my first thought on reading the post title was that you had been won over by the cbeebies programme of the same name about a cute mini chitty chitty bang bang type car who fights off criminals in and around birmingham city centre(yes, really)
Just finished 'The Closed Circle', sequel to 'The Rotters' Club' which is largely set in Birmingham. But I think I equated Brum to the 70s, Slade, brown carpets and wildcat strikes at car factories before that.
I can confidently report that Brum has actually become a dynamic, sexy, cosmpolitan metropolis since I was last there 10 years ago. I take it all back.
Although apparently I missed a presentation by a nice Finnish man. But I did get a free bag that contained a free biro. Like I say, it's glamour all the way with me.
Now to storm London's happening East End for an evening of fun and frolicsome nonsense involving pig masks and screaming. Woo!
Cello - as a midlander living in the south I try to keep the spirit alive by furnishing the house with brown carpets throughout. Slade are rarely off the radiogram. I've yet to venture into any top restaurants but I bet the only one I could bluff my way into is the Ivy, as it's the one place where a cuppa tay and grey peas with bacon are not off-menu.
lauren: I used to work on a building site, and habitually swore so much I even embarassed myself. After one parental trip where my mum ended up turning puce, without me even realising what I'd said, I decided to clean up my act. I still swear when really riled, and find it has a lot more impact.
I'm very glad to hear that Birmingham has raised its standard if indeed they were low, although I must say that standards would have slipped as soon as Betty left town.
I myself will be going to Birmingham for a whistle-stop tour on Monday and I fully intend to get to know the locale, in the fim of the swish hotel bar.
OOK here goes - we travelled by train from Northampton (about a 40 minute journey) with a bottle of vodka and a bottle of Southern Comfort, then hit the bar. About an hour later I wasn't very well. However, neither was one of my companions later, but he still managed to pull. Says a lot about the standards od students at Birmingham University in the early 90s.
Betty, I am from Nottinghamshire myself, so I was just describing my own childhood I suspect. I see from your profile that we share many film and book passions, so a Midlands upbringing can't be all bad.
sg - not only on the concourse, but all the way from the bar to the loos, from where I had to be retrieved hours later. But hey, I was young and silly, and we've all done things like that (she hopes nervously). Hope the cleaners got a bonus that week.
i got arrested once on a tuesday afternoon in the town where i went to school for drunk and disorderly. i was smoking pot and drinking cider with the local addicts.
Oh no, we don't have to talk about Naughty Things We've Done in Brum, do we? I seem to remember getting erm...quite intimate with someone on a train from New Street to er...another city in the Midlands.
oh, and just for the record, mine wasn't in birmingham. i've only ever been through there on the way to alton towers (on the trip that led to me having middle-of-the-night confusion in the uttoxeter travelodge.
blimey pats, whodathought a one-line post would create so much discussion?
Whilst on a very busy train to Nottingham once, I witnessed a man exiting the toilet. Then about 10 minutes later a woman exited. I'd been stood next to two people doing god knows what in there for about 4 stops. Can you believe I never heard a thing? Perhaps the toliets are soundproofed.
Now then - you will find that Birmingham is actually rather nice. Yes.
ReplyDeleteActually Birmingham is okay, honestly. I'm from the west midlands so I would say that, wouldn't I?
ReplyDeleteBirmingham is surprisingly on the fab side. Read all about it at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.birminghamitsnotshit.co.uk/
Well, OK. Bit of a stretch from "It's not sh*t" to "Fab", but you see what I mean.
my first thought on reading the post title was that you had been won over by the cbeebies programme of the same name about a cute mini chitty chitty bang bang type car who fights off criminals in and around birmingham city centre(yes, really)
ReplyDeletei need to get out more...
have a balti on me!
hymdu = hindu with a penchant for church of england ditties
ReplyDeleteI love Brum, specially the bit at the end which features the worst dancing on a television programme ever!
ReplyDeletewhat, worse than balamory?
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point but Brum has about 12 old men dressed as policeman dancing badly instead of just the single camp feller.
ReplyDeleteJust finished 'The Closed Circle', sequel to 'The Rotters' Club' which is largely set in Birmingham. But I think I equated Brum to the 70s, Slade, brown carpets and wildcat strikes at car factories before that.
ReplyDeletertgyhih = brand of HRT pill
I can confidently report that Brum has actually become a dynamic, sexy, cosmpolitan metropolis since I was last there 10 years ago. I take it all back.
ReplyDeleteAlthough apparently I missed a presentation by a nice Finnish man. But I did get a free bag that contained a free biro. Like I say, it's glamour all the way with me.
Now to storm London's happening East End for an evening of fun and frolicsome nonsense involving pig masks and screaming. Woo!
I went to Birmingham once, and made a very big impression on/in New Street station. I've been too embarrased to go back since.
ReplyDelete>> I went to Birmingham once, and made a very big impression on/in New Street station. I've been too embarrased to go back since.
ReplyDeleteWhat.. fall over did you?
Don't worry Smat, they rebuilt the city centre.
ReplyDeleteCello - as a midlander living in the south I try to keep the spirit alive by furnishing the house with brown carpets throughout. Slade are rarely off the radiogram. I've yet to venture into any top restaurants but I bet the only one I could bluff my way into is the Ivy, as it's the one place where a cuppa tay and grey peas with bacon are not off-menu.
ReplyDeletelauren: I used to work on a building site, and habitually swore so much I even embarassed myself. After one parental trip where my mum ended up turning puce, without me even realising what I'd said, I decided to clean up my act. I still swear when really riled, and find it has a lot more impact.
ReplyDeletei think i may really really need to know what smat did at new street station.
ReplyDeleteoh, and i've decided on my fancy dress costume.
see, p - you're not the only one with a glamorous glittering lifestyle. please elaborate on pig masks and screaming.
I'm very glad to hear that Birmingham has raised its standard if indeed they were low, although I must say that standards would have slipped as soon as Betty left town.
ReplyDeleteI myself will be going to Birmingham for a whistle-stop tour on Monday and I fully intend to get to know the locale, in the fim of the swish hotel bar.
OOK here goes - we travelled by train from Northampton (about a 40 minute journey) with a bottle of vodka and a bottle of Southern Comfort, then hit the bar. About an hour later I wasn't very well. However, neither was one of my companions later, but he still managed to pull. Says a lot about the standards od students at Birmingham University in the early 90s.
ReplyDeleteso, to sum up, you threw up on the concourse of new street station?
ReplyDeletemarvellous.
Betty, I am from Nottinghamshire myself, so I was just describing my own childhood I suspect. I see from your profile that we share many film and book passions, so a Midlands upbringing can't be all bad.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Brum. Can't get over that supremely irritating accent. Enjoy!
ReplyDeletesg - not only on the concourse, but all the way from the bar to the loos, from where I had to be retrieved hours later. But hey, I was young and silly, and we've all done things like that (she hopes nervously). Hope the cleaners got a bonus that week.
ReplyDeletei got arrested once on a tuesday afternoon in the town where i went to school for drunk and disorderly. i was smoking pot and drinking cider with the local addicts.
ReplyDeletei was also fifteen.
see, smat, you feel better now, don't you?
the naughtiest thing i've ever done in brum is sneeze into my balti
ReplyDeletefeeling very square
oh, you have cheered me up Surly - I've never been arrested for anything, which either makes me very boring, or very clever. Not sure which.
ReplyDeleteOh no, we don't have to talk about Naughty Things We've Done in Brum, do we? I seem to remember getting erm...quite intimate with someone on a train from New Street to er...another city in the Midlands.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I was a *lot* younger then.
NB it wasn't your companion, Smat.
ReplyDeleteoh, and just for the record, mine wasn't in birmingham. i've only ever been through there on the way to alton towers (on the trip that led to me having middle-of-the-night confusion in the uttoxeter travelodge.
ReplyDeleteblimey pats, whodathought a one-line post would create so much discussion?
*sulks*
Kids in Germany say Brum, Brum when they pretend to drive a car!
ReplyDelete>>blimey pats, whodathought a one-line post would create so much discussion?<<
ReplyDeleteI know - you lot are a blogger's dream! Pear bellinis all round.
Jack: I'm a lifelong member of that club. Well, four foot *tall*, maybe.
Whilst on a very busy train to Nottingham once, I witnessed a man exiting the toilet. Then about 10 minutes later a woman exited. I'd been stood next to two people doing god knows what in there for about 4 stops. Can you believe I never heard a thing? Perhaps the toliets are soundproofed.
ReplyDelete