February 15th – I came back on the train via Birmingham and Walsall, and hit Walsall in a lovely blue half-light.
I love stations at night – a fact I’ve alluded to before – and Walsall, for all the criticism it gets – is actually quite fascinating at night. I love the exaggerated perspective, machinery and lights.
It’s not a bad place to come back to.
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February 8th – I was in Walsall for a meeting, early evening.
In that weird interregnum between day and night, today the sky turned a remarkable, beautiful blue.
It’s been a while since I’ve actually been to Walsall town centre, rather than merely passing through. I expected it to be awful, and haunted by better memories.
It wasn’t, it was OK.
The only thing blue this evening was the sky. Perhaps my battle with my lost youth has been won.
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February 6th -The lighter evenings, although coming on fast now, have not reached the far end of my commute, and I tend to do the canal less in the dark, as riding the towpaths at night – even with my excellent front light – is a constant mental grind.
Approaching Clayhanger Bridge on my way back to Brownhills, I stopped to check a text, and realised how bright my light was, to catch Clayhanger Bridge like that.
It’s still a constant effort not to end up taking an early bath, though…
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January 19th – A late run out for exercise on a cold, murky night took me to Chasewater. Unusually, I entered the park from Brownhills West of the spooky, Peter Saville-esque M6 Toll footbridge, the enclosed crossing with the streetlight shining through it.
Init is a hard, hostile, unwelcoming space that makes for remarkable photos.
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January 17th – It’s rare I’m negative about anything over much, but the new footbridge at Telford Station is an utter design failure and in my opinion, a fiasco.
Still very much unfinished, the build quality in places is very poor, the finish terrible and when I arrived mid morning, both lifts had failed.
With no lift on the westbound side, and the utter design failure of no ramp, I had to shoulder my bike and carry it up the steep steps.
The old bridge had no lifts – but ramps both sides. Although not good in a wheelchair, they at least were continuously available. If the westbound lift fails here now, wheelchair uses are stranded.
The situation is so bad there is now a hastily drawn up plan for calling for help if the lift fails.
The powers that be have spent 10 million pounds to make the situation far, far worse for wheelchair users than it was before they started, ostensibly to improve things for them.
Telford and Wrekin Council and Network Rail should hang their heads in shame.
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January 14th – And on my return that evening, it was similarly cold but still.
The ‘new’ Silver Street pedestrian bridge fascinates me. I love the shapes in the framework, the views it offers and even the sound it makes as you walk and ride over it.
Although it’s. 11 years old now, I never tire of photographing it at night.
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January 12th – Crossing Festival Gardens at night, the very old subway under the main road is always worth a visit. The effect of the corrugated street it’s made from combined with bright lighting and cram paint makes for a very otherworldly sight in a dark environment.
It’s like something out of a science fiction film.
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January 12th – In Lichfield on an errand as night fell, and as always, in love with this place.
From the quiet of Cathedral Walk with it’s remarkable perspective, a somnambulant Minster Pool to the hectic traffic of Saint John Street, this tiny city never disappoints.
It’s not a bad old place really…
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January 11th – On a grim, overcast day little caught my attention but popping out of work mid day I did stop to look at a pub I thought was lost, but has found a new life – and has actually been refurbished quite well and sensitively.
The former Scott Arms in Kings Hill had been derelict for many years, having closed following the decline of nearby large factories. I had thought it would be lost forever, such was it’s decay.
However, it was bought, and permission granted for a takeaway, and over the preceding months the building has been modified and renovated.
I’m not sure if it’s actually ready to open yet, but it looks close. My best wishes to the new owners.
It’ll be handy for a spring roll when I’m working late…
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January 6th – A fast, long ride over Cannock Chase from Pye green, down Sherbrook Valley, down Pepper Slade and Abrahams Valley, back to Stepping Stones and over Milford and Shugborough saw me riding the canal back to Armitage in darkness.
The ride on a dull but very warm day had not been great for photos, but the canal around Rugeley and Armitage more than made up for it.
A 48 mile ride on a grey but lovely day was just what I needed. Longer rides are making me feel better again.
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