Lichfield Christmas Tree Festival

 On 1st December we went to Lichfield to visit the Cathedral where they were holding their Christmas Tree Festival.  I took quite a few photographs.  It was a cold Thursday morning and there weren't many people inside so we were able to take time to look at all the different trees.  They had been decorated by local schools, charities and businesses all very different but all equally pleasing.

 Beautiful Advent Candles

 The Cathedral is so beautiful inside. Sorry just a few words today as I'm not feeling too well at the moment.   I hope you enjoy the photos.

 

All for now. Take care.

A Friday Five

It's Friday already, the second one in December, how quickly time passes. 

Anyway, here are five for Friday.

1. Yesterday was so cold, we walked in Hanley park. The Caldon canal was frozen over but everything looked so beautiful.

 

 

2.  After the walk a visit to Bridgewater pottery and factory shop, also at the side of the canal,

for a warming coffee and a mince pie.

Both shop and cafe are always so festive at this time of year.

3.   In the garden the frost was making the plants and shrubs look quite attractive.

 4. Christmas Cards - I have written them and will post them tomorrow in the hope they will eventually get to their destinations.  We've received two by post so far and one hand delivered.

 

 

5.  Garden Birds.  Lots of them seemed to disappear for a while but they are back in this cold weather.  Blackbirds, sparrows, goldfinches, magpies and collard doves being the most regular and frequent visitors to the garden.  They have been joined over the last couple of days by chaffinch and bullfinch as well as blue tits and coal tits.  

 

This morning we had a very infrequent visitor to the garden.  So lovely to see the woodpecker back on the tree just outside the conservatory window.  Paul took the photo as my camera was charging its battery.

 

All for now. I hope you all have a good weekend.

 

A Cold and Sunny Walk

 We woke up to both mist and frost this morning.   

Photos taken through glass as it was too cold to even think about stepping outside.

 

It took a while to clear but by the time we left the house the sun was peeping through.

We walked around Westport Lake.  After a few days staying at home with a cold I felt like some fresh air.

Westport Lake Visitor Centre.  The centre is owned and run by the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.  The lakes and surrounding areas are maintained by the City Council.

The winter sun was dazzling in its brightness.

Shoveler duck

Black headed gull in its winter plumage

Goosander

It was cold and there were very few people about. The smaller lake was icy in places.

 
It really does feel like winter is here.

All for now.  Take care.

 

Here and There

 A few photos and notes from the last few days.

Monday was a lovely day which was good as we had set it aside for a long awaited visit to RAF Cosford.  Paul hadn't visited since the last Flight Simulator weekend in October 2019 and of course there hasn't been one for the last three years.

There was one plane he particularly wanted to see and photograph which had recently been put on display.  

The Gloster Gladiator Mk1 made in 1937.

The Gloster Gladiator was the last bi-plane fighter to be built for the RAF and served in the early years of the Second World War.  They were withdrawn from the front line in 1941 but continued to be used for meteorological reconnaissance and training.

 

Two books from those I had reserved at the library became available.

I've read one and I'm halfway through the other.  I'll soon be able to take them back so someone else can enjoy them.

 

We had two outings in one week the second was to Lichfield yesterday to visit the Christmas Tree Festival at the Cathedral.  I'll write a post about that later next week but for the moment here are a few photos I took around the centre.

I liked the symmetry of the three spires on the cathedral and the three Swans on the Minster Pool.

 

A short explanation of ownership of the pools on the walls of a nearby house.
 

Old and new together.  I wonder if the building works will be residential or commercial.

Erasmus Darwin's house museum  opposite the Cathedral. We didn't go inside this time.

A few festive displays around the modern shopping centre.

So may shops I remember in this area had gone and been replaced by others.  M&S food and Debenhams have gone.  Body shop still there thank goodness but they were out of stock of everything I wanted.  I bought an Advent Calendar from Seasalt featuring Mousehole in Cornwall.  I remember spending time there as a child whilst on holiday in St Ives.  I loved the name.  Still do.

We'd made sandwiches to eat in the car for lunch but on the way back home we dropped into the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's headquarters at Wolesley Bridge.  By this time it was mid afternoon and getting quite cold.  A damp mist was beginning to hang in the still, quiet air.  We had a warm drink and a mince pie as a treat before taking a short walk around the reserve.  We did spot a Goldcrest and a Nuthatch but the little Goldcrest just didn't stay still long enough to photograph and I took a very poor photo of the Nuthatch which isn't good enough to show here.  It was lovely to be in the fresh air and as we walked around I spotted some lovely reflections.

There was hardly anyone about.

 

Just two older men taking close up photos of birds and fungi.

In the coffee shop there had been a cheerful birthday celebration going on around one large table.  

This piece of wood was an interesting shape and cast a great refelection in the pond.

It was getting dull and damp.  It was time to head towards home. 
All for now. I'll be back with the trees later.