aston villa 2 v watford 1

Talk about leaving it to the last minute!!!

Villa go head-to-head with Watford in what's effectively a six-pointer. The two teams are hovering in or about the relegation zone with just one point separating them. This is a must-win for us.

The game starts promisingly with Villa commanding most of the possession. But wouldn't you know it - Watford's first real attack and up pops Villa nemesis, Troy Deeney to head home a fine cross.  One nil down with half-time approaching.

After the break Villa open in positive fashion, pinning back the Hornets. A combination of dogged defence and blatant time-wasting tactics hold us at bay until at last substitute, Douglas Luiz finds the back of the Watford net and it's game on.

Villa continue to press but the clock's running down. We're five minutes into injury time as new keeper, Pepe Reina lofts a speculative free-kick high into Watford's box. Tyrone Mings gets on the end of it, he's tripped and the ball flies free to Ezri Konsa who fires home. We've won!!!

The goal is subsequently awarded to Mings, but who cares - it's a precious three points.

community matters - the plane man

My neighbour, Mick, is an extraordinary man. For the past few years he’s been quietly assembling a plane in his garage - it’ll be ready for its maiden flight later this year.

Mick became interested in aviation as a very young boy and after leaving school he secured an engineering apprenticeship, his first rung on the ladder to the cockpit.  He went on to study engineering and design at University and spent most of his working life at Boulton Paul Aircraft.

Boulton Paul has a proud history. Founded in an ironmongers’ shop in Norwich in 1797 it moved to Wolverhampton in the 1930s and has since become a leading specialist in the design and manufacture of aircraft flight control systems.  Mick has travelled the world with the company and has worked on many prestigious projects including the design of system controls for Concorde.

Away from work, Mick first took to the air as a glider pilot before graduating to motorised flight. Now retired, his pride and joy is the plane under construction in his garage, its single wooden prop burnished to a loving shine.

Here’s what Mick has to say about community …

Q. What does community mean to you?

A. My interpretation of the question leads me to believe that in such an environment one is surrounded by like-minded individuals with similar goals. This leads people to seek out each other for the common good in most cases.

Q. What do you get from community?

A.  As they say "birds of a feather flock together”. I get a sense of being part of the group. As part of the group we all get to share each other’s life experiences if we chose to do so. It’s satisfying to be able to help each each other.

Q. What do you give to the community?

A. I would like to think that I give my candour and sense of enthusiasm. In my working life it was always good to share experiences and provide a sense of direction to others, particularly people just starting out in their own careers. It was satisfying to see people grow in confidence, knowing that maybe I had a small part in that process.

 

black dog in the shadows

I love mornings like this. Crisp and cold with frost underfoot and a glorious winter sun illuminating the beauty of nature. Roscoe the dog enjoyed it too!!

the hanging trees

the hanging trees

gather|

to greet the mourning sun

shrouded in mist
they rear up from the gloom

blackened and ancient
they await the return
of the black-cowled monks

community matters - the staffordshire walkers

This term the Photosocial Group at Midlands Art Centre are engaged in a project to document 'community' in all its various shapes and forms. This is my first contribution - the Staffordshire Walkers.

I came across them on the green in the village where I live, just after they had finished their lunch. What a fantastically friendly group they are. It's very obvious from their Facebook page what a vibrant community they've created.

In a world increasingly obsessed by busyness, material achievement and the cult of the individual it's so refreshing to see people take time to enjoy each other's company whilst walking amongst the beauty of nature. Thank you so much, Staffordshire Walkers, for letting me photograph you!

here come the dreams

rime-edge

contours of a leaf

 stammering

head of the dead hare

frozen

in wood and

dreaming

of the bull rushes beyond