Galleries

December 7th – I don’t remember Brownhills having the waterfowl when I was a kid that we have now – swans, mallards, coots, canada geese and more all dwell on the canals, pools and waterways, often aggressively hassling walkers for food.

I love these comical birds and their antics. Today at Chasewater, with the boating lake still dry,the residents were crowding the southern shore around the castle, jonesing for scraps and seed – so greedy, they didn’t even mind the presence of a dog.

Down by the watermead, an aggressive beggar blocked my right of way and pecked my tires.

I think they’re wonderful…

December 6th – Out in daylight for the first time in a while, and the afternoon was hard and cold. Over to Burntwood for some shopping, I hammered it up the canal in a harsh but golden hour before dusk. The huge black and white smug cat was a gem at the back of Milfield School, and that dog… I could just take it home. Gorgeous.

Returning over Chasewater,I was snagged by the moon rising over the motorway – I’d forgotten the night-time beauty of the distant windy sweep of cars as they passed.

December 5th – Out late again, I shot past Walsall Wood church and noted the Christmas tree and church look nice again this year. I love the fact that the local councillors buy the tree themselves out of their own pockets and give it to the community. 

They don’t have to do that, but the fact hat they do, even though we’re miles apart politically, is a true act of festive felicity.

Shame the street lights always wreck any night shot of Walsall Wood church.

December 4th – Tough day, so on the way home I hopped over Chasewater for some pictures in the dark. I really like Chasewater like this; when it’s dark in winter and there’s nobody around. The night was still, and the air cold. Waterfowl were gathered on the wake-line mast anchors, roosting out of reach of foxes, and gulls bobbed lightly on the mirror-like water.

There wasn’t a soul around.

Just what I needed to settle my troubled mind.

December 3rd – There’s a lot of grumbling about Christmas lights at the moment. I find it all a bit puzzling, to be honest.

This country voted in an austerity-pushing government, and people are now outraged austerity is affecting things near to them, like Christmas lights. I guess the pitch of such a policy was that it would always apply to others…

I think Brownhills lights are OK, to be honest. They’ll not set the world afire, and Blackpool has nothing to worry about, but they’re cheerful enough. 

Personally, I preferred the lovely window display in the upstairs flat window of a shop in High Street. That seems more about Christmas to me.

December 2nd – High above Town Wharf in Walsall, a curiosity.

On the flat roof of one of the new apartment blocks, a plastic goat. I’d heard it talked about by Dan Slee a couple of years ago, but never got around to looking for it until I saw someone talking about it on Facebook last weekend.

The question is ‘why?’ but probably should more be ‘why not?’

Walsall still has the capacity to surprise and delight…

December 1st – I keep passing this, and often wait at the lights looking at it – and every time I do it irritates the hell out of me.

On the Pleck Road junction in Walsall, where it meets Ida Road and Rollingmill Street, there is a new build block of apartments. Blessed with an aesthetic only a mother could love, it’s not the physical ugliness that bothers me – but the finish of the woodwork, external plumbing and hardstandings.

If this is what the outside quality is like, one can only wonder about the inside…

November 30th – I guess I’m going to have to accept that it’s now coming on to Christmas, and as is usual for this weekend, loads of Christmas lights seem to have been erected.

I Was in Birmingham again, and hopped on the train to Walsall; I had business in Pelsall, so took a look at the lights there as there seemed to be some dissatisfaction – I must say, the village looks very festive with a fine tree. 

Can’t fault that at all…

November 29th – Feeling better, we headed up Church Hill for a spot of atmospheric stuff. Taking photos in a solitary fashion everyday makes the process mundane; I’d forgotten the joy and mischief of working with someone else. And up on Church Hill at night, you really need someone else for security. It’s bloody dark.

Yes, there is a Late Night Feelings thing going on – well spotted. That’s for Pedro Cutler.

Go on, I dare you, tell me this place isn’t beautiful;. Just try it.

Eager to see the results, we got on our bikes, and rode home.