Tag: Birchills

February 13th – Just as I feared I couldn’t stand the grey anymore, a blessed break in the weather. I have never, ever been so glad to see the light.

One commute on the canal through Walsall to Darlaston – a route I haven’t taken much since Christmas – was all it took. Sunshine, wildlife, glistening water, beautiful mist-suffused urban streets. And in Kings Hill Park beautiful yellow crocuses reminded me of the good that was to come.

I noted that the towpaths from Bentley Mill Way to Bughole Bridge are now being resurfaced, so if you cycle this way, expect to avoid folk in hi-viz marshalling small excavators and other such plant.

Today, my week was saved… by a crocus. I’m just mad about saffron.

August 16th – A consolation of leaving work late was a very beautiful, deep sunset. With the cooling temperatures, earlier nightfall and climatic change of Autumn, we’ll soon be in the season of the great sunset again, one of the greatest consolations for the end of summer.

It was lovely tonight but I’d rather summer fought off the autumn a little longer yet…

June 21st – On the way to work, a short drama. In Biirchills, just near the flats, two familiars square off. There is not outright hostility; but much ground-standing and unwavering stance. This was clearly a pair of old adversaries, neither giving ground, butt with a kind of mutual respect.

Sadly, someone appeared and they both scarpered before I could take a close up of the black cat, but they were both lovely; particularly the stocky, older looking ginger cat who seemed like he was half teddy-bear.

I get the feeling this show plays itself out several times a week.

April 20th – I was rolling down a back street in Birchills, Walsall when I spotted this fellow in the road. Outwardly in rude health, but clearly dazed, I think he’d had glancing contact with a vehicle and was stunned. I took his photo – chaffinches a re glorious, beautiful wee birds – then gently picked him up, checked him over and popped him in a nearby hedge to hopefully recover.

Wonderful to get so close to such a beautiful bird, but sad the circumstances in which it occurred. Hope he was OK. I think I probably saved him from being squished if nothing else.

March 23rd – I need to get a better look at this sometime soon, but today I found myself in Blue Lane East, Walsall, between Stafford Street and the Police Station on Green Lane. On the opposite corner to the cop shop is St Patricks’s Catholic Church, school, and this building, which I assume must be the vicarage or rectory for a much earlier church that the current semi-brutalist modern one.

It’s occurred to me writing this that I know very little of the catholic history of Walsall – I ought to rectify that.

The details on the old house are astounding. Such wonders lurk in the backstreets of Walsall.

february 24th – Another interesting thing about spring is the colours of the dusk. Tonight, quick shots as I rode home; a gentle indigo in Birchills, soft orange in Pleck and deep, deep blue at Clayhanger.

Winter feels nearly through now. I’m really enjoying the outdoors again. This is what I’ve missed. Light, air and colour.

January 18th – After months of being shut to be rebuilt, the North Street Railway bridge, linking The Butts with Birchills in Walsall is very, very close to reopening. Rebuilt higher to accommodate electrification of the railway beneath, the bridge seems much steeper than before. 

Still, it was fun to ride up and down while traffic free and still closed – and at the top, a decent view of the New College at night.