Painted octagonal crypt ceiling in the medieval church of St John the Baptist, Berkswell

So cold this afternoon my phone's camera misted but I kind of like the hazy, mystical effect for one of four sphinxes decorating the bridge at Compton Verney.

Somebody may have a birthday today. That somebody may be me... 🎂 #CapricornsRule

This week’s listening: “Midlife Crisis”- Faith No More. Not sure whether to buy a motorbike, take up surfing or get a tattoo of me Nan on my bingo wings 🤔 www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8b8...

Some frosty morning when I wake... (To paraphrase the mighty Lee Hazelwood:)

The church of St John the Baptist, Brinklow, giving off peak deep and dark December vibes

This week’s listening: “King of the Mountain”- Kate Bush. Not an Xmas song but for me has an enigmatic wintry feel. Also one of my favourites of KB’s. #musicwotIlike www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8xk...

A chilly mooch round Ryton Pools Country Park

Happy Christmas one and all. (and an empathetic midlife shout out to anyone else with a Christmas cold🎄🤧)

All ready for Santa and Rudolph 👍

Christmas stars in the church of St John the Baptist, Berkswell

Like to visit ancient sites or high places for the Winter Solstice so a mooch today to the Norman motte and bailey at Brinklow

Winter solstice blessings and yay to the returning light 🌞🌞🌞

This week’s listening: “Wombling Merry Christmas”- The Wombles. Yes, I post this every year but think of it as an alternative Xmas tradition like your nan having too many Baileys and flashing her knickers at the vicar at Midnight Mass. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JhV...

Carol Singing Christmas Cats - by Louis Wain, ca 1927 #Caturday #music #Christmas #cats 🐾

Random Owl of the Month Spotted atop a tree at St Mary's Christmas tree festival in Warwick #owls

Remains of wall paintings in the Norman church of St John the Baptist, Baginton

Rainbow over the tower of St Mary's church, Warwick #SmallBeauties

Under Warwickshire skies

Useful archival cataloguing term found

This week’s listening: “Dinosaur Act”- Low. Don’t usually get choc-filled Advent calendars but this year couldn’t resist one with dinosaurs on. (NB appreciate the song isn’t about yer actual T-Rexs but you find one with which references dinosaurs🦖) www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpnb...

A rainy day mooch to home of my ancestors, Burford. Here 👇 the river Windrush is escaping its banks into the car park

Two of the 12 apostles featured on the Norman font in the church of St Mary, Stoneleigh

This year's Advent candle slowly burning its way to Christmas Day #SmallBeauties

This week’s listening: “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”- Black Sabbath. Battled Birmingham’s ever-increasing roadworks to finally visit the ‘Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero’ exhibition #music www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfTp...

Went with the Train Spotter to see the 'Ozxy Osbourne: Working Class Hero' exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery today. A nice tribute to Ozzy and kind of moving. Didn't get to see ttram no. 37 named after Ozzy but the TS must have got the numbers of every other tram in Brum 🙂

I love the late afternoon light at this time of year. Here sun sinking behind the trees at Charlecote park

This week’s listening: “Taxman”- The Beatles. I’m no economist but not sure squeezing an ever-dwindling work force to fill invisible black holes is a good move #music www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMdc...

The church of St Leonard, Charlecote in late November golden hour sunshine

River Sowe still pretty high at Stoneleigh today

This week’s listening: “She Bangs the Drums”- The Stone Roses. Kind of had to be this week. My favourite song of theirs. Remember dancing to it at alternative nights at the Dog & Trumpet in Cov back in the day. #music www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD6P...

Graveyard lights are not just for Halloween.... 🎃💀🕯️

Stained glass at the church of St Mary, Haseley

One of those "trying to take a pic of a heron while standing up to your ankles in water and not only does a gull photo bomb the shot but your wellies spring a leak" kind of days 🙄

This week’s listening: “Monstrance Clock”- Ghost. After all the kerfuffle of yesterday’s storm, a song with dramatic impact was only fitting. (And, yes, I had to google what a monstrance clock is) #music www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oa_...

Hate the darkening days so have been lighting candles in each corner of the garden to symbolically bring back the light

The Caladrius was a #bird who'd stand at the end of a sick person's bed. 🛌 If the bird met a patient's gaze, it would inhale any illness, rise to the sun burning that sickness away, & the patient would heal. But, if the bird averted its gaze, the patient would not recover. 🪶 #Mythology #Folklore

Holy Trinity church, Stratford upon Avon. I like the mix of shadows and light in this pic - even though they happened by accident 🙂

The terracotta and umber tones of acer leaves #SmallBeauties

Currently listening to The Au Pairs on the excellent 'art punk' special on Stuart Maconie's Freakzone on 6Music tonight #music

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. #RemembranceSunday #LestWeForget

Fungi* looking like it's been carved from wood growing out of a fallen oak in Priory Park, Warwick *possibly chicken of the woods?

Fireworks here sound like a load of sodding artillery shells going off. We truly are a nation of animal haters

This week’s listening: “Light Up the Night”- The Besnard Lakes. What with firework night and the Mourning supermoon. #music www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPp8...

I wear a poppy as my Dad fought in WWII and his dad was one of the "missing presumed dead" in WWI. But I hate the annual berating of politicians/those on TV wh don't, for whatever reason, wear one.

Sleeping beside human figures on a 16th century effigy tomb in the church of St Giles, Chesterton.

A mooch to Hill Close Gardens, Warwick, before it closes for the season #gardens

This week’s listening: “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”- Bauhaus. Some classic goth to round off my #Gothtober listening (tho I’m more of a Max Schrek person myself). www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy9h...

Samhain Blessings/Happy Halloween Despite all the plastic and commercialism, It's good to have a time to acknowledge the spirits. For me, they're as much a part of existence as us creatures in the mortal realm.

The Clurichaun, a mischievous Irish #fairy known for his love of drink, haunts breweries, pubs, & wine cellars. 👻 According to folklorist Nicholas O'Kearney, "Any wine cellar known to be haunted by this sprite was doomed to bring its owner to speedy ruin." 🍷 #FolkloreSunday #Fairytales