I saw a strange thing on the way to Cradley Heath. Or thought I did. I was driving my mum’s car to a garage for a service. I passed a shop for witches. Witchy Supplies, it said on the sign. I did a double take, giving thanks there was no one in front of me or I’d have driven into them. Later, I mentioned this place to a couple of friends who live and work in that area and they looked at me funny. What? A witches’ supply shop? In Colley Gate? Are you sure? I wondered if I’d dreamed it. So when I collected the car, I risked another drive past and, yes, there it was. The Wicklow Witch. Candles, Crystals, Witchy Supplies.
I cannot overstate how bizarre it is to come across this shop, right here, on Windmill Hill, next to the derelict Cradley Labour Club and across the road from a Nisa Local. When I went back to my friends to confirm the sighting and location, they both said, yes, now I mentioned it they did recall seeing it but, you know, didn’t quite take it in. I’m not surprised – it’s too much to compute first time round.
