July 24th – It seems early for blackberries to be ripening in such quantities right now, but they are. I think in reality we’re maybe only a week or two ahead of schedule, but it just seems wrong.
The foragers and animals won’t mind though – this juicy, black-red sugar laden fruit will sustain many a bird or rodent and make for many a decent pudding the the coming month or so.
Again, it seems like a good crop too.
May 14th – A lovely lunchtime ride into Walsall from work, and I took the canal. The sun was warm, bright and welcoming, the canal alive with wildlife and growth, a green motorway for birds, insects and walkers.
The lilac at Pleck, Sallow at James Bridge and just the air of quiet summer growth was wonderful. A real joy to the heart.
And who did I spot on my return to work in the afternoon? Curled up into a comfy black furry circle, Sam the elderly Kings Hill puss, dozing contentedly in a sun dappled spot, no doubt dreaming of his younger days and soothing his bones in the summer warmth.
It doesn’t get much better than this.
May 23 – I get a bit tired sometimes of defending Brownhills, Walsall and the Black Country. People call all three dirty, unpleasant, polluted, ugly.
All these animals were seen on my journey to and from work today. There can’t be many urban situations where you pass deer and herons on a Monday morning, can there?
I particularly liked the cygnet preening, just like it’s mum.
I love this place.
April 7th – It’s that bird again, at least I’m assuming it’s the same heron I saw a couple of weeks ago on the stretch of the Walsall Canal just where it turns the bend at Pleck and heads off for Bentley.
Here was there late afternoon, enjoying the golden hour. I was trundling home from work, tired. He posed beautifully unperturbed by me, or his competition for angling rights further up.
This bird is a star and I adore it…
November 11th – Riding along the Darlaston Road in Pleck, Walsall at about 5:30pm, towards Walsall. I’m on the left as I’m hauling uphill and the banjo in the taxi overtakes me and turns left, not too far from wiping me out.
Fortunately, he hesitated, and I saw what he was going to do, so I drifted to the left as he pressed towards me. Long time since I shouted at a driver.
This was not a case of not seeing me. He saw me, he went for it. Thankfully, I have my wits about me.
January 23rd – I also noticed that the piece of street-art under the reservoir place bridge has been completed. It’s quite impressive – there’s real skill and artistic ability there, and I love the way it adds interest and colour to an otherwise dark corner. The artist is called Apps, and @dhintheman on twitter found his youtube channel. You can see his self-made film there, together with other films of his derring do. Apps, I salute you.
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