Tag: Brownhills

#365daysofbiking Reflections:

November 17th – I returned to Brownhills on the canal and that was much more rewarding. Although the sunset wasn’t anything significant, the reflections on the water and the light around bridges made for some lovely views.

You really can’t beat riding the canals at dusk.

#365daysofbiking Chains changed:

November 16th – Heading back to Brownhills and home, I stopped to look at the view of Silver Street now the building works are finished here. Around 200 new, modern dwellings on what was 12 year dead wasteland and an abandoned marketplace. The change from desolation to signs of life and habitation is remarkable. Every time I see it, I struggle to take in the massive change here.

Change for the better.

About 6 years ago I speculated that this then desolate, windswept, empty place was haunted by the ghosts of civic failure. They have been exorcised, and gradually, almost imperceptibly, there are signs of life developing in my old town again. The people that live in these houses now will use the local takeaways, pop for a paper, a haircut and use the high street out of convenience. No, it’ll never boom like it did, but this trade fillip has to be welcome. 

Finally, Brownhills is becoming unshackled from the system built housing misadventure of the sixties. All we need to do now is finally rid ourselves of the blight that is Ravens Court…

#365daysofbiking Paint the whole world with a…

November 16th – After the old chap who ran the lawnmower shop in Brownhills retired, the shop stood empty for a while, before being renovated. It actually became, in time, an upmarket baby boutique called Nancy & Harlows, which seems very popular, and I wish the proprietors all the best in their venture.

What is a little unusual about the restoration is that as part of it, local artist Rory Northall was commissioned to paint a mural on the gable end of the building. This colourful artwork features the children in his family in age order, each holding a balloon with their initial on, Pooh Bear and Eeyore, a rainbow, blue sky, and the stars and moon. The moon itself forms the seat of a young girl in a pink dress with angel wings, and requires no further explanation.

The artwork is stunning, colourful, beautiful, well executed and popular. And I think it looks best after dark, which is how I caught it on an evening errand ride around town.

A lovely thing I’ve meant to feature here for ages. My compliments to Rory and the good ladies who had the imagination to commission such a wonderful thing.

#365daysofbiking The experiment continues:

November 15th – More camera experimentation, this time the other direction from Catshill Junction Bridge. 

I’m interested in the way this camera picks up stars in the sky, and the colouration.

Tat’s not a bad result to me for a handheld phot in near pitch darkness.

#365daysofbiking Clarity:

November 14th – I’m finding the Canon G1X a bit of a conundrum: The smaller, more limited G7X was a lot easier to take low-light images with, but the pictures were not as good in my opinion. I had expected to flow from one camera to the other seamlessly, but that’s not been the case.

But I’m learning. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

On this warm, breezy but glass-clear evening, I couldn’t resist hopping up onto Catshill Junction Bridge for a shot of the moon over the canal, before heading back to Brownhills.

#365daysofbiking The last obstacle”

November 8th – Returning from Birmingham that evening, the weather was still grim and I stopped to take a photo of the traffic at the Shire Oak crossroads.

Shire Oak Hill is like a homecoming to me. it’s the last obstacle to sanctuary before a gentle and lovely roll downhill into Brownhills. Light or dark, good weather or bad, cresting this hill is always and absolute joy.

At night, in rain, it’s also a fascinating collage of reflection, light and hard surfaces. It fascinates me. 

#365daysofbiking Where the night is lighter:

November 3rd -Returning to Brownhills, where the night is lighter, a classic shot from Anchor Bridge of the canal and Lindon Road, a night-time vista I’ll always enjoy.

The camera acquainted itself well, and I don’t find the result to be at all bad.

I know I keep saying this, but it’s true: Brownhills can be a remarkably beautiful place. Even at night.

#365daysofbiking Stark:

October 29th – I took a stop at an old night-time favourite, for old time’s sake.

Clayhanger Bridge and the overflow still captivate me at night. So many possibilities. So still. So starkly beautiful.

The G1X seems to like it.

I hope the darkness will be my friend this year.

#365daysofbiking Night falls:

October 29th – Travelling back home in the first of the end of British Summer Time commutes is always hard: I wasn’t late, but it was dark, and cold. I got passed by two gritters. Progress was slow. 

Winter is upon me.

This means rejigging the photography a bit, as it’s had to find subjects in darkness, so the activity tends to shift to morning, or during errands or trips in the daytime.

Oh well, it’s here. Let’s do this.