November 29th – A very cold, frosty morning, but thankfully the roads weren’t terribly icy due to the dry weather, but a morning journey to the station was taken carefully, particularly down the backlanes.
Waiting for my train, I caught the sun rising behind Hill Hook and the Sutton Transmitter, and thought how long it’s been since I saw this at dawn.
A great view, but also rather chilly.
November 15th – And back, so it was, to Shenstone, an altogether different type of late-night feeling. This is a beautiful building, in a lovely location, and a great place to leave, but even better to return to.
I love it at night, the way it’s lit, the overhead wires, the sense of an island in the darkness. A beacon, calling me toward home, just a few miles to go.
A haunting, gorgeous station.
November 15th – Late in the day, I popped into Birmingham to meet a prospective new cwork colleague, and came back as I often used to frequently, through a somnambulant, night-time Birmingham New Street Station.
The renovations here seem to have finished – although they don’t look it and the Stephenson street footbridge looks like the work stopped abruptly halfway through. But then, there’s only so much polishing and sprinkling with cheap glitter that can mask this huge architectural turd.
The place was charming though in it’s own night-time way, and once again, that late-night feelings vibe started to hit me.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, see this post here.
Why does that haunt me so?
November 14th – I had to go to Telford, and I was keen to see the work on the footbridge replacement is really moving on apace now.
Sectional fencing is up, footpaths and steps have closed, barriers are up and alternate footways tarmac and ready.
And the sad realisation that a favourite station flowerbed was set to be lost, with an excavator standing by.
Oh well, that’s progress for you…
November 3rd – After a spring and summer of waiting for something to start, the 80s footbridge that links to two sides of Telford Station with the nearby retail park and town centre is finally being removed and replaced.
Some details seem off. There’s always been a ramp down to access the Staples store over the road, but now that will not apparently exist and a pedestrian crossing has been installed over the slip road. I’m also concerned about the ramp arrangement on the Shrewsbury-bound side of the station.
It has to be said though, replacement is desperately needed. The bridge, although appearing disabled-friendly is not; there are no braked in the inclines and negotiating it in a hand-propelled chair requires strength and skill.
The bridge supports have now been fenced off and it’ll be interesting to see how this project develops.
November 1st – In Telford for a change, I noted that the cotoneaster that grows in profusion here was showing a lovely crop or red, plump berries which will be good for the small song birds that love this colourful fruit – particularly blackbirds.
When I see such a good harvest of berries, I often wonder if nature is providing excess food for a harsh winter in might somehow know is coming…
September 17th – By the time I arrived at Shenstone 30 minutes later, the rain and skies had cleared and there was a beautiful violet sunset, which lit my muse of Shenstone Station beautifully in the dusk.
Riding back to Brownhills, I screeched to a half to avoid someone in the road – a full grown, large adult toad, who was healthy and obstinate in the way that gets so many of these unfortunate creatures run over by vehicles.
I pulled out a tissue, and despite his protestations and jet of defensive urine, popped him to safety in the grass verge.
I stop for toads, great sunsets and often for no apparent reason whatsoever…
July 23rd – I returned in steady rain, from the old cement works bridge down the canal to the heart of Brownhills. This part, near Pelsall Road with the old South Staffordshire Railway Railway bridge in the background – one of only two listed buildings in Brownhills – looks particularly beautiful, especially on a grey, rain sodden afternoon.
Beauty lies where you find it…
July 11th – A day of rain, which wasn’t that unpleasant with waterproofs on. A potter to Wolverhampton on business was cut short by an issue back at Darlaston, so I hopped on the train from there to Coseley to catch some time.
The flowers – even in the rain – at this suburban station are beautiful, and very much made me recall South Wigston. This is an absolutely beautiful thing and cheered me up wonderfully on a dull afternoon.
My compliments to the people who clearly work so hard to maintain this little oasis of beauty.
June 5th – An awful day that found me running around the Black Country on errands. A strong wind, threatening rain and late for a meeting caused me to hop on a train at Wolverhampton.
Wolverhampton station is functional, but I dislike it – it always feels harsh, inhuman and exposed. With threatening skies today it was almost dystopian.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 