Tuesday 11th June
Just can't believe it, another night and morning of extremely heavy rain. Looks like another washout of a day.
I tried to book a table for lunch at The Nailers Arms, where we went with the Beasley's, but as I explained any good pub with a carvery is hard to get in to unless booked well in advance.
We had arranged to pick Ray up and go for lunch but obviously we had a change of plans.
Both Di and Ray wanted to see places from their past so we ended up at Stone Cross, Holloway Bank, Green Side Way etc before driving to my old area, Wednesbury. Obviously all the places have changed a lot but the general down turn is sad to see. Lots of rundown buildings, closed business's and shops.
We ended up back in the business park at the bottom of Wood Green Road and the carvery at The Chestnut Tree.
It poured with rain all day so back to Rays for a nice cup of tea and back to Edgbaston.
Just hope the rain has cleared by tomorrow.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Friday, August 30, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Monday 10th June.
Raining again!!
We have arranged to meet up with old friends Gill and David Beasley for lunch.
We are meeting at The Nailers Arms, Bournheath near Bromsgrove.
I've noticed that if a pub does a good carvery lunch you have to book well in advance.
Luckily Gill had thought of that and when we arrived to place was packed.
Very nice lunch and great to catch up with old friends. Lots of talking of course and swapping of family news.
Called in to see Ray on the way back from lunch and also arranged to see him tomorrow and take him out for lunch.
Still raining when we got back to Edgbaston.
Raining again!!
We have arranged to meet up with old friends Gill and David Beasley for lunch.
We are meeting at The Nailers Arms, Bournheath near Bromsgrove.
I've noticed that if a pub does a good carvery lunch you have to book well in advance.
Luckily Gill had thought of that and when we arrived to place was packed.
Very nice lunch and great to catch up with old friends. Lots of talking of course and swapping of family news.
Called in to see Ray on the way back from lunch and also arranged to see him tomorrow and take him out for lunch.
Still raining when we got back to Edgbaston.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Sunday 9th June
Its amazing what a day makes, no rain this morning but have to see how the day progresses.
Sent off a few emails and a couple of birthday greetings to Andrew and Henry, now back home in Sweden.
The weather improved so we decided to head into the city again, by train. We walked up through the city heading for the Art Gallery and Museum.
The Floosy in the flowers, viewed from the Council Office side.
Interesting gardens outside the Council Offices
That wonderful sculpture again, the Knife Angel, near the entrance to the Art Gallery.
Inside the museum side of the building, wonderful architecture.
An interesting circle of books in the museum shop.
Ruskin pottery.
An interesting flexible display between floors.
We saw lots of lovely art but what we really came to see was The Staffordshire Hoard. The hoard is the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever discovered.
We had heard about this exhibition and how interesting it was and we weren't disappointed.
The hoard of gold and silver was discovered in a ploughed field near Lichfield in 2009. Over 4000 items were discovered and estimated to be over 1300 years old. The quality of the gold work and jewelry are stunning, breathtaking! Its hard to describe ones feelings when looking at the workmanship and skill. Most of the pieces are small but wonderfully intricate. Just imagine, the skills needed to produce these items 1300years ago.
This exhibition has to be seen to be believed!
Back to the train station.
The outside of the station is clad in reflecting stainless steel.
Back to the apartment once more.
A great day out and no rain.
Its amazing what a day makes, no rain this morning but have to see how the day progresses.
Sent off a few emails and a couple of birthday greetings to Andrew and Henry, now back home in Sweden.
The weather improved so we decided to head into the city again, by train. We walked up through the city heading for the Art Gallery and Museum.
We saw lots of lovely art but what we really came to see was The Staffordshire Hoard. The hoard is the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver ever discovered.
We had heard about this exhibition and how interesting it was and we weren't disappointed.
The hoard of gold and silver was discovered in a ploughed field near Lichfield in 2009. Over 4000 items were discovered and estimated to be over 1300 years old. The quality of the gold work and jewelry are stunning, breathtaking! Its hard to describe ones feelings when looking at the workmanship and skill. Most of the pieces are small but wonderfully intricate. Just imagine, the skills needed to produce these items 1300years ago.
A great day out and no rain.
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Saturday 8th June
Not a very good start to the day with heavy rain all night.
By mid morning it was still poring with rain, very cold and miserable.
We phoned Ray, who had enjoyed our wet day in the city but had found it tiring, so much so that he actually fell asleep on the bus and missed his stop! At least we had a good laugh about his misadventure.
To fill in a wet and boring day we did a load of washing and eventually had to do a bit of shopping at a local M&S food store for provisions.
Spent most of late afternoon and evening watching TV. Hope the weather improves tomorrow.
Not a very good start to the day with heavy rain all night.
By mid morning it was still poring with rain, very cold and miserable.
We phoned Ray, who had enjoyed our wet day in the city but had found it tiring, so much so that he actually fell asleep on the bus and missed his stop! At least we had a good laugh about his misadventure.
To fill in a wet and boring day we did a load of washing and eventually had to do a bit of shopping at a local M&S food store for provisions.
Spent most of late afternoon and evening watching TV. Hope the weather improves tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Friday 7th June
Heavy rain all night but easing off a little by mid morning.
We decided to battle the elements come what may and arranged to meet Ray in Birmingham.
It was too wet to walk along the canal towpath so we caught the train. The station is just around the corner and its a one stop trip into the centre of the city at Moor Street station. Cost 2.40Ukp return and takes us to the bottom end of the city but easy for all the big shops.
The rain didn't ease up and we met Ray in M&S where we had a coffee and a good look around the store. The morning was spent dodging from one store to another to keep out of the rain.
Had a nice lunch in Debenhams and bought books in Waterstones.
After walking Ray to his bus stop, in light rain, at the top of the town, near St. Phillips Cathedral, we headed back down town to the station. Another massive shopping area inside the station where I found a Molskine outlet. I love their notebooks and have had trouble finding hardcover reporter pads at home. They have them in stock so now I have a couple which will last me a few years!
Caught the train back to Five Ways and a short, but wet, walk back to the apartment. Very wet and miserable day.
Heavy rain all night but easing off a little by mid morning.
We decided to battle the elements come what may and arranged to meet Ray in Birmingham.
It was too wet to walk along the canal towpath so we caught the train. The station is just around the corner and its a one stop trip into the centre of the city at Moor Street station. Cost 2.40Ukp return and takes us to the bottom end of the city but easy for all the big shops.
The rain didn't ease up and we met Ray in M&S where we had a coffee and a good look around the store. The morning was spent dodging from one store to another to keep out of the rain.
Had a nice lunch in Debenhams and bought books in Waterstones.
After walking Ray to his bus stop, in light rain, at the top of the town, near St. Phillips Cathedral, we headed back down town to the station. Another massive shopping area inside the station where I found a Molskine outlet. I love their notebooks and have had trouble finding hardcover reporter pads at home. They have them in stock so now I have a couple which will last me a few years!
Caught the train back to Five Ways and a short, but wet, walk back to the apartment. Very wet and miserable day.
Sunday, August 25, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Thursday 6th June
A very cold but dry day.
Spent most of the day visiting old haunts from our early days living in the Wednesbury/West Bromwich area.
Hard to explain but a lot of changes and yet no real changes for the better.
Like a lot of other Black Country towns, Wednesbury is dying. Untidy streets and lots of empty shops. The old market has disappeared completely.
We went to the big business park at the bottom of Wood Green, near the motorway junction. This is why the local towns are deserted. A huge area with all the big name stores there. Just had to check out Ikea and B&Q.
Had a nice carvery lunch at a newish pub near Ikea called The Chestnut Tree.
More driving around the are and then back to Edgebaston.
A very cold but dry day.
Spent most of the day visiting old haunts from our early days living in the Wednesbury/West Bromwich area.
Hard to explain but a lot of changes and yet no real changes for the better.
Like a lot of other Black Country towns, Wednesbury is dying. Untidy streets and lots of empty shops. The old market has disappeared completely.
We went to the big business park at the bottom of Wood Green, near the motorway junction. This is why the local towns are deserted. A huge area with all the big name stores there. Just had to check out Ikea and B&Q.
Had a nice carvery lunch at a newish pub near Ikea called The Chestnut Tree.
More driving around the are and then back to Edgebaston.
Friday, August 23, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Wednesday 5th June
Woke to a very dull and cold day but with the promise of sunny breaks.
Having spent a couple of nights with Val and Rod we are off traveling again.
Val and Rod are heading off on holiday to a warmer climate and who can blame them, but at least we managed to spend some time together. We have had a great time.
We left Tegryn at about 10:30 and planned to call in, unannounced, on old friends Gloria and Chris who have a shop in Llandeilo. They are always busy and we hate to take up their time but still like to keep in contact.
Getting there was quite an adventure as I used the SatNav but miss spelt Llandeilo. We certainly saw some very narrow lanes, a couple of fords and lots of countryside that looked familiar the second time around!
When we finally got to Llandeilo it was to find that Gloria and Chris were out and left the running of the shop to number two son, Nicholas. After spending time talking to Nicholas, between customers, we headed back to Birmingham by a round about route.
Lovely desolate countryside.
High country, no traffic but plenty of sheep.
Our journey took us via the Brecon Beacons, Brecon, Hereford, Bromyard, Stourport, Kidderminster and finally back to Halesowen. In Hereford we stopped for coffee and a bit of shopping and came across the signage in the photo above, its planted as a living wall or vertical garden.
Woke to a very dull and cold day but with the promise of sunny breaks.
Having spent a couple of nights with Val and Rod we are off traveling again.
Val and Rod are heading off on holiday to a warmer climate and who can blame them, but at least we managed to spend some time together. We have had a great time.
We left Tegryn at about 10:30 and planned to call in, unannounced, on old friends Gloria and Chris who have a shop in Llandeilo. They are always busy and we hate to take up their time but still like to keep in contact.
Getting there was quite an adventure as I used the SatNav but miss spelt Llandeilo. We certainly saw some very narrow lanes, a couple of fords and lots of countryside that looked familiar the second time around!
When we finally got to Llandeilo it was to find that Gloria and Chris were out and left the running of the shop to number two son, Nicholas. After spending time talking to Nicholas, between customers, we headed back to Birmingham by a round about route.
Our journey took us via the Brecon Beacons, Brecon, Hereford, Bromyard, Stourport, Kidderminster and finally back to Halesowen. In Hereford we stopped for coffee and a bit of shopping and came across the signage in the photo above, its planted as a living wall or vertical garden.
Thursday, August 22, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Tuesday 4th June
Very heavy rain over night and the morning was wet,dull and overcast.
A reason for a slow start to the day. A relaxed breakfast with lots of banter and then a catch up via Skype back to Oz. I was still having some problems with picking up our emails but Becky helped to sort the problem out.
The weather picked up just before lunch so we decided to venture out. Last time we were here we tried to visit one of the local woolen mills but unfortunately it was closed due to industrial action. This time we were lucky and were able to visit the National Wool Museum at Dre-Fach Felindre, Felindre, Llandysul. Try saying that after a few drinks. Try it sober is even harder.
The complex includes a cafe, where we had a nice lunch, the museum itself and a working mill.
Its possible to learn something new ever day.
The mill is an extremely noisy place and dangerous place so the only way we could see what was happening was from an overhead viewing platform.
These photos aren't the best as I was using my phone, having forgotten my camera. Silly me.
All the patterns are traditional, delicate and made using local wool.
An early dinner was at a fish restaurant called Somethings Cooking at Letterstone, Haverfordwest.
When in this area its where we end up!
Very heavy rain over night and the morning was wet,dull and overcast.
A reason for a slow start to the day. A relaxed breakfast with lots of banter and then a catch up via Skype back to Oz. I was still having some problems with picking up our emails but Becky helped to sort the problem out.
The weather picked up just before lunch so we decided to venture out. Last time we were here we tried to visit one of the local woolen mills but unfortunately it was closed due to industrial action. This time we were lucky and were able to visit the National Wool Museum at Dre-Fach Felindre, Felindre, Llandysul. Try saying that after a few drinks. Try it sober is even harder.
The complex includes a cafe, where we had a nice lunch, the museum itself and a working mill.
An early dinner was at a fish restaurant called Somethings Cooking at Letterstone, Haverfordwest.
When in this area its where we end up!
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Tuesday 4th June
Yesterday we phoned good friends Val and Rod who live on a mountain top in deepest South Wales.
We are going to see them for a couple of days so did and little packing and got under way.
The weather was cold and damp, and we didn't fancy a long journey via the motorway, so from Birmingham we headed North West and planned a big loop down into South Wales.
Its hard to explain the volume of traffic and people, we just aren't used to it. Just getting out of Birmingham itself was a nightmare.
We drove via Shrewsbury, Welshpool and Newtown where we filled up with petrol and thought we would try a UK MacDonalds.
On the road to Welshpool we had noticed a couple of big MacDonalds trucks with signs on that said they were collecting waste oil to turn into Biodiesel to power their own trucks. Well done Maccas!
The MacDonalds we went in to was nice,clean and quiet, no silly music playing and machines beeping all the time. Another thing that impressed was that we were given non plastic straws. I think Maccas in Australia could learn a lot from the ones in UK.
The trip was nice and relaxed, through lovely countryside and only took 3.5 hours.
It was great see both Val and Rod, Rod very agile with his new hip. Very cold on this mountain top!
A late dinner with lots of talk, laughter, drinks and trips down memory lane.
Yesterday we phoned good friends Val and Rod who live on a mountain top in deepest South Wales.
We are going to see them for a couple of days so did and little packing and got under way.
The weather was cold and damp, and we didn't fancy a long journey via the motorway, so from Birmingham we headed North West and planned a big loop down into South Wales.
Its hard to explain the volume of traffic and people, we just aren't used to it. Just getting out of Birmingham itself was a nightmare.
We drove via Shrewsbury, Welshpool and Newtown where we filled up with petrol and thought we would try a UK MacDonalds.
On the road to Welshpool we had noticed a couple of big MacDonalds trucks with signs on that said they were collecting waste oil to turn into Biodiesel to power their own trucks. Well done Maccas!
The MacDonalds we went in to was nice,clean and quiet, no silly music playing and machines beeping all the time. Another thing that impressed was that we were given non plastic straws. I think Maccas in Australia could learn a lot from the ones in UK.
The trip was nice and relaxed, through lovely countryside and only took 3.5 hours.
It was great see both Val and Rod, Rod very agile with his new hip. Very cold on this mountain top!
A late dinner with lots of talk, laughter, drinks and trips down memory lane.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
The Holiday continues ....
Sunday 2nd June.
We woke to a dull and overcast day.
While having breakfast the weather changed yet again and it started to rain but it just looked like showers.
We had arranged to spend the day with Ray so having picked him up from Halesowen we drove back
into Edgebaston to visit the botanic garden of the University of Birmingham, Winterbourne Botanic Garden. It was quiet when we arrived so we decided to take advantage of the lull and start the day with coffee's and pastries.
The house was originally owned by the Nettlefold family, the founder of the GKN group of companies that specialized in the manufacture of screws, nuts and bolts etc.
After a while the rain came back so we retreated to the cafe for a spot of lunch.
Unfortunately so did everyone else. finally found a window table and enjoyed a very nice meal.
Later we went back to Rays flat and enjoyed a cup of tea and the inevitable reminiscing.
A great day out.
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