Exploration at Easter

An extended Easter break has given me plenty of opportunity to get out and about enjoying some more of the wonderful sunshine we've been having recently. In fact, it's hard to remember the last time it rained, not that I'm complaining because conditions have been just perfect for taking photos...

Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd April: A couple of days in Worcester partaking in that most English of pastimes, watching cricket. New Road was the venue as Worcestershire took on Warwickshire with me firmly rooting for the Bears along with Mr Beardsmore and Ken.

Good Friday morning offered up some bonus exploration, notably involving a wander across Worcester racecourse and a stroll around St John's, a district of Worcester that has some nice landmarks including the church (St John's-in-Bedwardine), a branch library and some pubs (the Garibaldi and the Bell spring to mind). At the ground, Warwickshire are fighting back strongly from a 174-run first innings deficit thanks largely to a second consecutive double hundred from Varun Chopra. The scene is made complete with a prolonged session of bellringing from the Cathedral, the bells having a mournful tone to mark the crucifixion.

Saturday was St George's Day and what better way to spend it than watching Warwickshire close out victory, Chris Woakes ripping through Worcestershire's batting with 6 wickets for 49. Sitting by the press box we were treated to Clive Eakin presenting his BBC Coventry & Warwickshire radio show live from the ground, hence we got a few goal updates as Wolves drew 1-1 with Fulham.

Tuesday 26th April: More indulgent investigations, this time across Walsall way with a tour of Bentley, Beechdale and Coppice Farm. The emphasis for the day was revisiting old haunts to see if anything had changed, so Bentley in particular offered food for thought where the old pub is now Parsons House apartments and the old library site is just an empty patch. It was nice to reacquaint myself with Beechdale too, picking out photo targets like the housing association offices (formerly the Three Men in a Boat pub) and the library/nursery building. I enjoy a spot of lunch at New Invention and make my way home via Ashmore Park where photos of the churches (Corpus Christi and St Alban's) come in very handy.

Thursday 28th April: Sunshine in Staffordshire is the order of the day as Cannock and Hednesford return to the exploration radar. I track down the Shoal Hill Tavern and mooch around Cannock Park, then admire the decorative flags on Hednesford's Market Street - possible royal wedding party preparation I wonder? Pye Green is my lunchtime location this time around, and the afternoon sees me getting reacquainted with Cannock Station, Bridgtown and Cheslyn Hay, pocketing a few pub pictures courtesy of the Stumble Inn, the Robin Hood and the White Horse.

So as you can see I have been quite busy but it's best to make the most of the fine weather whilst it's here. The meteorological gods have certainly been smiling on me recently, what with Rail Rover Week and my March outings also being blessed, so I just hope there isn't a monsoon waiting in the wings by way of payback later in the year. I've also continued my attempts to resurrect WME on Flickr and a separate post on recent progress should be with you shortly.