Learning, Laughter and a Spa Day; The Best Medicine!

 After a busy period of weddings and photo shoots, it was nice to return to my first love - nature.

When the rain finally stopped, I grabbed my camera and we headed to one of our favourite walking destinations, Kinver Edge.  We are spoilt for choice when it comes to this diverse area of National Trust managed land.  On the day in question, we took a less well trodden path, passing through woodland, wildflower meadows and a biodynamic farm.  

There will always be those who demonise photo editing, but I always argue that it's an important part of the process.  Technically, cropping an image constitutes editing but no one would complain about that if the alternative was a stray foot or bystander's head.  I believe that we all see things differently and editing can be used to enhance a mood and better convey to the viewer the feeling that scene evoked in the mind of the photographer.  There are also times when a raw and honest portrait is the preferred option.  Each to their own.

So, without further ado, here are some photos from that day.  For these images, I wanted a slightly yellowed film photo aesthetic which I created using my own textures.

Rowan berries...said to ward off witchcraft and enchantment.  Why the negativity?

Mullein.

Chicken!  (Leghorn?)

Well hello!

Chicory.

Something's afoot...

Spotted!

Like cats, cattle are curious creatures.

Buddleia. 

Barley and Mr Blue Sky.

Given that I seem to be constantly inspired by film photography, I thought it was about time I properly dipped my toe into it again.  Gareth recently picked up a boxed Kodak Ektar camera in a charity shop for a fiver and so it accompanied me on a day trip to the beautiful city of Bath.  

The Kodak is a small, retro looking, fixed focus plastic camera with an optical acrylic lens.  

It's a half frame camera, meaning that the developed photos would effectively feature two photos on one.  I therefore carefully considered my photos when taking them, considering which subjects and scenes would work together pleasingly.  In the event, my elected film processor, DS Colour Labs, used a purpose built half frame scanner to develop the film and so each photo was separated.

Bath was built for pleasure and relaxation and has been a wellbeing destination since Roman times.  The ancient Roman Baths attract tourists from all over the world, but it has so much more to offer, from independent shops to a remarkable collection of museums, galleries, year round festivals, theatre, music, eateries and watering holes, all nestled within the stunning Somerset countryside.

The photo results were interesting.  For such a small, inexpensive camera, I was expecting the signature grain, but really loved the depth of field offered by the fixed f/9.5 aperture and the gorgeous golden stone architecture of Bath really worked well in partnership with this camera.  

It also happened to be graduation day...

...and I was quite happy with the slightly abstract nature of this shot, taken as I stalked this graduate - in his cap and gown - through the crowds.

Naturally there were errors.  Shooting with film obviously comes with some limitations.  Even though there was an extra unwanted photo bomber to the right of this photo, I didn't want to waste another shot on this scene, so he stayed.

It also wasn't great in low light (100 ISO), as evidenced by this indoor market photo taken at a vintage brooch stand (apologies Ann!)

Still, I like a challenge and already have another roll of film ready to pop in.  Plus, I was glad I used my first roll on this memorable, but curtailed sun-soaked visit, because we'll be spending a fair bit of time here in the next few years, as our son embarks on a new chapter of student life:  The Uni Years.  

After a year out, he's had time to reflect on his deferred place on a course at Aberystwyth University and decided that it wasn't for him.  Instead, he's chosen to answer a more creative calling and has secured a place at Bath Spa, a university known for its creative courses.  The decision to apply to study in Bath was cemented on this bus trip back to our car.

This was a huge relief to us all.  After a stressful period of uncertainty, it's good to feel that the path ahead has suddenly come into sharp focus.  

And so, we felt we deserved a comedy night at local comedy circuit fixture, Katie Fitzgerald's, just down the road in Stourbridge. We popped along to see comedian Mark Simmons honing and perfecting his act in readiness for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  

Located in "Katie's Secret Garden" we had a delightful Sunday evening.  Katie Fitzgerald's is a music and comedy venue and easily identified by the wall art on the side of the building.

Photos weren't permitted inside, which I hadn't planned on in any event, as the magical courtyard garden was worth capturing.  It reminded us of Edinburgh Fringe's quirky venues (we were regulars back in the day) and helped ease the pain of missing out on the real thing.

Mark Simmons is a master of the one liner and we had a blast.  We benefited from his act in a pretty unique way, in that he had a clipboard in hand throughout and would occasionally ask the audience for input: e.g. "Does this one work better?" or  "Ah, from your reaction, I can see that one needs more work.  I might drop that one." 

Hailing from Folkestone, Mark was blown away by his experience of the Black Country and our unique dialect, which he was at pains to understand, but eventually admitted defeat.  At one point, he jokingly accused the audience of collectively conspiring against him, as he struggled to get a handle on the simple fact that "Arr" means "Yes" in these parts.  Asking for other examples, an audience member talked him through a snippet of conversation overheard at her place of work: "You'd know if I had a cob on cock." It really isn't obscene.  Roughly translated, it means "You would know if I was in a bad mood, my dear."   Mutual fascination.  Like music, comedy is so unifying.  I wish every Sunday night could be like this.

December Will Be Magic Again

I'm trying to talk myself into this title.

December has not been without its stresses, so a little recap of the good bits.

We visited Bob at Much Wenlock Christmas Fayre, kickstarted by alfresco mulled wine.  Outside only because we had my Mom in tow and with one of Bob's girls feeling below par, we needed to avoid exposure to seasonal bugs.

Making the most of our park and ride facility, we walked into the village, taking a shortcut through a field.  Luckily we knew the way!

The weather was, for once, seasonably cold, with sky the colour of pewter, forewarning snow.  Christmas is often a time when absences are more keenly felt and so it was when I spotted the vicar (far right) who gave such a wonderful eulogy for my friend Caroline, only a few months prior.

We passed a very Dickensian former sweet shop - now a 3 bed holiday cottage.

The market is always well attended with plenty of local produce and  artisan stalls.  One immediately captured my attention and after coveting a certain item, I'm secretly hoping to find it under the tree on Christmas morning.

The market spilled over into the churchyard and as the light faded, the brass bands struck up and the hustle and bustle of Much Wenlock's biggest annual event increased a notch beneath the broad boughs of trees laden with twinkling lights.

The lights from within gave the Grade I listed Holy Trinity Church's stained glass an ethereal glow.  Whilst the church dates back to the 12th century, its spectacular glass mostly dates from the 19th century, set into much older frames within mainly 16th century stonework.

The churchyard, being centrally located, is flanked on one side by the Guildhall, constructed in the aftermath of the dissolution of the monasteries and completed in two phases, the south end (the court room) in 1540 and the north end (the council chamber) in 1557.  The building was converted in 1869 with the prison at the north end dismantled and arcading of the central section to allow markets to be held.  Here it is in action.  I wonder just how many people have passed through this building over the centuries?

Back in the streets, the atmosphere was magical and the smells of wood smoke and roasted chestnuts permeated the air.

This museum piece of an RSPCA donation box caught my attention.  Don't forget they need our help too now, more than ever, as careless owners continue to abandon their impulsively acquired lockdown companions.  

William Brookes, the great under-achiever, lived here.  English surgeon, magistrate, botanist and educationalist especially known for founding the Wenlock Olympian Games, inspiring the modern Olympic Games, Brookes certainly made his mark!

Heading back to our car, we passed this beautiful doorway.  A good door is always worth sharing.  

The festivities continued at NT's Wightwick Manor, the Victorian manor house furnished in stunning Arts and Crafts style.

Those of you who don't embrace Christmas might want to avert your gaze momentarily.

Once inside, the kitsch factor was absent, replaced by the Victorian Christmas splendour one would expect, including A Christmas Carol installation greeting us in the property's hallway.

We wafted through, from room to room, absorbing the origins of what we now think of as Christmas - the trees with presents beneath... 

....Christmas greetings cards and paper decorations...

....and candle lit elaborate table dressing.

I could have lingered in this room for an hour, enjoying the low light accents.  The man in the background could so easily have gone unnoticed.

More low light in the atmospheric corridors.

Naturally, the servants' quarters were devoid of decoration with domestic drudgery being the order of the day.  Yes that is an Aspidistra leaf sticking out of the sink.

Vix, have you had your crochet hooks out again?

Back outside, I took a few photos in now plummeting temperatures, including the impressive window frame carvings.

Even the birds were working the Wightwick aesthetic - a magpie in flight.

Help!  I'm trapped inside a Christmas bauble; an unintentional selfie.

 The family will eat well this Christmas.  Look at the size of the puddings!

Arriving mid afternoon has its advantages.  We saw the lamp light and the very few people.

We also managed to squeeze in the De Morgan Foundation collection of paintings and ceramics.  My favourites included these P&O commissioned panels for use in the first and second class public rooms, William's peacock blue ceramics...

....and Evelyn's mastery of the canvas was breathtaking.  Venus and Cupid, painted by Evelyn when she was in her early twenties.

Venus and Cupid, 1878

Moonbeams dipping into the sea, oil on canvas, c 1916

I found the story behind this interesting, being slightly obsessed with light myself.  Evelyn was fascinated by electrical lights and how these changed the way the world appeared.  In the above painting, she used prismatic colour over nude female forms to experiment with the effects of light on skin.  There are also theories that the women could represent new telegraph lines which were being installed under the sea at the time.

There is another version of this painting at the NT Cornish property Lanhydrock.

We had a brief look inside the shop, where De Morgan Christmas baubles were on sale at £23.00 (beautiful, but I resisted), before heading back to the relative warmth of the car.

As anticipated, although a little early for the UK, the big freeze began.  On our favourite walk from home, we discovered that the canal had frozen in parts...

....beautifully illustrating Autumn's transition into Winter, the Autumn leaves littering the icy surface layer.

We were also rewarded with some beautiful sunsets as we neared home.

Last light, as glimpsed through the wood behind our house.

But the weather hadn't finished with us yet.  Before the week was out, we had a covering of snow and this time it stuck around.  According to the old wives' tale, if snow lingers, it usually means that more is on the way.  Here it is, captured on our walk over Enville, past the cricket club...

...down to the pond....

...and up onto the hills.

In fact, the snow lingered for over a week and greeted our old friend Jon, who messaged out of the blue to say that he was over from Canada and doing a Christmas catch-up road trip from his sister's house in Yorkshire to Heathrow in order to pick up his wife and kids, who were arriving a few days later.  Jon stayed the night and as a result of  travel disruption in Dallas for Lori and the children, was able to stay a little longer than anticipated the next day, so we headed to Kinver Edge for a festive walk and showed him the delights of the Rock Houses.  Considering Canada is now Jon's adopted home (snow tyres go on in October and stay on until April), even he commented on the cold - that very particular kind of damp cold that seeps into aching joints.

So there you have it, baubles, Christmas trees, snow and ice; all very festive.   But for us, it's the unexpected delights and enduring friendships that really count.

Have a wonderful Christmas!