City Light

An obscure back street in a district of Birmingham that is little-known outside the city. Actually, I guess most districts of most cities (except London) are little known to outsiders, except those that have their name attached to something of wider significance: in Birmingham, maybe Bournville, Edgbaston, Gravelly Hill. Curiously, having a car factory also seems to raise the profile of a district; was this due to BBC reporting of 1970s strikes: Halewood on Merseyside, Cowley in Oxford and Birmingham Longbridge were once familiar names

Having left a well-tended park, and not yet having reached the main street, we are walking through one of those neglected corners that will one day be incorporated into a housing scheme; "brownfield" land, I suppose, but that does not stop birch from thriving. Darkness conceals litter and waste, but city lights are enough to show the outlines of the scene. A low, orange crescent moon adds a touch of romance and suddenly it is a memorable night on which to gather with family and mark the turning of the year