My good friend and neighbour in Austinville, Tiff (short for Christipher), comes from Worcestershire in the english midlands. In the tradition of regional rivalry, southerners like myself have played on the stereotype that everything north of the M4 (a motorway between Bristol and London) is the 'Black Country', covered with motorways, factories, coal dust and immigrants. 'Where there's muck there's brass'.
Tiff has tried to persuade me that he comes from a bucolic rural farming Eden, and that my teasing was misplaced.
I had a spare day, so I drove up to Worcestershire to see him and the world he came from before he migrated to Canada, NZ, and eventually Australia.
David Attenborough investigates the native habitat of the Tiff.
Tiff's family farm - Bredonfields
Tiff and his youngest son, Matthew, on his 'gap year'.
Matthew outside the pub where he works
Matthew, known to locals as 'Wal' the Aussie, after Crocodile Dundee's mate
A Pick-your-own fruit farm called 'Clive's Farm'.
Cherry picking
Matthew and Tiff sharing a cider with Charlie from Clive's Farm
Clive's Farm reminded me of 'The Darling Buds of May'
Tiff is one of five: this is brother Rory the dentist
Tiff is one of five: this is brother Rory the dentist
Brother-in-law Pete training his dogs
Posing with Pete's 12 bore South African big game rifle
The Monkey - cider house
Worcestershire countryside
View from the Malvern Hills
Pointing out Bredon Hill
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