June 12th – One of the stars of high summer is the humble blackberry bramble flower. Never less than ragged, these fragile, prolific blooms are very common and seldom studied – but they’re a haven for bees and bugs, and add a lovely texture to wastelands, thickets and hedgerows.
And later, hopefully a huge crop of luscious dark fruit, just right for pies and crumbles, not no mention wine!
June 12th – Here’s something to gladden the heart.
It was sad to lose one of the Watermead swan brood, but a lady who’s been nesting for an awful long time in a Walsall Wood canalside garden has finally hatched a pair of chicks.
As I returned from work, mom and day were proudly taking to the water with their two cygnets – one for a while tucked protectively under mum’s wing.
Watching it emerge and swim excitedly with it’s sibling was a real joy.
I honestly thought her eggs were not going to hatch. A wonderful sight.
June 11th – A terrible end to a ride that started really well. I headed out in sunshine to visit a new coffee shop in Stowe by Chartley, run by a local lad. I headed up over Chasewater, up through Cannock and was just running down Abraham’s Valley on the Chase when a critical part of my drivetrain failed irreparably and I had to call for a lift home.
You can’t prepare for all eventualities, and some things can’t be fixed out on the road, but I felt cheated as I’d had a great ride, seen orchids and red deer, blue skies and The Chase was gorgeous.
It was sad to fail so unceremoniously and I felt irritated and cross at not spotting the issue in advance.
The bike was soon fixed at home and I cursed myself continually while effecting the repair.
Ah well, there will be other sunny days, and the Chase will still be there next week. Keep the coffee pot warm for me.
June 10th – One of the best things about a real country fair is the sheer entertainment value and variety of dogs to be seen there. From feisty little terriers to the huge, rug-like Pyrenean they were all charming, whether part of a display, plodding behind an owner, partaking of a nap or just waiting patiently for a treat.
A particularly strange moment came when the local drag hunt released, apropos of nothing much, their pack of hounds into the crowd. An odd thing, for sure.
I could have happily adopted any of these fine dogs.
June 10th – I took a ride out on a dreadfully windy afternoon intent on visiting the Clifton Campville Country Fair. I’d been before a decade ago, when it was just a few stalls in a large garden, but I do love a country fete with cakes and all the usual things, and I’ve been determined to attend more this year. It was also a good way to force myself into a 40 mile plus ride in weather I’d normally swerve one for.
What I found was stunning; a large country event with big arena, loads of great stalls, a real ale bus, more cake than you could ever eat and lots of people. I wished I’d arrived earlier with more cash in my pocket!
It was a lovely, offbeat affair with a peculiarly eccentric atmosphere; a little disjointed but great fun.
All in the shadow of one of England’s finest churches.
The day was only darkened by the rain setting in on my way home; it started at Whitemoor Haye and didn’t stop. Combined with a 20mph headwind, it wasn’t a fun ride back.
But the event was well worth the battle.
June 9th – It’s the season of poppies, and there are some beautiful examples in the hedgerows, edge lands and waysides locally. I prefer these little clubs in forgotten, neglected spaces. Ragged, at various stages of maturing and going over, these to me are real poppies; dramatic, beautiful, natural, and naturally flawed.
I even love the alien-looking buds, almost prehistoric in their furry splendour.
I spotted these in the sandy embankment just by Shire Oak Quarry on my return to Brownhills.
A true hero of the hedgerow, and a worthy and apposite symbol of Remembrance.
June 9th – A trip into Birmingham on some errands on a grey, overcast and miserable afternoon. Crossing what’s now called ‘Spiceal Street’ – the open space running down from the Bullring Centre to the Markets and St. Martins, I looked down and noticed this curious plaque set into a manhole cover in the paving.
I suppose I ought to look it up, but this seems bizarre to me; how can a meteorite fall twice? In 2000, this was a building site. Is this some pop-culture reference I’m dumb to, or is it genuine?
(Added later)
Hang on. This really has a whiff of Bill Drummond about it – it feels like one of his.
How peculiar… anyone know about this?
June 8th – Passing Catshill Junction on my way to Brownhills High Street on my return home, I noticed the Canada goose family was resting near to Chandlers Keep, on the unused side of the bridge.
Curiously, there’s still two broods there mixed together, with three young chicks than the main group, but they’re all growing now, but clearly not to large to form a cuddle puddle for warmth and safety.
I’m fascinated by their tiny, nascent wings. It’s never really occurred to me before, but it’s some months before waterfowl can fly – and I’ve never seen geese or swans learning to do so. That must be a thing worth watching…
June 8th – Passing down Scarborough Road in Pleck, south Walsall I noticed these cats, clearly waiting for the return of their owners from work. The two black and white ones seem to be siblings and clearly aren’t particularly fond of each other; I’ve recorded them studiously ignoring each other before.
I’m intrigued by the grey one, though – I’ve not seen that one before and it looks like a gorgeous cat.
I was also amused by the disgusted expression of the one in the foreground. If looks could kill….
June 7th – A lovely, chance find whilst riding through Victoria Park, Darlaston. Part of this urban oasis, right in the centre of Darlaston, has been left to wild and apparently spread with wildflower seeds. Just as I rode past it, I spotted a small purple flower that demanded closer study. I wasn’t disappointed.
A lovely orchid growing right there. What a glorious, pretty and wonderful thing!
So good to see after so many years of these important flowers being so rare…
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