February 2nd – As I got back to the Innovation Centre at 5:25, I caught sight of the lights reflecting on the boating lake, and just had to take a picture. It was then I realised it was only just coming on to dusk. In January, we clawed back about an hour from the darkness, and all the time the rate of change is increasing.
Spring will soon be here.
June 29th – At Chasewater, I stopped to study something I’d not taken much notice of before – a microwave transceiver antenna between the boating lake and Innovation Centre. Painted brown to blend in, It’s pointing towards Pye Green, but could be anywhere in-between, too, like a telephone exchange or similar. On top is a standard ‘drum’ microwave antenna, with a transceiver amplifier halfway up. The nameplate on that suggests an 8MB link, and is almost certainly a broadband connection for the conference facilities, as I suspect the Innovation Centre was originally too far off the beaten track for a decent phone connection. Together with mobile phone network data backhaul, this is the only widespread use of such links still in use.
October 28th – Out early evening, a quick spin around the local area. I found myself at a darkened Chasewater, and taking a quick look round for a decent photo, could find nothing better than the Innovation Centre. No one was around at 6:30pm, just a few workmen in the dam compound and the sounds of activity from the brewery… I sat on a bench, listening to the geese chattering softly tin the dark. And then I heard an owl call.
This is Brownhills. I heard an owl hoot in the darkness. I still find that incredible – unthinkable when I was a kid.
June 21st – After a circuit of Chasewater and a good nosey round the largely stalled dam works (security? What security?) I realised it was nearly dark and I only had a back light, so needed to get home quick. The park was deserted save for the odd dog walker, and I’ve always found the innovation centre oddly creepy at night. This shot was taken on timer after standing the camera on a picnic table.
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