A Rainy Day in Dudley

 We finished our Assessments by lunch so I had an afternoon free and got the bus up to Dudley, a town I haven't visited for many years. The stalls had closed and the rain didn't help show off the 'new' colourful market with its large population of hopeful pigeons. Lots of statues/fountains and interesting little passageways such as the Green Man Entry. The football is Duncan Edwards who was killed in the Berlin aircrash on their way to the World Cup finals and the bronze statue on the bench is Ben Boucher with his 1827 poem about Dudley Market.

Oldbury Canal, Birmingham

 I am in Birmingham at the RPS Spring Assessments. As we finished in good time yesterday, and it was a lovely sunny and warm afternoon, I took a walk along the Oldbury Canal. Lots of graffiti but also old barges and canal-side mooring posts etc. The canal passes under the M5 and so lots of concrete.

Half Marathon Team for the Addenbrookes Charitable Trust

 Addenbrookes Charitable Trust had a team of around 200 runners in today's Cambridge Half Marathon and they asked if we could help record their participation. I positioned myself on the road to Grantchester from the Barton Road roundabout - a definite upward slope for the runners. The lead runners went through well spread out but the later runners tended to be in very large groups so the task was not easy even though I knew the vests that they were wearing. I think I recorded about 120 so quite a good proportion. Here are a few of the images. I am very pleased to support the Charity as this time last year I was in Addenbrookes myself and very grateful to the surgeons, nurses etc for their expertise, skills and care in getting me through.

Life in the Compost Heap

I continue to be fascinated by life in my compost bin from iridescent slime moulds to Collembolids, spiders, crustacea etc

Changes to 19-33 Cambridge Regent Street

 I learned yesterday that this stretch of Regent street facing Downing College and backing onto Paker's Piece is due for demolition in the next couple of weeks so I took some shots with my phone before the work starts. I haven't yet investigated what is to replace the restaurant (previously Pizza Hut, Cafe Cuba Libre) but hopefully will fit in well with the new University Arms etc. Two shots at end of CCC last full survey of the area in 2001 when Pizza Hut and small Post Office in full operation.