Author: BrownhillsBob

I told the truth - but told it bent. Wandering around bemused and ranty since 2007.

November 19th – The farm shop at Packington Moor, near Whittington Barracks, is a little on the pricy side for me. With it’s air of loftiness and well-healed customers, it’s not a place I go often; but the produce there is superb – particularly the meat, vegetables and cakes. Pulling my bike up there yesterday and leaning it against the storefront rail amongst the expensive cars, I noticed this ticket on a pumpkin in the pile on display. A reminder that while organic may be pricy and often exclusive, Br’er Brock the Badger doesn’t pay no fancy store bills, and clearly doesn’t care much for the orange gourd, either…

November 19th – A grim day, really. A pleasant but chilly 50 miler around Weeford, Whittington, Harlaston, Lullington and Coton-in-the-Elms, but the mist never lifted once. I also, for the second time in a week, forgot my trusty little camera, so had to really on a phone for photographic support. The day really was this grey, but Staffordshire was a gorgeous as ever; large houses at Shenstone and Thickbroom, near Little Hay always enthral for their wonderful architecture, and the view over John Wyatt’s model village of Weeford from the elevated cemetery always enthrals, however grim the conditions.

November 18th – The night photos continue. Sorry if you’re getting bored with them, I am trying to vary them a bit, it’s just that I’m mostly on my bike right now when it’s dark, and today was no exception. I escaped for a spin over to Whittington at 4pm, and was captivated by the traffic when crossing the A38 footbridge at Weeford. Looking south, the top photo shows traffic on the A38 itself, Little Hay Lane and M6 toll, off to the right. The lower picture was taken on the flyover taking Jerry’s Lane over the A5 Bypass near Packington Moor, with Lichfield TV transmitter in the background. I’ve been trying variants of these for a while and these are the first such long-exposure shots I’ve been happy with. Oh well – should see some daylight tomorrow…

November 18th – Humphries House, in Brownhills, is being refurbished, much to the surprise of the residents of Brownhills. The 60’s high-rise block had two companions, Waine House and Bayley House, both now demolished, and it was felt for a while that Humphries House would soon go the same way. Walsall Housing Group, in their infinite wisdom, have chosen to refurbish and reclad the remaining residences instead. I noticed this morning as I passed by on the canal that insulation was being fitted beneath the new cladding, and the fitting of windows was now nearly complete. Don’t envy those guys in the cradle, I can tell you. Bet it’s chilly up there, too…

November 17th – I had hoped to break the chain of night photos today, but it wasn’t to be. The daytime was grey and distinctly unphotogenic, and coming back from Rugeley in the dark at 6pm, passing through Chorley, near Burntwood, I took this. The Nelson isn’t a pub I’ve frequented much, but in winter, or when returning from a long ride at night, the lights of this welcoming, handsome inn tell me that I’m nearly home. 

November 17th – An early finish from work, and a spin over from Chasewater to Cannock Chase. As the sun set over Norton, I surveyed the scene from the Cannock Road near Cuckoo Bank. As you may have gathered now, I’m fascinated by the signs of technology that dot the countryside – transmission masts and pylons in particular. A symbol of the modern age, to me they’re awe-inspiring, mysterious and, in their own way, beautifully elegant. Some folk regard them as ugly and a blot on the landscape, but I feel they’re a symbol of our progress. 

November 16th – bit of a dim moment today. Went out without my camera, completely by accident, and spent the day nervously wondering if I’d lost it somewhere. Coming home along the canal from a day of meetings in Telford and the Black Country, I passed the ‘new’ pool at Clayhanger. It seems to be slightly fuller than of late, but it’s sadly sullied by a large quantity of litter, mostly discarded beer cans, at the benches near the canal. I assume it’s the same bunch who have been causing a nuisance on Clayhanger Common. I just can’t understand the mentality of people who do this. 

Apologies for the poor quality photos, they were taken on a phone rather than a decent ..camera.

November 15th – Another hidden history exists in the sleepy hamlet of Chesterfield, between Wall and Shenstone, south of Lichfield. The welcoming view of Chesterfield Lodge, now a high class, well maintained private residence would never belie it’s past as the parish workhouse. I think this is a gorgeous building, and it looks wonderful at night, the glow welcoming in a very dark, narrow lane.

November 15th – when people from outside visit Lichfield, they expect it to be rather twee and quite rural, as the guide books would have us believe. However, those knowing the city well realise that there are bits that are very, very urban, like here at Stowe, on Eastern Avenue. The flats, urban environment and traffic are worthy of any suburb of Birmingham, and are reminiscent of Erdington. Maybe Brownhills isn’t so far away from it’s posh neighbour, after all…