April 30th – I returned the same way, but the deer had moved on. This wee fellow though, was busy watching the ducks on the canal at the back of Barrow Close in Walsall Wood. I’m pretty much convinced it’s the same cat I spotted recently sheltering in the lee of a plant pot in the same area. He’s a fine lad with great whiskers and a collar with a bell – so clearly a bit of a hunter. But I think he was a bit ambitious with the mallards, to be honest…
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.
19th March – On the Walsall Canal at Park Hall, having left work early in the afternoon to head to Birmingham in the decent weather, I come upon a small, kitchen sink drama.
Young cat fancies it’s paw at a little waterfowl: maybe mallard, or even Canada goose. The concentration is huge… the tension… then the cyclist spoils it.
Of course, the birds knew the cat was there. But puss’s ambition was impressive.
March 2nd – Spotted in Darlaston in Victoria Park – is that a hint of Olympic Rings in spring flowers? Must have been a 2012 project…
January 2nd – This was one of the things that cheered me up in Lichfield. The railings around Minster Pool. Someone with an idea, some blu-tak and a small pair of googly eyes. The expression is beautiful. I only noticed it by chance.
I don’t know who did the deed, but I thank you. You made me grin from ear to ear, and chased my black dog away. So now I’ve preserved your random act of happiness and shared it for posterity.
Thank you.
December 14th – Today, I did make it to the supermarket, and with the bike lock. I wasn’t the only one, either; Santa Claus was there too. He seems to have lost a bit of weight lately. Hope he’s OK.
December 2nd – Every time I pass this in The Butts, Walsall, I pray the shop is really run by a bloke nicknamed Butt. It has to be, doesn’t it?
The alternative is too horrific to contemplate.
November 29th – ‘Go into town, they said. You’ll meet other geese, they said. Seems to be working.’
Not much nous in your average Canada Goose.
You wouldn’t believe how many shots I had to take of this before I got one where the bird hadn’t moved.
November 8th – What is it with this journal and stray pumpkins? This is the third in as many years, and this one has been carved.
There I was, cycling around the bend in the canal opposite Tesco in Brownhills, and it was just there, wet and grinning at me.
I felt sorry for the grizzled gourd, so I recorded it for posterity.
October 27th – Ah, Mr. Calico… we meet again. This male cat (he is male, and unneutered by the looks) was hunting mallard on the canal in Pleck as I spun through on my way to work. I’ve seen him a few times, always in exactly the same spot. He talks to me and curses me for disturbing his sport (although the ducks were honking at him and causing a drama long before I got close).
He always moves high up on the embankment from where he can look down on me in safety, then meows long wailing cries, always seeming like curses.
Somebody loves that lad. He’s in fine fettle. And good voice.
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