Near to home
The Worcester and Birmingham Canal in dramatic evening sunshine: the building behind the wall was once a paper mill
Tranquil scene on the canal
Wildlife on the canal: herons are a regular sight, but all too often in shadow
Stirchley Community Market has run quarterly throughout the year; I act as a steward and photographer. The December market was the biggest ever, occupying every available room at Stirchley Baths
A mysterious outbreak of graffiti caused much puzzlement
Christ Church
Administrator Amanda and I model sweatshirts sold in aid of Kings Heath Action for Refugees
In winter 2022 we launched our Warm Welcome Space: Friday afternoon and evening sessions were especially popular and continued monthly once spring came. Now they are back weekly again. Vicar Ben and I made these models illustrating some of the activities: table tennis, pool, table football, serving food... and Lego
Jigsaw puzzlers putting in a hard shift at the Friday Warm Welcome Space
Cheryl created a piece of art live during a Sunday morning service
Birmingham Half-Marathon runners pass our building where spectators have gathered outside
Getting topsy-turvy during a community lunch
Berlin
In October we attended a long-delayed family meetup, staying in the centre of Berlin
A boat trip along the River Spree, which widens out at Treptow
The Berliner Dom, in the heart of the city, viewed across the Lustgarten
Statues of Marx and Engels: we were told that these once faced west, but have now been turned round to face the Alexanderplatz which in recent years has become a temple of capitalism
A day trip to Potsdam: the Schloss Cecilienhof was the venue of the postwar conference attended by Stalin, Truman and Churchill (later Attlee)
Leicestershire
I make all-too-infrequent visits to my mother, who turned 90 this year. She lives in a flat on the outskirts of Market Harborough and although she rarely goes out now she is well supplied with food and books by my sisters and (sometimes) me. On the way home I have occasionally taken the opportunity to stop off in one of the local villages and have a look round. The villages are very attractive, as is Harborough itself.
The communal garden at Mum's flats: it is well looked after and a sun trap in the warmer months
The village of Husbands Bosworth
Ghost sign in Husbands Bosworth
Eden House, Lubenham: according to the blue plaque it was originally built of wattle and daub. The village has a fine heritage trail
One of many weeping willows along Harborough's Millennium Mile
... and elsewhere
Since New Year's Day fell on a Sunday, January 2 was a bank holiday. It was an unseasonably warm and sunny day and it felt as though half of Birmingham was heading out into the country. We spent an enjoyable few hours in Henley-in-Arden.
An elegant high street
History viewed in bright winter sunshine
There's always something to complain about
In November Miriam's extended family paid a return visit to Stratford-on-Avon, where, the previous year, we had celebrated Hanna's 100th birthday. This time we went on a backstage tour of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre as well as exploring the town.
Former productions commemorated in the foyer of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Destinations on the Stratford Canal
Swans on the Avon