This is the bar of The Mermaid pub, in Wolverhampton. I’ve been visiting this pub for over 50 years now, and met my wife here one fateful evening 46 years ago. She was working behind the bar – we ‘clicked’ and were married in less than a year. Our visit today wasn’t particularly successful – the atmosphere and service was ‘ok’, but the food was truly dreadful. It’ll be a while before we come here again!
A sad and happy day today… We went to the funeral of my wife’s eldest cousin who died a couple of weeks ago. Despite the sadness, there was much laughter as relatives and friends met up for the first time in years. This was a simple and moving tribute. 
I last took a photo from this spot around 20 years ago (it was a colour slide using my old medium format camera). Nothing much has changed, except it was autumn then and there were still leaves on the trees. I remember being so frustrated when I got the processed film back and realised there was an old tin can in the photo I hadn’t spotted. Nowadays it could be cloned out in seconds, but it ruined the photo back then!
… as it appears. You could be forgiven for thinking that Wightwick Manor, in Wolverhampton, dates back to the Elizabethan era of the 16th Century, but it was actually only built in 1887. Inspired by the Arts & Crafts movement of William Morris, it was built by the Mander family, and is now in the hands of the National Trust. 
… this paddling pool on the village green will be rammed with literally hundreds of kids. But for today – a cold, miserable, blustery January day, there’s no water in the pool, and just a few hardy dog walkers around…
