Tag: commuting

April 25th – April is certainly the cruellest month of 2012 so far. Maybe I just got used to life in the dry, but commuting this week has had it’s difficult moments. I headed to Lichfield at dawn in a rainstorm, wrenching myself up the A461 against a merciless headwind. Making the train just in time, the inclement weather seemed to follow me to Leicester, where it hung around menacingly outside, like some school bully waiting to beat me anew on the way home. Fortunately, the trip home wasn’t so bad, just drizzle, really. But whatI did notice was the trees: clearly thirsty, there has been a sudden explosion in foliage and blossom. It’s an ill wind, and all that. 

April 19th – A week of threatening dark skies continued. I had, however, been oddly lucky; I had to go to Leicester for a few days, and only caught a light shower on the way. As I arrived at South Wigston early morning, the gloom gathered, and it rained throughout the day, but held off just as the I awaited my return train that afternoon. I know we need the rain, but psychologically, I need some summer. A real quandary…

January 9th – Back to work. Stomach is still a shade on the uncomfortable side, but I’m miles better and just need to get my eating back to normal. I kicked off the new working year with a morning meeting in Lichfield. Ye Olde City is always odd on Monday mornings, and was virtually deserted when I left town at about 11am. I did notice, however, that a nascent cycle chic seems to be developing there; I spotted the tiny Trek ladies bike with the spray of flowers locked up in Tamworth Street. Have to admire the style. Meanwhile, at the other end of the cycling scale, I noted the huge flying-bedstead Pashley locked up again at Lichfield City Station. That bike is massive, and clearly well loved. Who the hell rides it, the Jolly Green Giant? His inside leg must be greater than the adjacent railings. That’s one lanky bloke…

June 28th – Back in Leicester for a meeting, early morning. Returning at lunchtime, I sat waiting with my bike for what seemed like an age at the barren, lonely South Wigston station. I’m by no means a train anorak, but I’m interested in the different things that pass. This bright yellow Plasser & Theurer rail grinder waited at distant signals for 10 minutes before rolling noisily past. The thunder is still quite awesome.