Life Could Be Worse!

The garden, not everyone's ideal layout. It's one of my 'one day's'

A Stricken Tree Near Kinver

Straight out of the stuff of nightmares and hideous in every aspect. I like the way the other tree are staying right away from it! 
This all looks very innocent in day-light, however on certain nights, when there's a chest-tightening stillness in the air.......

Bournville

 

Here's where I was working yesterday-Bournville Village, delivering Safeguarding Training to University Staff. Bournville holds a special place for Brummies-the Cadbury's built the area for their workforce, a sense of space, openness and gentle order still permeates the place  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bournville  check it out-it's well worth a look. No place for a beer though-the Cadbury's were Quakers. To the right of the tree you can see a superb example of a Campanile; it is played from time to time-superb. The whole area is a real gem and highly recommended.


Don't mess it up Kraft!!

What's Left?

Here's what happens when the industrial power-house of the country is sold off by the pound after successive failure to recognise the huge contribution to the Nation's wealth made by heavy industry. The photo was taken from the entrance to my office, it looks out over what was once part of British Steel and is now a HGV park with new-build, unused factory space behind it. I have a passion for this area, its people and its pragmatic "get on with it" attitude. It's a pity that our means of wealth creation has been exported to the benefit of all of our competitors and the detriment of the country's workforce, wealth and well-being.

The Dolly

  Some people buy dogs-some people seem to just acquire them and this has been the way it is with me since I was a kid. The principle outcome of this policy has been a succession of bent dogs: this one is no exception.



All was going well until she was attacked by a larger dog that was off its lead and its head. This single incident seems to have changed a placid animal to one that has made a deeply seated and seemingly irreversible decision to “get her retaliation in first.” She’s not vicious towards humans and tolerates blackbirds and magpies in an accommodating manner. Anything else is fair-game (literally): our garden is a wild-life free zone, patrolled by The Dolly.


In public she’s walked with (and deeply resents it would appear) a snout lead. This indignity does not however fully prevent her from engaging with other animals should the opportunity arise: it is however easier to stop her.


The photo? One of the lads had put her favourite (for “favourite” read the only one she doesn’t destroy) toy on the top of door jamb. She’d just found it and wanted it back……

Custom Shed: Faraguda: Portugal

From the beach, you can take a back road into town: the picture shows a group of sheds used by local people, mainly for storage of boats and similar nautical trappings. However, the shed in question has been seriously customised and is a fine example of the desire to be "differently comfortable". Excellent!

The Square Faraguda

 Over the river estuary from Portimao and base for a number of ex-pats-the town retains something quite special. A projected scheme to build a luxury yachting marina has, I understand, been cancelled/put on hold. A possible conflict of interest between the local non-tourist economy and the essential character of the place/

Woodland at Himley 2

As before-just minutes away from the town .

Woodland At Himley

 This piece of woodland is just off the main A449 at Himley-follow the road to Bridgnorth for around 500 metres, turn left past a garden centre/nursery, under the reailway bridge and it's on your right. A superb spot, ample car-parking and 10 minutes away from the centres of Dudley and Wolverhampton.

Church At Faraguda Portugal

An early morning run-view from the beach