Tag: commute

October 6th – Traffic. Tell me when my red light turns green. I cycled home in rain mixed with sunshine, and it wasn’t a bad ride, really, but I’ve noticed in the last few weeks that the traditional winter grump is descending on the traffic, which in autumn always becomes tetchier and more aggressive. 

Very few incidents usually, but in the last week a guy passed so close his wing mirror clipped my arm; I’ve been aggressively cut up; and had abuse shouted three times, including tonight. My cycling hasn’t changed, so it can only be the truculence that seems to come with shorter, darker days.

I hate this time of year on the roads.

October 6th – A terribly grey morning, spotting with rain and I wasn’t sure I’d make it to work before the heavens opened, but… Victoria Park.

The greenspace at the centre of Darlaston looks beautiful at the moment, even on this greyest of days. Sometimes autumn is so beautiful, you can forgive it the darkness it leads you to.

October 1st – Although the wonderful Indian summer continues, each day seems to be getting noticeably colder now. Mid afternoon in the sun, it was warm on my back, like April; but move around and autumn chilled the air. It’s making for some divine golden hours, though, and the scenery around the canals is gorgeous now. Trees are turning, and soon everywhere will be golden.

Autumn is OK once you accept it.

September 30th – Sadly, my morning photos came out terrible today, so just the couple. But they show something lovely – I’m assuming this bright climbing plant growing on the hedgerow near the Black Cock Bridge is Virginia Creeper. Unassuming most of the year, in the last couple of weeks it’s come alive; and in these gorgeous Indian summer golden hours it glows in the evening cool.

The whole place looked splendid as I passed. It’s gorgeous.

September 24th – For the first time this week, a really decent day with lots of sunshine, but the cold is creeping in – it barely crept over 16 degrees all day. 

The birds on the local canals didn’t mind, though – the Walsall swan family were, as usual, hustling for treats, but the herons – a twtchy young gun in the morning and a more relaxed, slightly mad looking elder hand in the evening – were stubbornly self-sufficient, as ever.

I love to see these guys. They fair made my day.

September 23rd – And there are other autumnal riches, too. These glistening ink caps are growing on a recently cleared area of towpath on the canal at Clayhanger. 

I love how the damage to the cap reveals the gill structure of the fungus. Another couple of days and these will have decayed to black slime.

Fungi are fascinating.

September 23rd – I find autumn fills me with conflict. On the one hand, it’s the end of summer, the coming of darkness and the cold. On the other hand, it renders places like my beloved Darlaston utterly beautiful.

This is just a hint of the riches to come. It’s not all bad. Not by a long shot.

September 22nd – The cat population of the UK doesn’t seem very pleased with me lately. After being scorned by the posh pusses of Lower Stonnall yesterday, today this black and white fellow glared at me from wasteland in Leamore. 

A lovely cat though: love the three spots on the nose and white tail-tip.

I remember when cats used to stop for a bit of fuss. Not at the moment, it seems…

September 22nd – I note from the GPS that the sunset is advancing by a few minutes every day, which has started to place the golden hour squarely over my commute. Yesterday, needing some peace and quiet and separation from a tough day at work, I hit the canals on the way back, and Walsall, Birchills and Goscote rewarded me with tranquility and beautiful light.

For those that do nothing but criticise Walsall, open your eyes: this is on your doorstep.