Tag: Lichfield

Mach 9th – Every time I visit Lichfield, the bike racks seem fuller and fuller. Granted, there aren’t many about the town, but these on the corner of Dam Street and Market Street are always fully populated. Cycling seems popular in the city these days. Sadly, this must make for an upsurge in cycle crime, as I noticed in Wade Street, within sight of the Police Station. The importance of locking both your wheels in these days of quick release cannot be overstated – otherwise, you’ll end up coming back to a bike like this. Beware, fellow cyclists.

March 9th – I know nothing about the history of this clearly very old Lichfield company, but I like the fact that they had all bases covered. F.M. & J Wait could clearly turn their hand to a chaise longue or a coffin, as the situation demanded. They certainly seemed to have all bases covered. I rather like that…

March 9th –  A day off, and an afternoon pottering around Lichfield. I only noticed this one in recent months, it must be normally quite well hidden. Cresting Pipe Hill, over the old crossroads, but not quite at the new island, stands an empty, decaying house. I don’t know who owns it, or why it stands empty, but there’s a notice up pointing out that it’s not for sale or rent. Which, like the houses in Footherley, near Shenstone, is pretty sad. Houses should resonate to the sounds of life – there is nothing sadder than an empty house, particularly in a time when homelessness has increased 14% in one year. The owner should be ashamed.

January 28th – Lichfield was as beautiful as ever, although the level of empty shops – and the decline in numbers of patrons – was very noticeable. The sunset was gorgeous, and to my delight, it wasn’t truly dark until after 5:00pm. It’s a bit previous, I know, but it really feels like darkness is coming to an end for another year. We certainly seem to have it on the run…

January 28th – It was a beautiful afternoon with a fantastic golden hour. Pottering around Brownhills, then into Lichfield, it was the longest leisure ride I’d had since visiting the Chase three weeks ago. It seemed very cold, but I guess this is just normal January, I’ve been softened by the unseasonably warm spell. Recovering well, I felt great, and I felt like I had some power in my legs. Cruising down Pipe Hill into Lichfield, I noticed that the only significant cloud in the sky was the plume of steam coming from Rugeley power station. Wonder if many folk noticed it and realised what it was?

January 9th – Back to work. Stomach is still a shade on the uncomfortable side, but I’m miles better and just need to get my eating back to normal. I kicked off the new working year with a morning meeting in Lichfield. Ye Olde City is always odd on Monday mornings, and was virtually deserted when I left town at about 11am. I did notice, however, that a nascent cycle chic seems to be developing there; I spotted the tiny Trek ladies bike with the spray of flowers locked up in Tamworth Street. Have to admire the style. Meanwhile, at the other end of the cycling scale, I noted the huge flying-bedstead Pashley locked up again at Lichfield City Station. That bike is massive, and clearly well loved. Who the hell rides it, the Jolly Green Giant? His inside leg must be greater than the adjacent railings. That’s one lanky bloke…

January 6th – I feel one hell of a lot better. The stomach is settling, my sense of taste has returned and I’ve got itchy feet. I solved the latter problem yesterday by saddling up my favourite bike and heading down the back lanes to Lichfield. It was an experiment – still not eating a huge amount, I kept an eye on the energy and took it easy. I needn’t have worried. It was like a spring day. These lanes are old familiars, yet cycling and fresh air was new to me again. I dawdled. I stopped to look. I enjoyed the feel of the afternoon chill. I went to Lichfield, sat in a cafe, drank good tea and ate toasted tea cakes, then cycled home, including Shire Oak Hill without stopping. I slept well, but it’s a start. 

I feel better.

Christmas Eve – I dropped down into the city, not as a shopper, but as an observer. It was quite deserted at 5pm, nothing much was going on except the clearance of the market stalls. The sound of cathedral bells rang out and I was aware of a casual drift towards the close by those around me. I always feel odd at this time on Christmas Eve; it’s all over bar the shouting, and commercially at least, Christmas is over. Peace and best wishes to all those reading this, may Christmas bring you all you desire. See you on the other side…

December 22nd – Doing a Christmas shop by bicycle is much easier than you’d think. You need good, spacious panniers and be skilled at packing, but with Waitrose’s great bike facilities, it takes some of the pain away from the process. Certainly, there’s no faffing about parking. The supermarket itself was mad, though; Christmas does bring out the very worst in some folks. Hopefully the exercise of pulling 30 kilos of shopping up Pipe, Summer, Spring and Shire Oak Hills counteracts some of the pork I’ll put on over-indulging…

December 22nd – It’s been a long time – not since last summer, in fact – that Ive featured a view of Lichfield from Aldershawe. On this slightly dull day, the Old Lady of the Vale still looked stunning, as did the fellow spires of companion churches all over the small city. This is a fantastic view which I love dearly, but it’s hard to conceive just how much it has changed since I was a kid. The superstore and houses in the foreground were all fields then. I feel old.