April 29th – Bentley Bridge near Darlaston is the scene of a huge roads project at the moment. For a week or so, huge and fascinating plant has been involved in erecting deep and sturdy H section piles along the roadside.
It’s an impressive bit of engineering with some fascinating machinery. The webs on those girders are about 50mm thick.
April 27th – A short run of Black Country canal – from Pleck to Bentley Bridge, Darlaston, on the way to work in bright, but chilly sunshine. Mr. Swan was still drifting aimlessly, waiting for his partner to hatch their clutch; it’s nice to see he’s been ringed. Further up, the coots had already got chicks. Coot chicks are probably the most ugly-cute young birds this side of baby owls. Sadly, they were being stalked by a heron, so I don’t give much for their chances.
Off Bentley Bridge itself, a great sky, mirror flat water and the feeling that spring is really on her throne.
April 23rd – Stopped at the lights in Darlaston, I realised a happy face was watching me from the tailgate of the van in front.
I whipped out the camera and snatched a picture before the lights changed. I love found faces.
April 16th – The greening continues. Darlaston is getting really beautiful right now. In a week or two, the whole of Victoria Park will be Verdant, and it will once again seem a million years since winter.
And so the seasons wheel continues to turn…
April 15th – Zipping over to Tipton and Great Bridge on a sunny spring afternoon in Moxley, closing the Black Country Route I looked right to see Moxley Church, marooned by urban development, but still presiding over the urban chaos beautifully.
A wonderful afternoon, and a joy to be out.
March 24th – From Fallings Heath, the twin sisters of Wednesbury: St. Bart’s and St. Mary’s looking splendid in the evening sun.
I know I keep banging on about it, but the TZ70 is light years ahead of the old camera. Very pleased with this shot.
March 10th – Today was a bright sunshine day, and the sun was warm on my back. I nipped out of work near lunchtime and spun through Victoria and Kings Hill Parks in Darlaston just to see how they were looking. In Victoria Park, one group of pattern-planted crocuses is in flower, and they seem to be in the form of a wheel – I have no idea why. The greens and shady corners there looked as beautiful and serene as ever.
In Kings Hill Park, a riot of colour with daffodils, primroses and crocuses all vying for attention.
If you live nearby, and can get to these parks soon, do so. They are a credit to Darlaston and those who maintain them. Utterly splendid.
March 9th – This puss, who I’m fairly convinced is an elderly female, stopped me in my tracks on my way home. In the backstreets of Darlaston, she was in the road, and as I approached, just stood, looking at me. She seemed well enough, and appeared to be wanting a fuss. I gave her an ear tickle, stroked her for a while, and off she pottered.
A lovely cat with a beautiful colouring.
March 4th – Spring is really here. It’s not just the yellow crocuses in Kings Hill Park now, but the purple and white ones, too. Daffodils have joined the party, and the whole place looks gorgeous.
I know the daffs are early varieties, but they are gorgeous and a reminder that once the genie of spring has appeared, you can’t really get it back in the bottle.
Such a joy to the heart.
March 2nd – Spotted in Darlaston in Victoria Park – is that a hint of Olympic Rings in spring flowers? Must have been a 2012 project…
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