January 26th – Returning mid-evening through Walsall Wood for a change, I stopped on the canal bridge. Even at 8pm, the High Street looks busy. Considering all it’s been through over the years, The Wood has stood up remarkably well in the face of change, and retains it’s pleasant, villagey atmosphere, despite the traffic.
January 23rd – Returning to Walsall Wood at sunset for a meeting, I hauled my bike up the steps at Walsall Wood Bridge and was immediately awestruck by the colour of the sky. Without my gorillapod handy, I stood the camera gingerly on the handrail. Not to bad for a junk shot. It seemed chilly tonight, and a proper winter sunset to boot. This is more like it.
January 21st – This is intriguing and good news. This new factory has been built from scratch on the Clayhanger/Walsall Wood border at Maybrook Road. This company have decided to move here from up north, creating real engineering jobs and bringing its business into the area. What fascinates me is that the occupiers have been moving in for ages now – loads of cranes and lifting equipment here every weekend. I don’t know what they’re doing here, but there must be a lot of heavy gear involved.
January 16th – I didn’t really feel well enough for work, but went anyway. I had suspected the cold, frosty, bright day would raise my spirits, and so it did. This is the kind of winter day I love: cold, slightly misty and sun-bathed. It took me a good 15 minutes longer to get to work today, but I didn’t mind. Wrapped up warm, it was lovely to be out. If only I had a bit more energy…
January 11th – The good weather continued today, commuting this week is a joy to the heart. Trundling through Walsall Wood, I passed Barrow Close. This relatively new estate of apartments and houses was built on the site of the old Chillington Manufacturing site – formerly Thacker Barrows. Yes, few people know, but Walsall Wood was once the heart of manufacturing for the traditional builder’s wheelbarrow. Chillington took the money and moved to Walsall, but still thrive, thankfully.
Comically, a local tried to tell me a while ago that the name Barrow Close had been chosen as there had been a burial mound nearby… er, no.
January 9th – Walsall Wood’s attachment to football is deep and ongoing. Home to a popular local club, the outdoor all-weather pitch provided by the council at Oak Park is also very, very popular. This is a great facility, and the floodlights can be seen for miles around. On nights like tonight – returning from the deepest Black Country on a dark night – the hubbub and cries of the players let me know I’m not far from Home.
January 8th – I rested today. The 40 miler I cycled the day before had probably been a bit over-ambitious. I needed to rest, and the stomach was still a bit troublesome. I’d wanted to explore industrial areas at night for a while, and headed off to Aldrige to see what I could find at 5pm. On the way, I passed the Costcutter store on Salters Road. That is some extreme green lighting. I wonder if it serves a purpose, or if it’s just there for effect? It’s bloody hideous, frankly.
January 4th – I had to go see the doctor. I still had horrendous stomach problems which I was only managing to abate with Immodium. I felt loads better in myself, but I was still having trouble eating. I’ve lost a whole bunch of weight since Friday, but I don’t recommend this as a dieting technique. What started as food poisoning seems to be a bowel infection, and I’m now the proud owner of a large box of antibiotics, which I’m praying will do the trick. Quite pleased that I cycled to the surgery, I took to the canal at Leighswood Bridge and cycled back home to Brownhills along the canal. Passing through Walsall Wood, I noted that Rod, the sculpted fisherman, is still bereft of Bob, his piscean prize. I take it replacing the fish that once dangled from the iron angler’s pole has been given up as a lost cause. Predictable, but sad.
December 19th – Monday was a busy day of dashing about in frankly awful weather. It was a horrid day, and the Christmas spirit utterly eluded me. Finally getting on the bike at 8pm, I shot round the wet streets of Walsall Wood for inspiration. It was coming up the Lichfield Road towards the church that I noticed these views; they’re really, really festive, yet there’s little hint of Christmas in them. Despite the downbeat mood and wet weather, I felt much better after spotting these. Tomorrow was going to be better…
November 28th – Christmas is bearing down upon us. Last week, I recorded the unlit Christmas tree, ready to be decorated in St John’s churchyard, Walsall Wood; a week later there are lights in the tree and wrapped round the lampposts down the high street. It’s not the fast return of Christmas that bothers me, it’s the increasingly short gaps between them that bothers me. Humbug.
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