Holy Cross, near Clent, Worcs. Gear testing time!

Lots of walking-related Christmas presents, so what better to walk in slight rain in cold weather (2 degrees)? We had to get out before the snow set in!

I'm wearing Brasher trousers, Helly Hansen long sleeved base layer, Patagonia Nano Air Hoody, and hat and fingerless gloves from a collective in Nepal. (Reviews soon)

We took a walk down a RUPP (road used as public path)

It was very rural, and almost everything was in the muted winter shades

Views over to the Abberley Hills

The road disappeared after a bit, turning into this muddy track

 A slippery path next to barbed wire. Treacherous!

My walking companion

An old fashioned privy (hopefully not used as such now) 

Pollarded trees - quite unusual round here

Views over to the Clent Hills

The village looms into view

Where were we? Holy Cross, near Clent. This was the start and end of the walk. Horsall Lane on the road sign, but Hossil Lane on the OS map

We made a note to try this pub on another occasion - lovely smells, and it looked very festive inside.
It's been awarded "County Dining Pub of the Year 2014": a good recommendation. 

Christmas Eve in Kinver

Christmas Eve in Kinver Village.
Village Greens still has plenty of lovely fresh stock

They are even selling reindeer carrots

The florist has flowers outside, but inside is a hive of industry. They are delivering all day, and not finishing till 8pm!

 

The guerilla knitters  have been decorating the trees

This one's my favourite

The busy butchers have put out a nice sign thanking customers. It's good to shop locally, and we have some excellent shops.

Merry Christmas, and see you in a couple of days

Shrewsbury: you can walk while shopping

To Shrewsbury for a last minute shop. I actually walked 2.6 miles, and I only went in to look for one present (admittedly difficult to find!). There was 200 feet of ascent too!

A lovely Christmassy place to go

All the windows were inviting 

 "Shrewsbury.The original one-off", reads the sign, somewhat bizarrely

Some of my favourite building on Wyle Cop. (The shops are ok too)

 

I loved this children's shop window

This shop had a Nutcracker scene.

Part of Tanners, Shrewsbury's famous wine merchant 

I recommend Shrewsbury for a visit, if you've never been. (It has the usual High Street shops too if you really want them)
Tomorrow: a Kinver Christmas

The long fence!

I was reduced to walking close to home today, because the electric fence needed re-siting.

Would you believe I walked over two miles doing it? (I had Runkeeper on, which confirmed it!)
This is my patent method of making sure the fence doesn't short out at the wooden cornerposts

Harry, the aged Staffie, was keen to help

...but soon got distracted.

The view over to the Clent Hills

...and towards to Turners Hill, with its mighty pylon.

The fance had stopped working properly, so after a rush out to buy some new crocodile clips and a new earth cable, it was getting dark

But we had the reward of this fabulous sunset. 

No special effects - just straight from my phone's camera

 

The lights are the shed (right) and the stable (left)

And here's Bobby the horse eating his tea and unwilling to pose for the camera.

 Finally, we could go home!

Beautiful light on a beach

On my weekend away in Lincolnshire, I wanted to pay a quick visit to Trusthorpe, where I spent most of my childhood summer holidays in our caravan.

The light was beautiful. The beach faces East, so this is the reflection of a sunset.

 

Yes, another picture of me. Well, my outfit was just the right colour!

When I was young, we used to play football up against these structures. They are vents with a river flowing underneath.

They have now been painted to commemorate 100 years since the start of WW1

I didn't remember Trusthorpe as beautiful: it wasn't, that's why. But it did look lovely last Saturday