Out on the town yesterday.

First stop; book Graham's birthday present before the course is full.

Then a wander round Gas Street Basin
and surrounding environs
before a light lunch on Broad Street at O'neill's. £2.99 each, I had char grilled chicken breast on col cannon in a superb sauce. Really nice food at a terrific price. We'll certainly look out for this chain again. We took advantage of a weekday lunch "special" but there was hardly anything on the menu over £6. Pudding and coffee (included) for a further £2.99. Nice atmosphere, fun staff.

Birmingham by Night

It's a good job we're on digital and not celluloid or I'd have spent the entire food budget on film and development.

After moving out into the country to find and log our wood, we thought we would move on for a few days before coming back into the city to spend some half term time with our grandson. However, we heard a dodgy temperature forecast so beetled our way back into the city rather than get iced in in the middle of Birmingham suburbia. The problem is that, when we returned, the 14 day moorings on one side are occupied by three boats (2 unoccupied) and, moored as we are on the opposite side, it's not safe to let Daisy out. The sad thing is that the 48 hr moorings on the Daisy safe side are unoccupied. I might have a word at the BW office tomorrow and see if they'll take pity on her and let us stay on the 48 hour - especially if there is going to be another freeze over.

Trip to Soho

Our first morning in Birmingham City Centre (in fact, only Saturday) I was out walking the dogs when I spotted this little lot heading in my direction, now you can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of....... and good wood is good wood. I asked if they were using it and they said, "no". So I legged it back to MR ready to receive this great bounty. The only trouble is, they whimped out of breasting up but, with many apologies, told me where to find more, "hang a right at the next crossroads".

So early Sunday morning we set off in hot pursuit, hung a right at the crossroads, winded here

and winded there. Past the prison and the Asylum, under asylum bridge

and, at last, our treasure.

Urban Living

It may feel very different to us, but it seems to make no difference to the menagerie; Baxter and Muttley race up and down bridges instead of over fields (at least it keeps their claws down).
Daisy stalks people and dogs who have the audacity to use her towpath - it just consists of fancy brickwork instead of mud. If the going really gets tough, then there's the odd designer tree to shin up.

City girl part 2

After several hours I caught up with Graham who was lurking in a coffee shop (we are becoming so sophisticated) and we trundled off for lunch.









We had to take some time out & step into the above memorial building, initially built in dedication to those who gave their lives in World Wars I & II, latterly dedicated to all who have lost their lives in service to this country. It was good to see that the building was quite crowded & I found it to be quite emotional.
After lunch we returned to MR for G to watch the Rugby & me to have a cup of tea & put my feet up before heading off again to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. The latter was disappointing for me as, the need to subdue the lighting in the watercolour gallery meant you couldn't see the translucency of colour or, really, any of the properties of watercolour that make it so special.

When I was chucked out at closing, it was dark so that, of course, sparked off another round of photographs - I'll spare you tonight and, of course, today we did something entirely different and had a day out in Soho.

City girl part 1

Up early this morning dying to take advantage of our 5 star moorings in the city centre. We used Waterway Routes DVDs to try to decide on our cruising plans, whilst here, and which exit route to take when we leave. They were brilliant and the additional maps and info guides are particularly helpful-the BCN is a maze & you'd be very clever to sort it without additional maps to the Nicholsons. This is the only waterway I know where you can be given direction such as, 'turn left at the mini roundabout' or, 'turn right at the crossroads'. I'm no expert at this, but my understanding is that this is because the original canal twisted and turned into every business and was later "straightened" out. Many of the earlier loops and arms still exist, whilst the new "motorway" cuts through the middle.
Shortchanging the dogs on their walk, I left G to do manly things at Maplin's and some general shopping, whilst I set off to be a tourist. Had a fabulous day, but missed Lesley's company - she would have loved it too.
I know I'm a country bumpkin, but it was like stepping straight onto the Continent and everywhere spectacularly clean.


Here they are hosing down after Friday nights revellery.

I never heard a sound last night-not even radio or TV noise from the flats above (very upmarket).
Nor from the National Indoor Arena.
I said yesterday I wasn't tired well, today, I'm bushed of Birmingham, but my story is not yet told; I will finish today's tale tomorrow.

The best of days!!!!!

We have had such a brilliant day. Paul from Waterway Routes stayed on his NB in B'ham last night after lock wheeling for Gypsy Rover up the Hatton yesterday. Christine caught an early train from Bristol this morning and we all met up at 10.10 am to start the climb up the Aston and Farmers locks - 25, and 24 set against us. An absolute doddle; 3 lock wheelers, great company and no rush: 2hrs 50 and not even vaguely tired.
Between the two flights, Christine & Paul (now driving) took a well earned rest whilst I kept walking to allow the dogs a good leg stretch.
The juxtaposition of old and new architecture is fabulous, it really works in harmony.





Loved the mini roundabout complete with sign posts.

Having moored up, we walked round to NB Waterway Routes' mooring, put some coal on their roof and did a 1 hour tour of a few loops of the BCN, Christine's & Paul's knowledge is both endless and fascinating, before breasting up to MR and dumping the coal on our roof. Now that's what I call a coal delivery!

Yes, this is me steering NB Waterway Routes - I bet there aren't many of you who have had their hands on electric boats - the irony was that we passed another electric boat (like number two buses!) and we could actually talk to each other all the way down the cut and hear the birds singing and not frighten the herons.
We passed the original Fellows, Morton & Clayton building.

This is our mooring.

Above (the round building), doesn't photo well, but was the original stable block.

Daisy is a bit confused by urban living and got stuck up a tree before disappearing into a block of posh apartments, more of that next time.

Perfect day, thank you Christine & Paul for your friendship, help & knowledge.