April 16th – Signage is an interesting thing. Passing the Anchor and Anchor Bridge on my way back to Brownhills I noticed these two examples. Of the dog water, I’d be interested if anyone had actually ever charged for that, or whether it encouraged any patrons.

‘Fancy a beer, Bob?’

‘Not here, we need to find somewhere I can get free water for Fido’

I’m not knocking it, just interested in the thought process. It took effort to do that, to satisfy what the sign writer saw as a market. Curious.

The canal distance markers sprung up like mushrooms when the canal footpaths were rebuilt here about 8 years ago. A fantastic project, it did involve some inexplicable decisions, like closing off access to the canal from the Pelsall Road bridge. Sadly, someone forgot to tell the guy casting these expensive, cast iron signs, and the distance to the Pelsall Road is painted out on every one. Unfortunate.