July 8th – Short morning at work on a very windy, wolf of a day – beautiful to look at, but a the very devil to ride on. A short run over to Lichfield in the late afternoon via Chasewater was rewarded with beautiful views of ripening oilseed rape and wheat in fields around hHome Farm at Sandhills.
A lovely afternoon but hard work on the bike!
July 6th – I had to pass through Sutton Park in the early evening, and as I cycled by Longmoor Pool, I was pleased to note it had a family of resident swans, with as far as I could tell, seven cygnets. The youngsters were asleep on the water, and only awoke when the parents showed interest in me. That did;t last long when they realised I had no food to offer them.
Something about the light seems to have made this look quite dramatic…
May 9th – Pear blossom lasts but a few days, and you’re lucky to spot it really, but this thick crop of flowers, just going over and scattering like confetti on the strong breeze were profuse on the small pear tree by the new pond in Clayhanger.
Last year the tree fruited well, but with a late frost on the blossom, I’m not sure how well this tree will do this year.
Beautiful while it lasts, though.
May 2nd – What a difference an hour made.
It had been a miserable day – maybe a decent start, but over lunchtime and early afternoon, it rained, and the wind was gusty. Not great bank holiday weather.
I’d resolved, with some faith in a weather forecast that predicted a better end to the day, to ride out to Middleton Hall for cake. I set out in the rain, and sped through damp, dripping countryside. And then, the sun came out. It was warm, too.
I enjoyed tea and great cake, and a shifty around this architectural and historical gem. I have no idea what the wood carvings are about, but they were cute.
I think a proper spring arrived this afternoon.
April 6th – Heading out on an errand from work late morning after a windy, wet and decidedly unpleasant commute was like chalk and cheese. Where I’d been relentlessly battered by driving rain and a headwind, it was actually sunny and pleasant as I rode down to Great Bridge.
Near Great Bridge, in a main road hedgerow, leaves are developing well. Hawthorn, beech and birch add a welcome splash of green after the grey winter months.
March 30th – A better day all round – and as if to cement that, fruit blossom on Clayhanger Common. I believe this to be the flower of wild plum, which were growing in this spot for the past few years. The flowers are beautiful, and gladdened my heart on my journey to Walsall Wood on an errand.
The towpaths were drying out, geese and ducks honked joyfully on the canal and everything seemed just a tad warmer.
I often say ‘tomorrow’s another day’ and so it was. From the low finish of Tuesday into a brighter day.
March 1st – Aargh, that frustration – a great sunset and nowhere to get a good shot of it. Returning home tired and aching, dusk found me passing through Shelfield. Sadly, Shelfield is pretty flat and has no great viewpoints, sadly, and these images don’t really do it justice.
I bet it was a good one at Chasewater or up on the Beacon…
February 29th – I know this journal is becoming somewhat old when I realise this is the second leap year it’s passed. I still find that peculiar, really.
Today was not so sunny, although there were patches of brightness in the morning. On the way to work I noticed flowers – primroses amongst a stack of cut logs in Kings Hill Park and marigolds in a roadside garden flowerbed. I still can’t believe this is happening in February – but given the coldness of the day, and keenest of the wind, it was welcome colour.
February 14th – A sunset spin around Brownhills on a bitingly cold, but thankfully dry afternoon. This is again the season of good fine sunsets, and cold days like these are usually rewarding. Chasewater was as beautiful as ever, but the beauty caught Newtown and the canal, too, and it was a pleasure to cycle in. Hopefully with the lengthening days and drier weather I can get up on the Chase soon. I’m so missing it, but since Christmas it’s been so muddy it’s been very difficult going from what I’ve heard.
Evenings like this make me optimistic that the current spell of bad weather will be settling down soon.
February 11th – Monkeying around with the Clayhanger overflow view again. I liked the sky, and reflections: not quite really dark, I think this worked quite well.
Nice to feel that chill in the air, too. Dry and cold, this is how it should be in February!
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