September 21st – I’d had to nip to Birmingham late, and came back to Shenstone. There had been heavy weather about, but I’d managed to evade it al day.
When it caught me in the lanes on the way home, it wasn’t messing about. I was like a drowned rat.
Still, like summer rain tends to be, once I was wet through, it was quite enjoyable and not cold. And it hasn’t rained much of late, after all.
Lets hope it’s just a blip.
September 13th – On the way home, I was travelling in the damp air and landscape just after heavy rainfall. Everything glittered, reflected and shone. Of the things rendered precious, few were more beautiful than the snowberries near the roadside in Pleck which looked pure and dappled with glinting raindrops.
Cycling after rain is a joy. Actually in the rain – not so much.
September 10th – A grey, wet and miserable day saw me slipping out late on errands. Having left my camera behind, I had to rely on my phone – but it wasn’t a particularly photogenic day. Crossing the Pier Street Bridge I noticed boats moored at the canal side, the smell of woodsmoke, and the stillness of the water.
It really does feel like autumn’s in now.
September 3rd – A very wet morning washed out the Whittington Country Fair, which was very sad as it was a lovely, quintessentially English event with plenty of food, interesting stalls and animals.
There were a whole range of good food stalls, things to buy and see, and it was all bracketed by. that wonderful British stoicism that we were going to have a good time despite the mud and weather.
Some of it was so wonderfully Wallace and Grommit it was beautiful. A great day, and I bet on a dry year this fair is buzzing.
August 27th – As I travelled home along the canal, I listened to the rain singing on the water, and enjoyed the peace and quiet. Near the western side of the Watermead Estate, I came upon the swan family, still at a huge nine, still growing.
They were clearly feeling a bit chippy as momma swan took exception to my footwear and pecked at my feet continually, and the offspring seemed to be quite tetchy as well.
These gorgeous, truculent birds remain beautiful, and their antics made the afternoon, really, as did the canalside life and noting that the Canal and River Trust cleanup crew – usually mostly volunteer staffed – had been out doing their thing.
Thanks, people.
August 27th – The rain held off while I visited the Festival of Water at Pelsall, photos of which are on my main blog here, but I caught the warm rain on the way home, and didn’t really mind.
I explored the North Common which I hadn’t done for years, and for an ex-industrial wasteland, it’s a beautiful place with great biodiversity. Rabbits, mustelids and birds are flourishing here, wild sweetpea still in flower, while willow herb and butter and eggs added additional colour. A huge crop of crab apples hangs from branches, although due to the nature of the ground, I wouldn’t prepare anything edible from them.
A rare treat and well worth exploring, even on a wet day.
August 25th – North Street, The Butts in steady rain. Late again.
At least it was warm rain, and there was an excellent takeaway to look forward to at the end of it.
I still can’t get used to the tower block with the bizarre white halo. Walsall Housing Group did a fantastic job of refurbishing Austen House, complete with geothermal heating and solar panels – but I do find the aesthetics a bit odd.
August 20th – A very tired day in which I felt groggy, tired and insubstantial, like I was a ghost or something. I didn’t realise at the time, but I think I was experiencing low sugar levels.
I set out late to the supermarket in Burntwood on a punishingly windy day, and got caught in a rain squall on the way back that made my forehead so cold it hurt. But there was a rainbow, too, which didn’t photograph well, but made me feel better.
Passing through Chasewater, I note the valves are still open and the water level is steadily dropping, now about 12 inches from maximum.
I love the tide marks on the spillway weir.
August 19th – The rains of the day had brought out the damp-loving creatures, though sadly I didn’t see any amphibians (although in my tired state I probably just didn’t notice them). These snails comfortably beat me travelling up Brownhills High Street on my mission to call in at the takeaway for a curry.
Snails get a very bad press really, but they are such fascinating things.
August 5th – An early evening drop into Stonnall to call on a mate on the way home from work took place under some remarkably threatening skies. There were a few spots, but rain didn’t catch me however, and I was reminded near Lynn of the spectacular panoramic beauty that occurs unexpectedly in the local countryside.
Harvest seems to have stalled for the moment, and crops still languish in the fields, adding a welcome golden hue to the landscape. Despite the weather, it really is high summer now.
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