Tag: rain

October 27th – Zipping home late from work in heavy rain, I was suffering a migraine, so headed for the quiet back lanes of Little Aston and Stonnall, the better not to contend with too much traffic. Near Little Aston forge, I spotted this fellow sat bolt upright in the road, enjoying the precipitation. This common toad – I’m surprised he wasn’t already hibernating – must have had a hard, dry summer, and he really seemed to be enjoying the rain. He was alert, and nervous. I moved him carefully to the grass verge and cycled on. Hopefully, he’ll stay out of the way of passing vehicles.

October 27th – The rains came today, and I was glad; we need the water for replenishing the reservoirs, ponds and streams, and of course, Chasewater. After the otherworldly beauty of yesterday, the Arrow Valley in Redditch was wearing a very grey, rainy overcoat. It still had it’s unique beauty though, and it was good to see the Arrow flowing with some purpose again. 

October 25th – I got caught on the way home by the same shower twice. At least, it seemed like it. It rained on me in Redditch, and stopped just as I got to the train; as I alighted in Sutton, the heavens opened again. Oddly, despite the grim northern sky, it seemed lighter later than the previous evening. Everything was revelling in the soft drizzle as I returned via Lower Stonnall – I even I found myself enjoying the change in light, air and experience. As darkness fell, the countryside dripped, gently and quietly absorbing the currently rather rare dose of rain.

October 7th – A very changeable day. If you didn’t like the weather, all that was needed was to wait five minutes. Sun, wind, rain, had it all… here in Caldmore, Walsall, I’d stopped at a sweet centre to buy indian snacks. Just as I ducked into the store, the heavens opened. When I came out, I munched a samosa and watched the rain from under the canopy… in a couple of minutes, the sun was bright and warm again. I love Caldmore.

September 20th – Had I known what I would face on the commute home, I probably wouldn’t have spent so much time fretting about the river. Halfway into my journey to Redditch railway station, it started to rain. By the time I got to the train, it was raining really quite hard. Luckily, I’d come prepared and had my waterproofs on, but the mostly uphill journey (I was running a tad late) and some mechanicals with the bike made this journey a tad trying.

September 20th – I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that the River Arrow through Redditch was running very low. It seems to have picked up with recent rains; looking at the submerged vegetation on either side, it’s risen a couple of inches in recent days. Little did I realise that later that day, it was to get a further boost, and I’d be cycling homewards in a rainstorm. Such is life.

September 10th – It wasn’t going to last. What was a sunny, mellow afternoon became harsh, squally and very, very wet. Taking shelter under the eaves of Tesco in Brownhills, I reflected on the other side of our area – the urbanisation, the decay, the hardstanding and traffic. As I cycled home in the wet, traffic impatient and irritable, I couldn’t help but curse the insanely variable weather. This year is arse-about-face; this is April. In September. 

July 8th – Cycling after really heavy rain is a life-affirming experience. It was time the bike got a wash, anyway. It was warm and humid, and the roads shone in the welcome sunlight. Greens and sky blues mingled in the reflections on the wet asphalt. I spent an hour or so bombing round the common and canals, just getting wet for the hell of it.

I’m just a big kid at heart.

July 8th – Working from home, I popped out at lunchtime to clear my head and get some supplies in. After a largely dry morning, the heavens opened on me for the second time in two days. I spent 20 minutes watching the storm from the deserted, derelict Ravens Court. Due to the apathy of Tesco, we’re likely to be stuck with this decaying edifice for another 18 months.

June 6th – A day of short, sharp showers and sunny spells. Sadly, the wind, absent of late, seems to have returned. I was fortunate on my way to work to avoid being caught in this squall by taking shelter under the canal bridge that conducts Bridgman Street in Walsall over the canal. 10 minutes later I was on my way in warm, bright sunshine.