aston villa 1 v 4 leicester city

The food was wonderful, courtesy of the Digbeth Dining Club.  We loved the music, the Heavy Beat Brass Band.  Christmas presents were bought in the Villa shop.  There were celebratory rainbow shoe laces and sugar-free coke hand-outs.

But, oh ... the football.

 

encountering ellie

On a walk this morning in Cannock Chase our puppy met Ellie, another flat-coated retriever five years his senior. They tumbled and chased and licked and sniffed. It was such a delight to watch!

thoughts in a forest

 

earthed

in a forest

of dead ferns

and mud

branches

drag

the sky

across

the moss-faced

wood

which

blankets

this ancient palace 

 

 

the village green preservation society

A short walk around the village green. Until recently it was shrouded in trees but now they've been cut back to let in the light.  In the middle is the village Christmas tree.

 

 

over the wall

Over the garden wall lies a beautiful eleventh century church. We hear the bells peal on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings.

reflections

The peace of water and reflections on a sunny winter morning. This is fast becoming one of our favourite walks, despite the muddy canal-side.

7 a.m. eternal

The view from the garden of our new home is stunning, even at 7:00 in the morning.

The village in which we now live is steeped in history. Named in the Domesday Book it was at one time owned by Benedictine monks. The Hall opposite was the site of a battle between the Round-heads and the Cavaliers in the English Civil War and the church next to us dates back to the eleventh century. There are several stones from the original transept in our back garden.

We're so much looking forward to exploring both the geography and history of our new environment in the months and years to come!