"So this is Christmas..."

John Lennon's opening words to his song, "Merry Xmas (War Is Over)", seem somehow appropriate at this strangest of Christmas times. The combination of the pandemic and the actions of the most inept British government of my lifetime (and possibly ever) have made it a Christmas like no other. But, in the small part of my life that is this blog, I will not dwell on such things. Instead I'll try and post images of interest that exist despite the gloom that surrounds us, such as this rain-speckled bauble on the public Christmas Tree in the centre of Ross on Wye, Herefordshire.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Industrial lighting

Industrial lighting? Well, not quite. Christmas lights  on an industrial estate in Ross on Wye courtesy of one of the businesses located there. Mercifully traditional green and red was chosen and we were spared the very unseasonal dark blue that has proliferated in recent years. My first sighting of these lights made me wonder whether a competition between companies for the "best" Christmas lights will spring up to match the rivalry between householders that can be seen at this time of year.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Almshouses lights, Ledbury

St Katherine' Hospital, Ledbury, was founded in 1231 and parts dating from the C13 and C14, including the chapel, survive. The almshouses that we see today are the joint work of Robert Smirke (1822-5, the south end and central tower) and William Chick (1866, the north end). They are in the Tudor style of stone with half-timbered gables and an iron veranda at the rear. Here they are seen with Christmas decorations and trees with lights. In the centre is the cenotaph and to the right the clock tower of the Barrett Browning Institute.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100