BrownhillsBob

July 27th – I see a certain pizza delivery firm is employing it’s peculiar advertising technique again – paying poor saps to stand at junctions wearing giant pizza box advertising signs. I can’t imagine anyone at all being influenced by such a ridiculous campaign, but there were quite a few of these guys in Walsall today. All it made me wonder was how desperate for a few bob must these people be to do such a job? I’m sure it doesn’t pay well and some of the abuse from passing drivers was remarkably unpleasant.

July 27th – Getting of a Walsall train at Bescot, I lugged the bike over the mountainous footbridge and over the river Tame onto Bescot Cresent. Here, the formerly dirty, polluted river runs clean and is lined with greenery. The Ford Brook, which I commented on yesterday, flowing down the Goscote Valley, is a tributary to the Tame and shares the same issue with the invasive, alien plant Himalayan Balsam. Here, it grows tall and dense in the detritus at the side of a concrete culvert. The tinny, metallic smell of the flowers is very strong here, as it will be in lots of damp spaces for the coming month or so.

July 27th – A morning meeting took me to Camp Hill in Birmingham, then on to Darlaston. Heading into the centre of Birminham, I was struck by the wonderful view downhill from the top of Bradford Street, Digbeth. This could almost be San Francisco… how I love Birmingham and it’s surprising corners. Always something new.

July 26th – Near the end of Station Road in Pelsall, there is a fascinating row of cottages. Slender, elegant and beautiful, they’ve fascinated me for years, but I know nothing about them. Leaving the cycle trail here, I often pass them and stop and appreciate their wonderful lines. A hidden gem.

July 26th – The Goscote Valley cycle route is beautiful at the moment. Traversing it yesterday on my way home I was struct by the profusion of wildflowers and fruits creating a riot of colour. Everything from thistles to vetch, ragwort to rowan is loud and colourful, just fighting for our attention. I notice that on the banks of the Ford Brook, Himalayan Balsam is proliferating. This pink and white, tall flower is an invasive species but is itself rather beautiful. It has a peculiar scent and smells metallic. Let’s hope it doesn’t force out any of the equally beautiful native species.

July 25th- I noticed on my return that it was flying ant day in Lichfield – this busy, mystifying little clump were spread around a hole in the pavement surface near Church Hill.. Flying ant day seems to be quite late this year.

July 25th – possibly the ugliest building I’ve ever seen, this industrial unit near South Wigston station is, frankly, hideous. I don’t know who had it built or why, but it has no windows whatsoever, and seems to consist of precast concrete ribs bolted together. The worst part is that it faces, on the other side of the street, a pleasant housing estate who must have been looking out on this architectural aberration for decades. Now used as a self-storage depot, I hope the owners see sense and demolish it…

July 24th – Shenstone Churchyard is a tranquil place. Right atop St. Johns Hill, the church itself is a dark, brooding sandstone edifice, replete in a severe, gargoyle-enhanced Victorian gothic which I’ve never found pleasant. The grounds, however, are shady, dotted with mature trees and overlooked by the ruins of the remaining tower from a previous incarnation of the church. Nearby is what I assume to be the ruins of the former chancel steps, right there in the graveyard. Peace, with history bearing all around.

July 24th – I would expect that if the weather holds, the harvest will begin in earnest soon. Near Shenstone, the rapeseed either side of their path to Footherley is bone dry and very ripe. Full of bugs and animals, pretty soon this field like so many others will be stubble, and then ploughed again. It’s odd to think that all the drama of the vivid yellow flowers, the scent, the visual assault… all for a tiny black seed, laden with oil.

July 23rd – Stonnall’s Grove Hill is accessed down a rough track, either from between houses on Main Street, Stonnall, or from a field gateway at the other end, in Church Road. Thought to be a tumulus, this sharply defined mound is visible and distinctive for miles around due to it’s single, windswept tree at the summit. It offers fine views all around from the summit, and I often come here for peace and quiet. It’s a fine place to sit and survey the area on a late, quiet, sunny Saturday afternoon.