December 6th – I had to pop to the Touchwood Centre in Solihull, a place I’ve only been once or twice: In fact, I rarely visit the town at all.
I left in the afternoon, and as usual of late, the trains were messed up and the journey was horrible. But Solihull had some interesting views in the early evening gloom.
That underpass was stunning in the dark.
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December 5th – Working late saw me get back to Brownhills in a very quiet hour; there was little traffic and as I pulled onto the pavement at Anchor Bridge the only real noise was of wind in the trees and dead gass on the canal bank.
I hate December and the run up to Christmas: The nights are darkest, the work is hard in preparation for a new year and everything seems grey and lifeless.
At least one of my favourite views is fairy changeless, the canal from Anchor Bridge.
Roll on Christmas!
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December 4th – Returning home along the canal, it made a change to be at least on a dry evening. Unusually, the sky had only a light layer of beautifully textured cloud.
This is what I’ve missed this year: Bright, cold evenings.
Let’s hope the weather clears soon and there’s more of this.
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December 4th – Pottering to work on a grey day, I spotted a particularly disdainful puss near Walsall Wood who certainly wasn’t going to give the likes of me the time of day, no matter how I called it.
You haven’t been properly ignored in life until you’ve been ignored by a domestic British cat.
Oh well, looks like a nice puss… From behind.
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December 3rd – Returning to Walsall a little earlier than usual from Birmingham, I was just in time to see a most beautiful sunset descend upon Walsall – but not in the best place to catch it on camera. Standing on the steps at the station side entrance. the view down Station Street and back over the empty station platforms was much better than I expected.
I’m glad I caught this one – but by heck, it felt cold…
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December 2nd – Waiting for a train at the unexpectedly infrequently-served Oakengates station in Telford, an example of why UK railways fascinate me.
That’s MJ 353 (not 352 or 354) and it’s 723 yarns ahead. Not 722, or 724, just to make that clear.
Why 723? Fabulous.
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December 2nd – Again on the far side of Hortonwood in Telford, I was returning from a meeting using the Silkin Way national Cycle Route 81 that runs along the A518 between Trench and the massive industrial park I had visited.
On a cycleway that I would have thought might have been almost forgotten, and some way from houses or nearby factories, a makeshift bird table at the side of the track, apropos of nothing.
On it, a selection of fruit and seed – all fresh with a nearby audience I’d disturbed of birds and squirrels.
Someone tends this lovingly, regularly. It’s well kept. It’s a thing of dedication, love and kindness for them.
Stranger, I have no idea who you might be, but for looking after a small corner of your world so beautifully, I wish you the very best my friend.
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December 1st – Looping around and back up Walsall Wood, I became aware I was in the midst of a gorgeous sunset. Chasewater would have been my place of choice to catch such a vivid one, but sadly I wouldn’t make it in time, so I headed up Shire Oak Hill.
The view downhill to Walsall Wood, Walsall and the wider Black Country is always stunning, and it’s a good while since I saw it in a good sunset. It was worth it.
This is one of the greatest local views and very much unappreciated.
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December 1st – Green Lane is a major rat run between Walsall Wood and Sheffield, and has been closed for some weeks for drainage work. Theoretically supposed to be reopening the next day, I went to see how the works were progressing.
Oh dear, I don’t think that’ll be open for a while yet. I guess bad weather must have really held them up.
Since there’s no pedestrian way around, looks like I’ll be coming back along the A461 for a week or so yet…
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November 30th – Chasetown has Christmas lights for the first time in a long while too, which is nice to see. Oddly though, their two Christmas trees (which appear identical, which must be a clue to their origin) are artificial, conical arrangements covered in some kind of canvas.
There’s one at usual near the former police station, and one outside the new offices of Chasetown Civil Engineering.
They’re interesting things, not entirely sure I like them but they are very striking.
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