Carbis Bay Beach, Wednesday, 21st December, 2016.

Today has been a 'wet one'. 

Ideal for going to M & S in The West Cornwall Shopping Park just outside Hayle to get everything we need for Christmas.

By the time we get back, and after a little bit of rest, the rain has stopped and it's time for a swift walk down to the beach before it gets dark.

Vicky, the beach, and the bright lights of Carbis Bay.

Our first selfie of the holiday and a great opportunity to practice our modern smiles.

Taking a photo of the St Ives train coming in to Carbis Bay station is an excellent excuse to stop and catch our breath after walking back up from the beach.

It's the equivalent of 20 flights of stairs according to Fit Bit we'll have you know.

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.