Carbis Bay arrival: Tuesday, 20th December, 2016.

We have arrived after a 4.5hrs journey and the Christmas Tree looks good.

Feeling a bit hungry now.

Vicky's bread is here.

Beans on toast it is then!

Vicky says she doesn't have the energy to smile so she uses up 

even more energy to do whatever it is she is doing here.

Beans on toast was good.

Mince pies and clotted cream is even better.

Red at night, shepherds delight, Erdington, Sunday, 18th December, 2016.

Leaving Erdington after a Christmas visit to Auntie Lou's.

Timed our departure just right.

Into town and back, Worcester, Tuesday, 13th December, 2016.

Victoria Road is closed and council workers armed with all 

manner of Tonka Toys are busy resurfacing it.

We'd be happier if they took the same trouble with the pavements.

Perhaps they will at some point: well, we can hope.

Having walked in to town and bought stuff and been refreshed by 

tea and a cake we are now in College Green.

Vicky says 'take a view over there to show some of the olde bits of the

 cathedral that are now ruined', so I do.

Looking down-river from Kleve Walk.

The sun's come out and Vicky ponders whether she has too many layers on (she has)

whilst swans glide over on the cadge.

Amazing what a touch of sun can do to an otherwise pretty everyday scene.

This is the view up-river from Sabrina Bridge.

NB: we spotted two kingfishers today from our favourite kingfisher viewing spot.

Having said that, it could have been the same one twice. If it was it was certainly very active.

Anyway, we are now claiming 18 kingfisher sightings in 11 years.

Claines - a new walk, Sunday, 11th December, 2016.

View across a stubble field from Claines Lane looking south towards The Malverns.

Another walk, another selfie.

Another view from Claines Lane.

Claines Church.

Along the public footpath to The Mug House.

Ah, the aroma of slowly decomposing silage.

A proper countryside smell.

Farmhouse on Cornmeadow Lane.

Happy 80th Birthday: Perry Beeches, Birmingham, Saturday, 10th December, 2016.

Christmas cards have been exchanged. 

We've wished Aunt Jeanne a very Happy 80th Birthday for Monday.

We've swapped many a sorry saga re The NHS, Banks, and Building Society's etc and their hopeless IT systems that make all the things we used to do oh-so-simply so incredibly-complicated-and-useless nowadays, and now it's time to head back home.

But before we go there's still just enough time to practice our 'modern smiles'.

Left to right: Aunt Doreen (82), Vicky, and Aunt Jeanne.

Murky dismal: Worcester, Tuesday, 6th December, 2016.

Murky dismal and, for that matter, drizzly and damp.

No kingfishers today but there was one yesterday. 

That's 14 in 11 years.

The racecourse and city centre are over there somewhere.

Another lovely winter walk: Sunday, 4th December, 2016.

Early afternoon and looking down river from what has become our favourite viewing spot.

Vigilant kingfisher spotter out of luck today.

Walked into town via Homebase and then tea 'n' cake at a Cafe we hadn't tried before. 

'The Court Tea Room' has only been open for 5 weeks and it is very nice.

We are now in College Green and David is getting fed up with carrying the quality 

bathroom blind (£4.99) we bought at Homebase. 

You can tell can't you.

Vicky in College Green and not carrying as much as David.

The Cathedral from College Green.

At the furthest point from home on our walk.

Sun and gentle cold breeze in our backs from now on.

Back at our favourite viewing spot.

About one mile to go now.

By the time we get home we have walked either 6.75 or 7 miles, 

depending which of our Fit Bits we believe, and 12 flights of stairs.

Not bad.