December 20th – A late night at work finishing off, then the Christmas party. I crossed Rushall Square junction late in the evening.
As ever, the lights were lovely and there was hardly anyone on the road, which was a bonus.
Christmas is feeling closer now…
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December 20th – Back at work, I noted that the holly trees around the industrial estate where I work, normally heavy by now with a bountiful berry crop – were very sparse this year.
Still, there were enough red berries to feel festive. Bad news for the local birds though.
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December 19th – Spotted high above the street, steel erectors chat and dangle whilst working on the new Primark in Birmingham, seemingly oblivious to life below, and completely unaware of the fear such feats inspire in many of their audience.
The new store is what used to be the Pavillions shopping mall, and the conversion symbolises the malaise in these 80s temples to consumerism – so far Birminham has lost 4 – The Pavillions, City Plaza, Paradise Forum and Fletchers Walk. I find this shift in retail thinking interesting.
The aerial daredevils had safety gear, and were confident and clearly competent. But the lad dangling from the sliding support in the C channel: Looking at how that’s fixed, that’s a lot of confidence in someone else’s mechanical engineering skills.
My respect and best wishes to them. I respect anyone who can work at heights.
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December 19th – Recovery, and finally getting things done. Catching up with stuff, then Christmas shopping in Brum with good companions.
Every year I say I won’t do the Christmas Market again, but every year I do and I always fall for the lights, the pricey but tasty food and the atmosphere.
Birmingham is still changing as it has been since I first came here 40 years ago. I love this city. I adore it’s quirks and festive foibles.
A great evening rounded off with excellent saag paneer and lamb tikka on the Soho Road.
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December 18th – It was hard to find a point to take a photo from that wouldn’t be spoiled by rain on the lens, and then I remembered the dystopian, alien-like portal in Silver Court.
The ghostly glow is from a cashpoint. It fascinates me.
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December 18th – I’d been in hospital for medical tests, which went OK. I came home, uncomfortable, headachy and disorientated, but a cup of tea, some food and peace and quiet and I was ready to ride.
Sadly it was still raining heavily.
In a short spin around Brownhills the bike was coated in mud and I noted the overflows were in spate. It’s really been quite wet the last week and it’s not registered quite how bad it’s been.
Some dry, cold weather would be nice for Christmas I think…
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December 17th – Returning home through a darkened, very wet Brownhills. A generator was quietly ticking over by the waterside, and there was the clatter of Tesco unloading, and the distant windy sweep of the odd car on the High Street, but little other evidence of humans.
Brownhills looked somnambulant, peaceful and homely, and it was good to see.
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December 17th – The weather is still awful but finally finished the work paperwork, which always means that Christmas is beginning for me.
Just the medical stuff to go and a couple of days at work, and that’s it.
Leaving work late, I noticed the Christmas tree in reception glowing in the dark, and it made me feel happy…
Merry Christmas everyone!
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December 16th – Delivering Christmas cards in Chasetown, the light rain turned to a downpour, and although the Headquarters of Chasetown Civil Engineering and the nearby pub The Uxbridge looked beautiful with their lights reflected on wet tarmac, the rain had me low.
I tried long exposure photography on the Chasetown Bypass footbridge, but the weather was determined to wreck my plans.
I returned home wet, cold and despondent. This time last year, I think we had snow. Which at least is fun.
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December 16th – Another grim, blustery day, but I had a lot to do. Errands were undertaken all afternoon and crossing the Silver Street bridge in Brownhills, I noticed someone had spotted Dora the Explorer had probably been dropped by her friend and popped her for safekeeping up on the handrail.
A small act of kindness like this always warms my heart: Some bereftl child is probably missing this soft toy desperately, and hopefully they will be reunited by now (I posted the find on local Facebook to catch anyone looking).
Thank you to whoever rescued Dora: Your kindness was not unnoticed.
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