December 3rd – So enjoying the tailwind, I let it blow me to Walsall Wood, where I noted they have an excellent Christmas tree again this year, which I think is funded by local Tory councillors.
I’m by no means a Conservative, but respect to them for this act of generosity.
When I see the tree at Walsall Wood, I know Christmas is just around the corner. It’s one of the milestones of the season for me. A lovely thing indeed.
December 2nd – I came through Walsall early evening, having resolved to pay more attention to the place after yesterday taking pictures in the Civic Quarter. Tonight, I noted how nice the Christmas lights were this year, and how for once, we had a decent Christmas tree.
Although we seem to be hurtling towards Christmas at a rate of knots at the moment, I haven’t felt very festive so far – until tonight.
Of course, Christmas means the winter solstice and the end of the darkening days, and the start of another season’s promise.
I’ll have some of that.
November 13th – Snatched evening shots in a busy city. Birmingham is still curiously beautiful at night, and I do still love it so. Just gearing up for the Christmas rush, it was frenetic, but not yet frantic.
There’s much to love in the urban night.
November 9th – I’ve also been passing this advert in various spots around town, and it’s bugging me a bit.
No one should have no one at any time of year, not just Christmas.
We can all do something about this here and now.
Any time is a good time to take someones hand, smile and say ‘Hello, chum.’
Do it now.
Christmas Day – I realised I had no cash, and spun up the High Street late in the evening to go to the cashpoint. Brownhills was dead, somnambulant and deserted. I didn’t see a soul.
After the hubbub and bustle of the day, it was really, really lovely.
Christmas Day – Castle Ring is a bit of a Christmas Day ride tradition for me. It’s a great, reasonably short ride with killer climbing and great downhills that can be completed in an hour or so to work up an appetite before lunch. Today was another cold clear day, but the wind was quite nasty – not heavy, but wearing. The sun was lovely though, and warm on my face.
The view, and the sight of the Chase in it’s winter jacket was gorgeous. Even after all these years, I still find it breathtaking.
It was clear, however, that rain was sweeping in from Staffordshire. Out on the plains of the Trent Valley, the sunlight highlighted a band of grey mist, and some darkly threatening clouds seemed to be rolling in.
Thankfully, the wind was assisting on the way home and I just beat the rain.
Christmas Eve – On the way back I also had to nip into Walsall Wood, and dropping down from Shire Oak Hill, the sunset view over the Black Country to the South West caught my breath, as it often does. Considering the time of day on Christmas Eve the traffic was quite heavy, but it did feel very much like Christmas.
Greetings of the season, everyone!
December 22nd – With a light heart and the wind behind me, I returned via Walsall in mild drizzle. It was warm, and I had to stop to take off some layers – the weather has been crazy this last few days – windy, but blowing hot and cold.
We’ve just passed the winter solstice and this makes me happy. I’m in the darkness here and now, but from here, the days lengthen in that all too familiar sinusoidal acceleration pattern, and soon, we’ll have light and leaves again. Fact is, I’ve survived the closing in again, and this year, it barely affected me at all. Considering I was dreading it, that’s some relief.
Cresting the Black Cock Bridge, this conifer decorated beautifully with hundreds of lights demands attention. It’s so bright, so sparkly, yet not glaring like a lot of such things. It’s really, really beautiful. And it’s huge.
Such a gorgeous beacon of light in the darkness.
December 21st – I was spinning up to Walsall Wood to make a quick delivery, and I realised there was a carol concert happening at St. John’s church, and it was lit up.
It looked and sounded very Christmassy.
Sadly, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get a decent night shot of this humble but handsome church without that bloody streetlight spoiling it. Just can’t get a good angle.
December 20th – Today, today was great. I had a Christmas errand to run near Rugeley, and heard there was a farmer’s market on. I’ve never really had a good look around the town, and I have to say I was impressed. This former mining community serves a very wide area, and so maintains a good selection of shops, a couple of indoor markets, and the produce market itself was brilliant.
I’d not realised how good the architecture was in the town centre, either; I must go back when it’s quieter and have a good mooch around.
The huge inflatable Father Christmas by the sports club is brilliant, too, and can be seen from a long distance.
I returned with all manner of Christmas treats.
That wee dog in the indoor market stole my heart – such big, sad eyes!
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