Galleries

December 26th – A ride up to the Chase on a windy but beautiful day. Starting late, I had to be back early too, so it was a bit of a race with a good companion who’s considering buying a bike and borrowed a steed for the occasion.

Near Cuckoo Bank, we saw a herd of deer in a roadside copse – I assume they’d moved off Chasewater which was very busy, to avoid the dogs and crowds of folk enjoying a Boxing Day walk.

In the low sun, the dear looked beautiful, and there were at least ten or more loafing in the scrub. I didn’t take these photos, my companion did, but they’re too good not to use.

A lovely ride.

December 25th – The traditional Christmas Day ride was short this year – not much time, and the wind was somewhat challenging. A dive into Stonnall and back up to Chasewater had me pass these characters outside the converted barn at Stonnall.

They genuinely made me smile. Merry Christmas!

December 24th – Christmas Eve was a quiet, resting day. After all the work and stress of the previous weeks, I pooled around Hammerwich and the local canals just looking to see what was around. It wasn’t a cold day, and the although a bit windy, the riding was good.

Hammerwich Church remains beautiful, and it’s the little details that make it – the working weathervane, the architectural details, the views of the old windmill.

In the village itself, a small, charming nativity outside a private house.

I think it must be Christmas!

December 23rd – Further on, I caught Morris Miner and Silver Street in better light than had existed the day before. With the lights on the trees, and the worst of the blue LED light installed to illuminate him failing, the statue looks much better by night, and even as something of Vegas about hime.

The pickaxe still annoys me though.

I note the building works continue at Silver Court Gardens and their lights are already helping to make what can be a very desolate spot just a bit more welcoming.

December 19th – Near the Black Country Route in Moxley, the moss on this old hawthorn buss fascinates me. Although, to be fair, it could be lichen… like fellow hugely complex organisms fungi, mosses and lichens are fascinating, intricate and a world away from conventional plants.

The colours alone are stunning. I wonder why this particular bush?

December 19th – It may be deepest winter, but along the cycleways and towpaths there are still tenacious hips, haws and berries clinging on to sparse shrubs and trees providing food for songbirds, who seem to be devouring them now with a passion not shown in many a year.

Grandad used to say that if there was a profusion of fruit, it meant a bad winter was in store. I’m not sure about that, but the birds do seem to be stocking up for something this year.

I wonder what they know we don’t?

December 18th – While I was stuffing my face at Middleton Hall, something remarkable was happening in the sky to the west beyond the hall: a most remarkable sunset.

I watched it grow deeper and deeper over the hall lake, and then up the hill towards Wishaw. Beautiful blend of azure sky and pink-lit clouds, it was the kind of sunset that doesn’t happen too often.

So glad I was in a good place to catch this.

December 18th – A trip to Middleton Hall via Buzzards Valley for a cuppa and some cake, as well as a few card deliveries and other errands.

I was rewarded with a truly stunning sunset, but also I saw Middleton Hall and the courtyard in the dusk. It was gorgeous, and made me feel very Christmassy.

I think I’m finally getting down with the Christmas spirit…

December 17th – A long sleep, then an early run to Rugeley, on a traditional pre-Christmas shopping trip. I had errand there, at Gentleshaw, Litchfield and Whittington, so I did a loop around all of them, returning just after dark.

It was a lovely day, and I enjoyed the riding and Rugeley very much. Lichfield was crowded and difficult, but I was rewarded with peace and quiet at Whittington. 

Now quiet and awaiting decommissioning, Rugeley Power Station is like a sleeping giant. I’ll miss the old place when it goes.

I was intrigued by the witness on the doorway to the passed life of a creeper, which I spotted in Lichfield, and Heron house looks like a fun old place.

The sight of Ivy Cottage, looking beautiful in the dark, was gorgeous at Lower Stonnall. 

That cottage is like a beacon to my soul.