Hayling Island
in August we spent a week in this remote corner of Hampshire.
A miniature railway runs along the south coast of the island, though we never actually saw any trains
There are good walks along the coast
A marina at the eastern end of the island
The western end of the island almost touches Portsea Island, where Portsmouth and Southsea are located
Landing craft outside the D-Day Story museum at Southsea
The largest machine on display at the Hovercraft Museum, Lee-on-the-Solent: the SRN-4, which once transported cars and passengers across the English Channel
A sunny afternoon at Bishop's Palace Gardens, Chichester
Birmingham loves libraries
As Birmingham City Council struggles with its budget crisis, libraries have been in the firing line for cuts - which has led to a big campaign to save them. At the end of 2024 it looks as though Stirchley Library, where Martin and I are both volunteers, will remain open for 3 days a week, but many other libraries face closure or cutbacks
Campaigning in the city centre
I took part in a walk from Stirchley to Druids Heath libraries which was supported by many local campaigners, artists and writers
Christ Church
As Miriam and I carry out a peculiar assortment of roles, here's a peculiar assortment of photos
Livestreaming a Sunday service via Zoom
Miriam made a guest appearance in a concert presented by the '2windstring' ensemble
What you get when you lend your camera to a young child
Getting messy at Toddler Group (but in a carefully controlled fashion)
The youth group ran a Secret Church session, highlighting what life is like living under persecution
Stirchley and beyond
I help as a steward and photographer at Stirchley Community Market, which happens 4 times a year. Kings Heath Action for Refugees are regular stallholders and I am a regular customer of their wearable merch
Kings Heath Action for Refugees run the annual KHARnival featuring a range of activities and entertainment: this year's guests included Stirchley's own Georgian choir, Ensemble Bednieri
One of Stirchley's many supermarket wars came to an end when, in December, a Lidl store opened on this site (photo from January 2024). Before their enforced closure and demolition, this was previously the location of a gym and bowling alley. Lidl steamrollered their plans through despite local opposition
Much wildlife is still to be seen around our rivers and canals - and, here, at Lifford Reservoir - but avian flu has had an impact in the last couple of years
Elections
The unglamorous side of politics: our recycling bin served as a repository for leaflet delivery in a City Council by-election
Journalist John Sweeney, here speaking to local members in Moseley, stood as a General Election candidate in Sutton Coldfield, but that particular brick in the "blue wall" survived the electoral onslaught
The morning after the election before: as I make my way home from the General Election count, Clarence the Climate Bear seems unaware of the political earthquake that has taken place during the night
New Wine
This huge Christian festival returned to its long-time home at a showground near Shepton Mallet in Somerset. It coincided with a heatwave, which greatly enhanced the outdoor aspects of the event
Enjoying the great outdoors
The Olympic Games provided additional entertainment, though some of the audience seemed to lack sporting knowledge: I heard one mother explain to her child that a rugby scrum was "the players having a cuddle to decide who gets the ball"
Artwork by me: I had my first ever go at marbling in an art workshop
Artwork not by me: a representation of the River of Life crowd-created in one of the huge meeting venues