Galleries

May 22nd – A wind that wouldn’t take no for an answer, and far too much work to do. A short evening social ride up to Shire Oak Park – a former quarry – was in order. I haven’t been here for at least 12 months. I’m always shocked at how wooded and green it now is, when I was a kid it was a barren sand-hole, long since abandoned by it’s operators. Sad to see that with the dry spring the pools have dried up.

May 20th – Shopping trip to Waitrose, in Lichfield, early evening. Pleased to see I can still make it up Castlehill Road from Stonnall with fully loaded panniers without stopping. The light had a peculiar quality today, liquid, golden and gorgeous.

I’m noticing a lot of interesting but everyday architecture lately.

May 8th – a late afternoon escape and another grim wind. I took the easy option and went looking for deer on the common – I’ll find the buggers if it kills me, not had a sniff for weeks. Sadly, there were too many dogs about and too many kids making too much noise. I investigated the old Slough Arm canal branch that used to run parallel to the old rail line and take the coal from the pits on the common, and noted the bridge was still in decent condition. A trip up round the tracks on the common ensued; Marklew’s Pond – named after the farmer and tommy shop proprietor who lived nearby – was looking gorgeous. The woods are dotted with yellow and orange poppies, too. On the north common it was quiet, and buzzards were mobbed overhead by crows. Not a bad couple of hours out and about, all in all.

May 5th – Garden waste collection day in Four Oaks, Sutton. This plush, opulent area of large, detached houses can be considered one of the wealthiest parts of Birmingham, yet this is the scene on refuse collection days.

Anyone who complains about Walsall’s waste collection system really needs to get out and look at that of Birmingham. This is a disgrace, pure and simple.

April 9th – Another leisure run out around Staffordshire and south Derbyshire. Plenty of buzzards, kestrels, rabbits and songbirds. Sadly, unusually high levels of roadkill at the moment. Oilseed rape is coming on, and the air is beginning to smell of pollen and green. Blossom is well advanced with cherries, apple and the continuing blackthorn showing well.

April 8th – escape from work and a 45 mile pleasure ride taking in Footherly, Canwell, Hints, Hopwas, Elford, Harlaston, Edingale, Whitemoor Haye, Whittington and Lichfield. I was on fire today – think my cycling legs are returning after winter. I felt very fluid. Probably wont last… The sun was beautifully warm, but have a feeling that April may well be lulling us into a false sense of security.