April 30th – Worst bank holiday weekend weather-wise I can remember for a while. Bad Bank Holiday weather is a cliche in the UK, but recent years have generally been decent for most of them; this weekend has been cold, grey and periodically showery and not very springlike at all.
I popped up to Walsall Wood on an errand late afternoon. It was reasonably still, and spring is showing it’s colours and freshness beautifully, it’s just a shame the sun and warmth haven’t made it here yet…
April 14th – Unexpectedly, I came upon a beautiful sight in Brownhills – over thirty moored narrowboats from the Historic Narrow Boat Club who’re on their Wyrley Wander tour and stopping here until Monday when they move on to Town Arm in Walsall.
This is a really great spectacle and worth a visit – even in the rain! Find out more on the main blog here.
April 14th – Nipping to Brownhills for a bit of shopping, late and in quite heavy rain. It was warm rain though, so not too bad.
I paid a visit to the Watermead swans, to see if we had hatchlings, but one bird was still sitting and no sign of the partner.
I think they’ll hatch any day soon!
April 12th – A further delight of the rain on Clayhanger Common – cowslips and pear blossom bearing jewel-like raindrops. In spring, even the rain is beautiful, and sights like these, even when you’re soaked to the bone due to lack of waterproofs – gladden the heart.
March 29th – Along the cycleways and towpaths of the Black Country, despite the wet but warm morning, life is springing forth. Everywhere, some seasonal starting gun has been fired and leaves and blossom are appearing everywhere – and it’s wonderful.
There is little better on a grey spring morning that seeing the new green life, and the promise of a verdant, beautiful – and hopefully dry – summer.
March 22nd – A rainy, horrid day: I found myself at New Street waiting for a delayed train mid-morning, in a frankly foul mood. Nothing was moving and I felt stuck. As I looked out from the end of the platform, I spotted this train driver, heading to his post in the rain, and felt an instant sympathy.
Rainy day commutes are horrid.
March 11th – I wasn’t feeling well. An unpleasantly off-colour feeling had been descending over me for a few weeks. I ached. I felt dizzy. Something wasn’t right.
I grabbed a takeaway on the way home and shot from Clayhanger to Brownhills over the Spot Path and common – where, despite my fun, I found the migrating amphibians – out in huge numbers enjoying the drizzle – charming and fascinating. I love frogs and toads.
I took care where I was riding, and noted creatures of all sizes and hues. Very one of them obeying the same seasonal imperative.
Nature has a way of pulling you up short.
March 3rd – A bad day when it barely stopped raining all day.
I had to be in Birmingham early, and took short rides in the morning and early evening. The weather was foul, and my mood little better.
Thankfully, good news, a mind at rest and the company of a very good friend helped no end.
Some days make you glad they’re over.
February 22nd – It was a grim, wet morning commute and I wasn’t in the best of moods. I decided to cheer myself up by calling into Kings Hill Part to check on the progress of the miniature daffodils and other spring flowers.
I wasn’t disappointed, and spotted with raindrops, they looked fresh, vital and beautiful.
I left in a considerably better frame of mind.
February 12th – The fug continued throughout Sunday. Throughout the day, drizzle, sleet and snow, and the persistent, cursed absence of proper light. It was like someone had switched hope and optimism off. I found the day oppressive; I was caged, and I hate that. Hemmed in by the weather and a worsening mood.
I slipped out in the early evening to pop something over to a mate in Walsall Wood. A laugh and a shared moan about the lost weekend made things better. I returned to Brownhills, still in steady, cold drizzle, lifted, but still lost.
Bad weather will test even the greatest optimist.
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