August 7th – Also showing a good, plump and juicy crop this year are the blackberries, so profuse at the moment, everywhere I go they’re so ripe they’re falling off the brambles. I see plenty of folks picking them, but there are just so many.
If you’re a crumble fan, get out there. These wonderful fruits are fee and so sweet and tasty this year.
August 7th – One of the surprises of the summer for me has been the surprisingly bountiful harvest of many berries, nuts and fruits: I would have thought that the dry spell would have meant fruit was more sparse.
Elderberries are a case in point. I think the fruit may eventually be smaller, but there is a huge quantity ripening in the warm sun. These are all in Victoria Park, Darlaston where the bushes are absolutely laden.
Going to be a good year for home wine-makers aI think.
August 6th – He’s been keeping a low profile this last couple of weeks, the King of Kings Hill. But today, I spotted him. Asleep in a shady under-hedge, he was dozing in his usual bit of garden and resolutely ignoring the world around him.
As is usually the case.
He’s so old is Sam the cat that I’m surprised at his re-emergence every new spring, and seeing this elderly, toothless but otherwise very well presented lad having a really good summer makes me happy every time I see him.
What more could an old fellow want than to pass his days napping, dreaming of kittenhood and being soothed by the warm sun and noises of the neighbourhood he rules around hm?
Long may he reign. Sweet dreams, Sam old lad. Sweet dreams.
August 6th – Heading along the Walsall Canal towards Darlaston Green and Bentley Bridge on a sunny Monday morning. Not a soul around, intense blue skies and just the sounds of waterfowl, birds and nearby industry.
I couldn’t be anywhere finer, to be perfectly honest. I love this place with all of my heart.
August 5th – Rding over to Screwfix in Walsall Wood, I passed the swan family who were loafing on the canal near the rear of Lindon Drive but clearly vaguely heading somewhere.
I suppose soon they’ll move into the main flock on Chasewater until next season when they return to breed again.
I haven’t seen much of the family this year, out paths haven’t crossed much, but it’s so nice to see them.
We never had this locally when I was a kid. It still amazes me.
August 5th – Boater dogs are always the best.
This one, so determinedly drinking from the canal y Silver Street bridge in Brownhills that I couldn’t distract it, was a lovely animal belonging to nearby narrow boaters. He seems to enjoy running along the towpaths while his boss is piloting the boat.
I saw them later in Walsall Wood and boy, that dog can run!
August 4th – A weary but lovely ride out in the afternoon was hard going for the first 30 miles, but really picked up as the day cooled.
I’d wanted to visit Mancetter and ride Salt Street/Roe House Lane for most of the summer, and possibly after a hard week at work this wasn’t the best day for it – but the sun was lovely and I headed out through Canwell, Carroway Head, Middleton, Middlon Lakes, Whitacre Heath, Foul End, Mancetter, Sheepey, Twycoss and No Man’s Heath, returning via Clifton, Harlaston and Whittington.
Salt Street was as wonderful as it ever was at sunset, and the clouds of dust drifting across the landscape from harvesting caught the golden light beautifully.
The harvest continued well into the night after dark fell right across South Staffordshire and made for a real, end of Sumer feel although hopefully that’s a long way away yet.
August 3rd – Spinning up the canal towards Chasewater, I noticed these signs have very recently been put up around the Wharf Lane Bridge area next to the canal, south of Anglesey Wharf, and also around the sandy area adjacent where local kids have made their own BMX track, which they confusingly call ‘The Sandhills’ – which isn’t to be confused with the area of the same name near Shire Oak.
The land was seemingly orphaned by the M6 Toll being built, and local youths have claimed it for their own.
I really am puzzled as to why all of a sudden Lichfield Council is asserting ownership.
August 3rd – A tiring, heavy day at work followed by a call in south Birmingham saw me labouring up the Chester Road from Four Oaks station, headed for Burntwood for a family thing.
The sun had gone in for a bit, but the almost oppressive heat has returned. It’s as dry as old bones once more, but it’s different now; last time it was sunny, and baking – this is more of a dark, claustrophobic heat.
I still adore it though. Stood at the edge of a wheat field on the Chester Road under Castle Hill – one of the last few waiting for harvest locally – I looked up to the hamlet of Castle Gate, and over to Lazy Hill and the dramatic sky.
Only in the hottest, driest, sunniest summer for decades could my family have an outdoor get together and manage to get a dull, overcast day for it.
Such is life!
August 2nd – A rushed day where I was dashing from one place to another at seemingly top speed with little time to take photos – but I did meet this lithe, classy grey fellow in Clayhanger, very unimpressed with my camera as I stopped to fuss him on my return from seeing a mate.
I’m not seeing so many cats about at the moment, which is a puzzle. But this fellow was splendid, if a little snooty…
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