January 14th – On the lookout for a little duck, maybe, or anything small and squeaky in the dusk, canal side cat at the appropriately named Catshill Junction was watching, and waiting, and distinctly irritated by my attention.
That’s a lovely puss, though.
December 21st – And so, on the way back to Brownhills, a familiar subject that was today in darkness due to the lack of moonlight. The canal was millpond still and there was little wind – a situation that looks about to change, with incoming intemperate weather threatening.
I can remember really, really cold Christmases – with snow on the ground, if not truly white – but we haven’t had one for a few years now.
I suppose s decent covering of snow this winter is too much to ask?
November 1st – Also in Kings Hill, a character I see a fair bit, this elderly black and white puss with no teeth. Gummy and grumpy, he’s actually a charming chap when you catch him in a good mood. Today, he was startled by workmen on the Chapel renovation and their grinder, so he wasn’t feeling accommodating, and yowled at me to stop it.
It’s totally unacceptable when your daytime activities are disturbed by workmen.
October 11th – Oh boy. Not more that a few days ago, I was bemoaning the lack of decent fungus this year, and was stunned to find a sing fly agaric toadstool in the usual spot near Chasewater, then this.
I was shotting along the canal through Pleck of all places, and as I rode a red flash on top of the canal cutting embankment caught my eye. Scrambling up there to investigate, I saw found one of the best crops of these cute red and white spotted fungi I’ve ever seen.
Large, profuse and very beautiful, these are in the heart of formerly industrial, urban Walsall, in a place few humans would ever think to go. A really wonderful find.
October 9th – A late afternoon ride up to Cannock Chase, and like the day before, disappointing as fine weather had been promised, which wasn’t forthcoming when I was out and about – it was yet another grey day.
Brightness, however was evident in the first fly agaric toadstool of the season I found on the canal bank near Wharf Lane in Brownhills. This was a perfect young specimen, bright red and round with lots of white spots. As I took photos, I felt myself being watched.
Stripes, observing me curiously from some decking on the opposite bank could see what I was up to – but wasn’t impressed at all.
That’s one lovely cat.
October 3rd – Spinning through north Walsall on the way home, I was held up by this little thing peering up the road. Tiny, but with enough cute for several litters of kittens, she was apparently waiting for her owner who she’d spotted up the road.
The joy at the reunited pals, separated by a day at work, was beautiful and infectious.
A gorgeous little young cat, brimming with charm and life.
September 28th – I’m seeing lots of these berries in patches of shrubbery planted along cycleways and and other urban spaces like industrial estates at the moment. I have no idea what they are, but the density of the fruit head is fascinating me.
Anyone know what these are, please?
September 25th – I spotted this handsome cat loafing in a field of stubble at Hademore,near Whittington. He was some way away, and the camera brought him nearer. His antics were fascinating; one moment he was hunting, on point, then having a scratch, then dozing.
I watched him for ages – a lovely cat clearly enjoying his territory. `I think he was every bit a star and someone must love this puss very much.
September 8th – People keep grumbling about all the cats. Sorry, but I adore them.
The characters that appear in the warmer days of summer – loafing, watching, patrolling and generally taking the air include in their number the more elderly of the local feline population, and I find them quite charming.
Usually dozing, washing or lazing, these characters have done all their rushing around, and are generally too comfortable to run off when you stop to say hello.
There’s often a world of experience in their manner, features and battle scars.
I’m never too busy to stop and offer an ear-tickle.
September 4th – A short run out on a day that didn’t go well and on which I felt groggy and ill with a bad stomach, with the exertions of the previous days taking their toll.
So just a spin on an errand to Walsall Wood, but I did finally get to meet the Chandler’s Keep eyebrow cat, who was sat on the bridge embankment and came to say hello.
I was also interested in the dozing grey and white tabby in a canal garden in Walsall Wood. He looked very inscrutable.
Any day in which you see cats at leisure is a good day.
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