I always thought I would spend the summer following my retirement in Galicia, but found myself retracing my steps; travelling back to visit friends and family further north.  My lovely Mum died in April after a short illness and for reasons I cannot explain this trip seemed a good idea. 

My first stop was Lichfield, Staffs.  I lived here from 1987-1997,  married in 1990, and had my daughter in 1992.  So it is an important place to me, and I was pleased when my friends suggested we wander along to the town.  

We discovered this Helaine Blumenfeld sculpture sitting outside Lichfield Cathedral as part of the 2014 Lichfield Festival. 

Lichfield Cathedral is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. These are often referred to as 'the Ladies of the Vale'.  Lichfield suffered severe damage during the Civil War.  In spite of this, the windows of the Lady Chapel  still contain some of the finest medieval Flemish painted glass in existence.  As we wandered I remembered attending the service on Christmas Day 1991 and the many Thursday evensongs I attended, which usually had a meditative and positive effect.

The Cathedral Close grew up around the cathedral during the middle ages and today some original buildings remain.  This medieval courtyard below once housed the men of the choir.

By Minster Pool I recall happy afternoons picnicking here, feeding grapes to the coots (was that a good idea?) with my daughter and cycling to work along this very path.  

 The Whippet is a new micropub which opened in what used to be a corner shop in the spring of this year.  On a warm July Saturday it was packed out.  There was a friendly welcome and the beers were fantastic.  We tried Lymestone Foundation, a well hopped pale ale and Kelham Island, Sweet Home Alabama, which is also hoppy and citrus.