Tag: coffee

#365daysofbiking The sound of music:

November 20th – This is the coolest bloke I’ve ever seen on a commuter train. 

Bar none. 

We were sharing the bike space on a Birmingham commuter service. He’s on an urban flat bar; partially consumed coffee in the cup holder. He clearly works in something musical as he’s playing a small, portable electronic keyboard of the musical variety, and listening on headphones whilst reading sheet music.

He was playing the keyboard in total silence to the outside world, pensively and in the considered way someone might type an email on a laptop.

I’m not sure if he was learning music, marking it or writing it, but I have to say, you are a seriously cool man. Fascinating.

February 7th – Spotted on a city-bound train, the first instance of something common in the US and mainland Europe – a bike fitted with a Thule coffee cup holder.

This is a pretty good idea to anyone who’s tried carrying a take-out coffee with a bike. My only observation in this instance would be that on my bike, I’d be prone to catch it with my knee so the other side of the bars would be better. Also, that bracket looks a wee bit clunky and industrial.

Interesting sign of an urban commuter, though!

December 9th – Lichfield has a little secret that I’d love to share: Melbourne Coffee.

In a passageway between Market Street and the central car park, there’s a kiosk run by a lovely Australian lady who, to put it frankly, can caffeinate me anytime. Here espressos are toe-curlingly good, and made with expert care, dedication, and the happiest, loveliest customer service you could wish for. 

On this cold day, the bar-seats at the kiosk counter had hot water bottles for customer comfort, and the brew slid down well, as no doubt would have the lovely looking cake were I not digesting my own bodyweight in marinaded goat.

The lady running this fantastic venture is the same lady behind the frankly bonkers Leomansley Snail thing, and I think she’s ace.

June 17th – A ride out to Amerton Farm, the craft centre just off the A51 near Stowe by Chartley was an unexpected delight. A nice new coffee shop run by a Brownhills lad, craft shops and farm animals to fuss over. 

Most stunning were the swallows, nesting throughout the building and whose antics as they collected bugs for their young were fascinating.

A lovely place, great coffee and well worth a visit.

I wish my teeth were in as good condition as Mrs. Goat’s there…

April 2nd – Cobwebs near Abbots Bromley is a lovely little coffee and cake stop. Set in a quiet backlane, it overlooks open fields with a lovely outdoor patio area that’s shady but warm with lovely flowers… and the cake is astoundingly good.

Most importantly, it has the essential ingredient for any cycling cafe: tame local birds that come and steal crumbs you leave behind. Watching the antics of the local sparrows was endlessly fascinating.

November 13th – I slid out in the afternoon with the Remembrance air of sadness on my shoulders, and headed for restorative coffee and cake up at Fradley Junction. In the courtyard f the cafe there, song birds tamed and emboldened by a life of cheekily sneaking titbits and crumbs from customer’s tables flit busily among the leaves, hunting for morsels. 

Also present for the the autumn bug cloud was this cheeky little pied wagtail. 

He made for lovely, cheering entertainment as I relaxed.

September 25th – I spotted this by change in Butlers Passage, Walsall. A dark, dingy alleyway, it’s not a pleasant place, and I normally scoot the bike through here to get on the road home if I’ve been in the town centre. 

Today, I happened to glance left, and there was a beautifully executed partial stencil of Snow White apparently drinking coffee with a lad in a baseball hat. 

I guess it’s a visual joke based on the Italian cafe a few yards to the right.

It’s beautifully executed, and seems to be by the same hand as the now erased ‘Class War’ stencil that was nearby until very recently. The art is confident yet cursory, and beautifully thought out.

A wonderful thing that brought a real smile to my face. My compliments to the artist.