February 16th – Spotted at Hints Ford, the Black Brook Valley is a popular site for ramblers. If you go into the countryside, respect it and keep your dog on a lead.
By dealt with, the shepherd means ‘shot’.
The shepherd would be quite within their right, and I would wholly support them.
January 11th – It was a terrible ride out, if I’m honest. Despite the sunny day, like Boxing Day, the towpaths and trails were nothing but slop, and I was covered in mud. I had several silly mechanical issues with the bike, including a puncture (no, I haven’t put the tape in yet!). I ended up on a short, abortive ride around Burntwood, Hammerwich and Springhill.
Despite all of that, the sunset was gorgeous.
This one goes out to Trevor in Australia, who I’m told isn’t too well right now. Get well soon, old chap.
May 27th – I spotted these lambs chasing each other and larking around on the canal between Colwich and Rugeley. Nothing was chasing them, and they seemed to be enjoying the game. I had no idea sheep did this and have never seen it before.
I do like the dark one with the white tail and back feet…
April 27th – It’s true what they say, the grass really is greener on the other side of the fence. This young lamb – one of the small flock at the Big Tasties smallholding between the canal and the A5 at Newtown, Brownhills, expertly squeezed his head through the wire mesh to reach the greenest shoots.
April 1st – Today is the second anniversary of starting this journal and project. It was 2 years ago that Renee Van Bar challenged me to do 30daysofbiking for a laugh. I just kept rolling ever since. Apart from the infamous two days laid low by a rogue pie over New Year 2012, I’ve cycled every day for those two years. Since 2012 was a leap year, that’s 729 days. That’s a lot of cycling, in all weathers and states of mind, I can tell you.
Today, a new 30daysofbiking starts. Naturally, I signed up…
Today, I took a ride out to Hints and Hopwas, returning via Lichfield and Burntwood. It was cold, and the easterly was still very sharp. But I ground on, and the originally very dark afternoon brightened. In the field near Rookery Wood, Hints, I noticed a first for me this spring: lambs. Not very old, but gorgeous and full of beans. They cheered me immensely.
May 17th – The lambs in the smallholding field near the canal up by the A5 in Brownhills seem to be developing attitude. Perhaps it’s the influence of the local yoot, or just the fact that they’re so healthy and full of life. I still don’t know who keeps the livestock here, but the sheep and pigs seem to be doing fine. And as for the smell… the animals don’t seem overly bothered by it, like most of the town.
April 1st – The smallholding near the canal at Newtown, in Brownhills, seems to be thriving. The pigs look happy and in good condition, and seem to be increasing in number. As I passed, this cheeky fellow was proving the old adage that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. He’s obviously deft at this, and I collected the wool he’d snagged on the barbed wire to hang up for nesting birds at home.
March 22nd – These are the first spring lambs I’ve spotted this year. Escaping from a meeting in Aldridge mid-afternoon, I lost no time in heading over to Canwell, Hints and Hopwas. These furry bundles of fluff were in a field near hints ford. You can’t beat an afternoon nap in the safety and warmth of your mum’s fleece.
February 12th – interested to see that someone is now keeping pigs in the paddock between the canal and Watling Street near Newtown, Brownhills. They look well cared for, and happy. There seem to be some different breeds there – wondering if the ginger ones are Tamworths. This is an interesting addition and shall watch them grow. They’re in the corner of a field that’s also home to a rather impressive flock of sheep. I don’t know who’s farming here, but I wish them well.
May 27th – Riding home along the canal, I noticed that in the field behind Sandfields, in the land between the Canal and the old Watling Street, there were some ewes with quite late lambs. They looked happy and well cared for, not noticed them before. It’s unusual to see livestock in the fields around Brownhills, so this is quite a novel sight. I’ve no idea who they belong to.
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