I am an urbanite. I have lived in the following places: Sheffield, London (Bermondsey, then Earlsfield), Newcastle, Gateshead, Manchester, London (North Kensington, Pinner, Shepherd’s Bush), Cheltenham, Birmingham, Gloucester, Maryport and Birmingham. Apart from Maryport, which was still urban, all have been urban spralls; and usually estates.
I have been walking with Samwise today through the Malverns. It was stunningly beautiful. During this just over a month of sabbatical I have learnt to appreciate beauty much more. This is partly because I have taken time to stop.
I have appreciated the stunning sunsets over Bartley Green, especially over the allotment. I have taken it the beauty of the Solway and the North Devon Coastal Path; even the beauty of the camp fire smells at New Wine.
I need to work harder at seeing beauty in the urban. Perhaps we have a propensity to see beauty when we are on holiday, or living life at a slower pace.
I need to commit myself to photographing urban beauty or beauty in the urban. When I have done so, I will blog some more.
lurchersontheedge 
Where do we find beauty? My natural inclinations are to find it in music and nature, however, I do recall someone once commenting to me after a Harvest Festival service, that while we celebrate those traditional gifts, he was more inclined to look up as he walked the streets and really see the differing styles of architecture. Some of the urban areas have some most outstanding architecture, yet often unseen because of the day to day busyness and distraction – the same is also true for more rural areas. Perhaps there is something in “looking heavenward” that we will also find beauty.