I think this is an improvement on 2013's effort, which itself went down well with its 4 recipients, and I'm hoping to extend it and make 6 Christmas presents out of it. In general, this creativity thing isn't bad :)
All pictures taken by me, and very much an amateur effort, but every picture has a meaning.
2013 suffered from the lack of a real wintry picture because it was sent off in October 2012, and I'd only had the camera since Christmas 2011: there being no proper winter, there were no snowy views and what-have-you. Also, owing to the lack of a proper summer, there was some of what I considered filler last time, and I've trimmed the sagging middle, though I fear not eliminated it.
Those wishing to see bigger pictures can click here and here- Tumblr is a fairly woeful platform for posts like this but it does have a few things going for it.
(Look these things up on Wikipedia if you're interested and don't live locally- there are some beautiful places here and I hope the recipients- some of whom are expats- get a sense of home and the rest of you get an idea what the area has to offer)
Cover
Mow Cop needs no introduction for anyone even vaguely local. Built specifically to be visible from as far away as possible, you've probably seen it if you've passed anywhere remotely near Stoke (it is visible from the Stoke-Manchester railway line, on your right). I think it is fairly pedestrian seen up close but it's still iconic and great walks can be had in the area: the picture was taken during one of these, in October 2012.
January (taken in December 2012- shoot me)
The church at Newchapel, which is the best winter picture I've got. It looks very bucolic, doesn't it? But it was actually taken from a golf course attatched to the estate I live on, which is in a very rough part of the city. Newchapel itself is nearly as bad (albeit it contains a few random fields), but let's pretend otherwise.
February (taken February 2013)
Taken in my beloved Manifold Valley, near Hulme End. What I hope this one conveys is a sort of elegaic sense, of winter turning slowly into spring. It was (is?) actually a wet and miserable time, and I barely walked at all that day due to being rained/snowed off the places I most wanted to go! But again, let's pretend otherwise.
March (taken February 2013- shoot me)
Westport Lake is in fact deep in the city and very close to home. It provides one of the few genuinely tranquil places for people living in the area, and has done for some time- I learned to ride a bike here! On this particular occasion I just lucked out and got a shot I'm particularly pleased with. Pictures of this place normally look boring but I suppose I was just lucky to have a camera and be in that place at that time.
April (taken April 2012)
Ilam from Bunster Hill (a bad climb and even worse descent). Ilam is the meeting point of the Manifold and Dove rivers and is very popular. To an extent it suffers from Hartington syndrome in that it is too touristy but it's easy to see why the tourists visit this place (there's also the lovely Ilam Hall). I don't consider this to be that well-taken a picture, but the village is just a beautiful place.
Alstonefield, and specifically the George, is a strong contender for my all-time favourite place, and I'd certainly move to the village if I could afford. This picture is here because the Leaden Boot takes place every May: I did it in 2011 and 2012 and hope to repeat in 2013. Extremely difficult but the reward is an excellent meal and a sense of accomplished and overcoming adversity that I can't think of ever having beaten (I often refer to it in interviews as "something I've achieved" if I want to include an anecdote that isn't work-related).
June (taken June 2012)
Bosley Cloud is a place we were frequently taken to as children and is another well-appreciated local walk. This particular shot was taken from the Roaches and really I'd rather be at either place in high summer than sat here, but I can't drive and I have to get a lift to all these places!
July (taken July 2012)
In the Longnor area, right on the Derbyshire border. To my shame I don't know whether this is Chrome Hill or its neighbour Packhorse Hill but I know I've spent many happy hours around here and in the nearby villages of Earl Sterndale and Hollinsclough. On this particular occasion I was on a very long walk beginning at Axe Edge, but normally a 5-6 mile circuit round these bad boys is enough.
August (taken August 2012)
Hen Cloud as seen from the former Mermaid pub (now a guesthouse). Riding along the Mermaid road is one of my favourite things to do after a walk/journey, and this view in its totality is my all-time favourite, although I've focused in on one point and left most out. Nearby are the Roaches, which are also very popular with people from far and wide (next time, try walking down to Gradbach and along the Dane Valley- you could even try some of Wincle Brewery's offerings).
September (taken September 2011)
Snowdon! And I don't know if this picture conveys it, but that was a miserable day with some of the worst winds I've ever been in. I'd never have persisted if it weren't for my macho idiocy- which even I'm not immune to- urging me on. It was quite a long time ago but apart from Scafell Pike in March 2012 I haven't done any huge climbs since, though that may become this summer's job.
October (taken October 2012)
Cannock Chase, a place which for some reason I've only been to a few times and couldn't tell you that much about, though I want to go back (I'd pencilled in a Saturday a few weeks ago but snow kept me away). Perhaps you can see why after seeing this shot, which isn't as wide-ranging as some others, but is I think beautifully autumnal.
November (taken November 2012)
This one was taken near Grindon, a place with excellent scenery, but I wanted to focus on something that conveys what those who remember that month will be all too familiar with, and which is hopefully turning into a thing of the past, those floods! I was with my dad, and he said he wanted to see a picture of a dewdrop, so I took this one and promptly forgot to send it to him. Then it occured to me that, him having forgotten the whole thing by now, I could revive it and put it to this use. Very arty, isn't it?
December (taken December 2012)
The A53 as seen from near Gratton. This is the road out of the city towards the Peak District, and this picture is evocative for that reason and also because- well, look at it! I think it was maybe 20 minutes too late in the day and a hint of dying light would have improved it, but I've never been back (it wasn't that good a walk, though nearby Horton is an excellent village) and besides what we've got is something I consider an excellent closer.
