SATURDAY
I took the 97 bus into town to meet my friend from Denmark
and the hole in the Bosworth Drive bus stop roof is back.

after the train arrrived from Reading we walked up to the high town and St Philips

Birmingham Cathedral

then we went for lunch in the

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery - Google Search

we ate braised shoulder of lamb (a stew full of bones)
the smell always reminds me of school dinners.

walking down New Ssreet

and a taxi home to Chelmsley Wood

Sunday morning
promised rain again so Hedvig went back south

She said the ladies loo on New Stret Street was nice but not as good as London Airport and which is not as good as Copenhagen Airport CPH

coffe and almond paste filled croissant at New Street station

all on board !

no driver yet

there used to be two victorian stations with glass barrel roofs
and a road down the middle

I like these reverse shots
In this one I amlooking up at the little window on the bridge to the Pallisades, where I took other snaps looking down by day and by night.

another train arriving for a quick turn round

many memories of steam trains to Chepstow 1945 to 1949 then Bristol and Usk up to 1952
and Loughborough 1953 - 1956

green light
ready for the off and in about 3 minutes the guard will dispatch is rain - called a train manger today

here comes Hedvig

and the there she goes and the signal already shows the red light to protect the rear of the train - and two blocks more bhind nme.

this train has got a new driver and turns round

here I stand in my two shoes

MIND THE GAP

and there goes the next train into the bottle neck - the yellow light tells the driver that Hedvig's train is in front and that the next signal will be red so he is pulling out slowly.

and now red to protect the second train

and I headed back to the lift and up to the Bullring

There I was greeted by the distant sound of a brass band playing christmas carols

Brass Band Reference - Brass Bands Genealogy

and collecting money to buy instruments
Coleshill Town Band also on the web at co.uk

Band History 1902- 2004

As with most brass bands throughout the country, Coleshill Town Band has had
an up and down past. It has struggled and survived through two world wars and
has seen many musical directors, and even more players come and go. The Band
itself was formed in 1902 when a group of bandsmen form the neighbouring
village of Water Orton decided to establish a band in Coleshill. It is believed
that £103 was spent in acquiring the Band’s original instruments.

The number of band members grew steadily over the years following formation,
although the outbreak of World War I in 1914 halted the Band’s progress, with
several players losing their lives in action. . . .