Pablo Picasso

I read today that it is the 35th anniversary of the death of the artist, Pablo Picasso. He died near Cannes at the age of 91. Born in Spain, he became one of the most famous artists of all time - but I have to say, I know what I like when it comes to art (amongst other things) and I genuinely fail to understand the attraction of his work. Whilst walking through Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, I couldn't help but stop and look at another type of "art", and wonder just where the dividing lines are when it comes to categorising such work - I detest graffiti which damages buildings and property, but I can see artistic "merit" in some and can find it acceptable in the right place, such as a temporary hoarding as shown in the photograph (pity that the original "art" has been vandalised by inane graffiti!)

Camera Principis

As mentioned, Coventry's Coat of Arms incorporates an elephant carrying a castle. The elephant represents strength (to carry a castle on its back) but it is not clear whether it was meant to be Coventry's castle. The motto "Camera Principis" translates simply as "The Prince's Chamber", a reference to the fact that the City of Coventry was regarded as the 'chamber' of Edward, the Black Prince. The photograph shows the Coat of Arms above the main entrance to The Council House in Coventry

Under the Elephant

As well as "The Circ", another favourite meeting place for teenagers in the centre of Coventry, particularly in the 60s, was at the top of the Upper Precinct, where a statue of an elephant stands high on a column overlooking Broadgate. Meeting "under the Elephant" became part of the local way of life, in the days when it was a rather more pleasant spot than it has become today. The elephant, carrying Coventry Castle on its back, has long been part of the Coat of Arms of the city, and the statue was made by Coventry Motor Panels and originally marked the site of the "Savings for Reconstruction" exhibition

The Circ

When the centre of Coventry was redeveloped in the 50s and 60s as a mainly traffic-free area, one of the features of the pedestrianised shopping precinct was a circular cafe, which immediately became a favourite meeting place for the teenagers of the day, where they enjoyed burgers and cups of frothy coffee whilst looking out over the shoppers in the Lower Precinct. Like of lot of the redevelopment from that age, "The Circ", as it was colloquially known, has enjoyed a rather chequered history, but following recent refurbishment of some parts of the centre, it now resides, with listed status, under a glass roof whilst dispensing a range of food snacks and refreshments unheard of in its heyday some 40+ years ago

Female Mallard

Draycote Water, near Dunchurch in Warwickshire, is a large reservoir which attracts a wide variety of wildlife and is also home to a large sailing club. Although we live only a short drive away, we had never visited until this week, when, despite the cold and blustery weather, we decided to take a first look. Everyone was wrapped up against the elements, but, judging by the large variety of birds which can be seen at the location, it will be a must-visit place when the weather improves. For now, all I can offer is a rather plump female Mallard seen looking, without success, for people to populate the picnic areas around the reservoir