September 16th – Not really sure what’s going on here but it snagged my attention as I cycled past: at St. Mark’s Church in Shelfield, there seems to be some kind of scarecrow festival going on.
It all looks very jolly, and I particularly liked the two chaps on the roof, but a bit unsure why the ones by the front door are apparently in jail…
September 1st – And when I say frenetic, I mean frenetic. Look at this junk shop. Does he get all that stuff back in at night? That’s astounding.
August 31st – Couldn’t stay in on August Bank Holiday Monday, even though it was grey and wet. My irritation was compounded by setting out without some important supplies, so called in to the shops at Stonnall.
This ginger puss has been lurking around the shops here for a few weeks. I noticed a shopkeeper feeding it, and it also seems fond of sitting outside the Indian restaurant and the chip shop. It looks too clean and in too good a condition to be stray, so I suspect it’s a local opportunist.
Whatever the domestic status, it’s a lovely, friendly, affectionate puss who welcomes all passing, and on this wet day seemed happy to hold court under the shelter of the shop canopies.
August 16th – I spotted him near the Marina at Northwood Bridge in Aldridge. Clearly en repose, hunting seemed to be done for the day and this elderly heron was content to let me take photos without being disturbed.
There’s definitely an Eddie Cochran thing going on there. You don’t see much of that sort of thing in the local avian community, to be honest.
August 8th – I saw a single deer, who was too quick to be captured by camera, but in the languid warmth, the rabbits on the canal weren’t too bothered as long as I keep still and didn’t make any noise.
I really liked the wooden carved badger on a canal boat near Wolseley Bridge, though. I guess that classes as wildlife. Of a sort.
July 26th – The latest addition to the local architectural scene is a set of steps built by the Canal & River Trust down off the canal towpath at Clayhanger, to the foot of the embankment.
The steps are well made, have a sturdy handrail, are ballast filled and are well levelled, painted and a really, really nice job.
If only we saw such attention to detail when urgent repairs were required.
The steps have only been built to allow surveyors access to the toe of the embankment, because scrambling down a bank is clearly too much for them.
This is funny in one way, but also opens up an area to kids and the nosey that was previously well hidden and a haven for wildlife wanting peace and quiet.
You couldn’t make it up.
July 15th – Yes, well done – that’s how headphones generally work.
Telford railway station billboard on a grey morning. Advertising eats itself.
July 11th – Everyone needs a hobby.
I fancy something even more radical, like rural bitching.
July 1st – The Pleck swans were cool in the heat this morning, although dad didn’t seem to be around. The youngsters are growing at a rate now.
Dem feet tho. That doesn’t look comfortable, but it must be. Always amused by it.
May 23rd – Here’s an odd one. Half way up the hill, on the steep, long climb out of the manifold valley to Throwley, there’s a sheep trough on Farewell Lane. It’s a good kilometre in either direction to the nearest dwelling, and this is remote, wind-blown country.
I stopped to lean my bike up against the trough while I got something to eat and admire the view. In it’s depths, I noticed something orange: a 6 inch long, healthy looking goldfish.
People have suggested it is put there by farmers to eat the eggs of some animal parasite – but I have no idea. It’s a very odd place to dump a fish, but I suppose it’s egg could have been transported from another pond on the feet of some bird.
A real oddity. Suggestions welcome.
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