroft it is then.

It's already warm, about 20 degrees, but it is lovely under the trees.

By the time we will be making our way back home at 1:30-ish, with shopping bags in hand,

 it will be even warmer and we'll be plodding.

Roll-on the autumn.

Best Of British Hill Climb, Shelsley Walsh, Saturday, 4th June, 2016.

1:00pm-ish.

We have arrived just in time for lunch.

So it's a swift cuppa tea followed by a wander around the paddock.

This is Vicky's favourite car of the day.

This is Vicky's second favourite car of the day.

We like our GT's.

Bike of the day!

OK, it's the only 'bike in the paddock but, even so, 

you've gotta love a bit of '70's heavy metal, haven't you?

1:30-ish.

There's still about 30 mins before the afternoon practice begins so we find a seat just down from The Water Mill where, above us, a pair of Blue Tits are busy feeding their youngsters in a 'nest' made in the crumbling mortar in the brick wall.

Look carefully - OK, very carefully - and you can just make out the head of one of the chicks.

Parent departs.

Herd of cows remain steadfastly indifferent to this motorsport-malarky.

2:20-ish.

Scott Moran leaves the line in his 3500cc Gould GR61X.

Oh yes, he might be smiling but, underneath, he is cursing the humidity 

and how the rucksack is not exactly helping.

3:00pm.

After another cuppa tea and a burger between us we make our way to Kennel Bend.

This is Ash Mason in his 1340S Westfield SEi.

It's that view. Get's us every time.
Wallace Menzies in the 3300cc Gould GR59M hurtles through The Crossing.

Howard and The Hill.

Vicky's favourite car comes back down.

Jan Nycz - 499cc Staride Mk. III - on the way to The Bottom Ess.

John Harding - 4500cc Jaguar E Type at The Top Ess.

4:15-ish.

Time to go back to the car and get to Droitwich for The Big Shop and

then home to Emlyn who'll be starving, no doubt.