Deep into the Winter Woods

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292/365: Wolverhampton Pillar
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It's not that often I get to Wolverhampton – I think the last time was February – but I was there today. There's not a lot to it for a city, especially now the Marks & Spencer in the high street has closed and is just sitting there empty, but I have a soft spot for it nevertheless. It didn't hurt that I had a nice deal from the Sunbeam (part of the Hungry Horse pub chain) that got me a cheeseburger, chips, onion rings and lemonade for £6.00 in total. I didn't do much in the way of sightseeing (to the extent that's possible in Wolvo anyway!) but here's one of the few sights that you don't have to get out of the centre for. The Wolverhampton Pillar, what remains of a cross dating from late Saxon times, possibly around the year 1000.

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291/365: Dry Mill Lane in autumn sunshine
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A chilly day today, but one with a reasonable amount of sunshine at times. I was able to get out for a couple of short walks, and this is a photo from one of them. I like the country lanes within walking distance of where I live, and this one looks especially nice when the sun's out. Unfortunately it's rather steep and the only easy way to get home is to slog back up the hill before going the rest of the way on more-or-less flat roads!

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290/365: Edwardian Tearoom, Birmingham Museum
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Yes, I'm being silly. What do you expect around here? Anyway, today I was in Birmingham – for once, not for boring reasons but just because I had a free day and I felt like it. The German Christmas Market is in full swing, but in all honesty it's not what it used to be. It's overwhelmingly food nowadays, which is fine but I really miss the craft stalls they used to have that are now reduced to a handful. Still, I managed to buy my annual Berliner. This year's was Rafaello flavour, of all things. Lots of white chocolate all over the place. Very, very sweet, but as a one-off I'll accept it!

Thence to Birmingham Museum to have a potter. I deeply dislike the way they've got the "Free entry but please donate £5!!" thing set up now. Not only a stand inside the entrance but a person standing there as well. I wish some of these places would get it through their head that many of us – including me – are less likely to donate if we feel ambushed or otherwise pressured. This seemed to be the prevailing view, as the large majority of the people coming in with me didn't donate either. Still, I did go for a drink in the Edwardian Tearoom, which is one of the museum's highlights.