Birmingham Post

A Rose in the Urban Landscape

The "country house" in the city is a rare prize in a modern marketplace. And Rose Hill in Worcester holds onto that status, nearly 10,000 sq ft of living space in lovely grounds plus views to the Malvern Hills. Turn the clock back to the early 19th century when Rose Hill was new and its own private acreage was destined to resist development for another good century.

For What It's Worth ; the Appeal of Water May Draw Viewers to at Least Two of These Properties, Priced Under Pounds 400,000. There Are Views Over the Canal and the Severn, the Chance to Set Sail From One's Own Garden On the Wye - and a Brook Running Through One's Garden. Alternatively, One Might Simply Leap Into the Pool. Marsya Lennox Dipped a Toe

Hawford Lock Cottage Humberts quote a guide price of pounds 399,950 for Hawford Lock Cottage at Hawford Lane, North Claines in Worcestershire.

An Award-Winning Debut

Innovative, discounted starter homes by Redrow have added another honour in a bumper year for the housebuilder. In October, the company's Debut homes at Willans Green Rugby were announced as the winning starter homes in The Birmingham Post & Mail House Design Awards.

The Views of Hillside Lodge

The views might just be the best in the Cotswolds, taking in both the Malverns and the Welsh mountains. And a next door neighbour is rolling land owned by the National Trust. The house is Hillside Lodge at Broadway, a period property dating from 1870, a picture in local stone and newly on the market, guide price pounds 1.25 million.

Jon Walker: Now Who's the Dope in This Debate?

I remember when campaigns to legalise cannabis were trendy. T- shirts with spiky green leaves and slogans such as 'free the weed' were all the rage back in my student days. But you don't see as much of that now, and I don't think it's purely because I long ago stopped hanging out in dodgy student bars.

Perspective: In the Spirit of Chamberlain ; Handing Its It and Administrative Services Over to a Private Company Could Save Birmingham City Council Pounds 1 Billion. But the Groundbreaking Initiative Will Not Be Without Problems, Says Chief Reporter Paul Dale

Local government, one of the last bastions of restrictive working practices, is slowly but surely losing its fight against the staffing implications of new technology. Councils up and down the land eagerly embraced the computer age and spent many millions of pounds equipping themselves with the latest equipment. Then, when the latest equipment turned out to be nothing of the sort, the

Tales of the Unexpected ; Terry Grimley Meets Jonathan Munby and Rebecca Gatward, Two-Thirds of the Directing Team Which has Brought Chaucer's Canterbury Tales to the Rsc Stage

Imagine three directors rehearsing one company of 20 actors in 19 short plays performed over two evenings, and there in a nutshell you have the task the RSC set itself in staging Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Now previewing in the Swan Theatre at Stratford, the two-part production presented an unusual challenge to its trio of directors - RSC associate Gregory Doran and former assistants Jonathan Munby and Rebecca Gatward.

Joan and Alex

Tickets go on sale today for the first live tour by the icon's icon, Joan Collins. She comes to the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham on Sunday April 16. In An Evening With Joan Collins the legendary actress will be sharing her life story with the audience, and what a life she has had.

Bridle Path with a Vision

It is a striking 1930s house in a magnificent plot off a private lane in a much admired village. And as that, Bridle Path at Duck Lane, Welford-on-Avon always looked certain to draw the buyers.

Festive Dvd Releases: Homesick Ben's Festive Turkey

Surviving Christmas Universal Pictures

Festive Dvd Releases: Celebrating Christmas Is Child's Play for Tv Stars

Flint Street Nativity IMC Vision

Archive

25 years ago The contractors who demolished a historic Midland farmhouse instead of a cowshed could face a compensation bill of more than pounds 50,000. Solihull Council intended to sell Monkspath Hall farmhouse, an 18th century Grade II listed building, in the New Year. But on Sunday morning, D. Doyle Contractors demolished the building instead of a group of dilapidated outhouses on the other side of Monkspath Hall Road, Shirley.

Anniversaries

Birthdays

Theme

As soon as anxiety gets your attention, its job is done. From that point on, there is no good reason to maintain that anxiety. Anxiety can be useful in making you aware of actions that need to be taken. As soon as you have that awareness, anxiety has served its purpose.

They Said

If you walk down a poorly lit road late at night, unescorted and inebriated and dressed scantily, then you are not responsible for the actions of a sexual predator but you really could have taken better steps to protect yourself Tory MP Ann Widdecombe

Spreading Out at Linden Lea

There is a small corner of Linden Lea at Knowle that will be forever Old Warwickshire. It is easily spotted from the driveway approach with its thatched roof and porch, eyebrow windows and modest proportions.

Nostalgic Residential Status

An early 20th century photograph taken in Whitefields Road, Solihull shows a nearly new house, Ashburnham, before much of its surroundings were developed. It's an intriguing glimpse of how it once was, just a mile from the centre of town, a real "urbs in rure" with the countryside on the doorstep.

Midlands Charities Update

The seventh annual Midlands Charities Update Conference took place at Austin Court, Birmingham. The aim of it was to deliver presentations on legal, commercial accounting and investment developments to trustees and other key individuals in the charities sector.

Separating the Buyers From the Time Wasters

Sellers are getting "picky" over whom they'll let look around their homes. And old fashioned "nosey parkers", or time wasters, don't have a chance - unless they can prove there's cash ready and waiting.