A bit of a late post....

.....seeing as it is almost the weekend again.

 But last weekend was spent in Birmingham with Selina and Pete. 

 Sometimes it is so good to just go into the city and wander around the local sights. 

 We got to see the new Grand Central, we ate there, looked round and admired, but we didn't actually get inside the new John Lewis store, [was hoping to do that on my birthday, but still haven't managed it yet, maybe that could be tomorrows plan].

            There is always something different to see around town, the water feature in the main square has been drained and filled in.  The fountains seldom worked, there was always lots of rubbish, and plenty of kids in  the water and it was often rather smelly, to say the least.
      The plants are pretty, but now the "Floozy in the Jacuzzi" as the figure was locally called, is sat in the middle of a flower bed.  I liked her best when someone threw in a bottle of washing up liquid and a load of dye.  Then she looked as if she was thoroughly enjoying her pink bubble bath.

    Selina had her walking boots on, and a map in her hand, we were a bit worried 'cos she likes to walk along every street on the map.  She loves a good walking tour, but this time she wasn't feeling too well, and had to sit down in the sunshine whilst dad went to buy her some Paracetamol.  Her walking boots were lined with lead this particular weekend.  (We all breathed a sigh of relief)

     Once she recovered we all ate large bowls of Poh soup in our new Vietnamese street food place.  We got one of the best tables in the place, watching folk rushing to and from the trains after the rugby matches.
     That large brown object in the middle of my dish is actually a big wooden spoon, I was quite worried at first, it looked like a big brown egg from a distance-I hate eggs.

     We also saw Godiva, the huge marionette that has been walking around the country for the last few years!  She is huge and followed by a colourful band of music and dancers.

     .....and I can't get my colourful and noisy video to download, as usual.

Look who we met.....

     .....on our stroll this afternoon....

      I know its bad that he should be out in the daytime, and this may well mean that he will not survive the winter.  But he was in an area under some trees, rooting around in the grass and feeding.  He was no where near any roads and it was very quiet, so maybe he was fairly safe.  I hope so anyway, its years since we saw any hedgehogs and their numbers have dropped drastically in the last few years.

isa ma birfday....

...an i sis eleben....is what Charlotte used to tell everyone several times a day when she was a baby.
Translated, she was saying "Its my birthday, and I am eleven".  It wasn't her birthday and she certainly wasn't 11.

        Well today is my birthday and I'm not 11 either.

     When Darsh gets back from the bank we are going for afternoon tea in a walled garden near Lichfield and a walk in the countryside.  Yes dog you are coming too, and you are going to enjoy it!
Might get chance to update my blog with my weekend pictures later.

A trip to Warwick....

    ....has always been one of our favourite days out.  Its a nice drive through some pleasant countryside, lunch in the Thai restaurant we love, a look around at all the little shops and charity shops, a cream cake from Sainsburys and then a short drive to Hatton Locks for a walk along the canals, watch the barges and eat our cakes, hopefully sat in the sun.
    We have enjoyed this for many years now, and at various times we have taken along girls and friends, so everyone knows the routine.  Once we even planned this for my birthday treat, it was a disaster...it was a Monday....and the Thai restaurant always closes on a Monday.  That was a mistake we only made once!  The trip is only good if we get to eat the best green chicken curry imaginable, its the only time we ever go to a restaurant, and both of us order the same thing.
     So, the weather was good and we took the camper van, and the dog, off to Warwick.

     The canal, as ever was quiet and peaceful, we met only half a dozen people as we walked, and watched as a lone barge made its way slowly through all the downhill locks.  We actually walked for well over an hour and Joe was quite happy, normally he walks for 20 minutes and then refuses to go one more step.  But with all the different smells, and having both of us walk with him, instead of just me, he was happy to carry on, so we did, although I had visions of having to carry him back.  The grass was long, and loads of puddles on the tow path, so he was soaked by the time we got back to the van.

The trees and bushes were ladened with fruit and berries...

              .....and the afternoon sky was bright and clear...

                  .....we stopped by an old Oak tree, and noticed this peculiar thing....

    ....growing from the trunk, it was at head height and about the size of a saucer, my hand could have easily fitted into its strange "mouth".  I should imagine it is some type of fungus and will look it up, but it is something I haven't seen before.

We got back to the van as sun sank and the air started to turn cold, the traffic was so bad that we pulled into a little town on the way home and sat in the car for an hour, people watching, and eating a bag of chips and curry sauce. 

      The drying dog was all wrapped up in his towel on my knee, scoffing far more than his fair share of the chips....THAT was definitely HIS favourite part of the day.

An Autumn Weekend....

     .....spent outside catching what just might be last last fine days before winter.

Saturday was spent in town at the Chilli Festival....

     ......lots of stalls selling anything and everything chilli-flavoured.

Butternut and sweet potato curry with rice and bean, coleslaw and dumpling...delicous.

Yes, we were behind the drummers, but in front was in the shade, so we enjoyed the sun, and the noise, and the people watching, and the free beer.

Of course the city is awaiting the opening of Grand Central and John Lewis (today), but we walked down just to see how they were getting on-

Organised chaos, the place was awash with busy workmen.  But the photo in Monday nights paper shows all is done and ready to go.

Selina and Pete are home this weekend and we are planning to go and see the new shop, as well as join in the Artsfest that starts tomorrow night.

It is a huge celebration planned to showcase all things Birmingham.

Inside the old station there are lots of huge white boards erected to keep the public away from the building work.  Passers by have been writing on them as they walk through, messages of pride and excitement and well wishes for the success of the huge project been unveiled this week.

They made me realise just how important the development has been for the city, and I also wondered why so many people walk round with broad tip marker pens in their pockets!

Sunday took us to Tipton to see the canal festival and all the barges.

Noisy and colourful, with music and an old fashioned fairground, we walked up and back along the canal banks, ate Pork Scratchings and Do-nuts.  Just looked, bought nothing, but it was a pleasant lazy afternoon.

A very pleasant day....

1.   It stopped raining and we saw the sun!

2.   Went to view the sweetest little house, very quiet and peaceful, along a little lane with no passing 

       traffic.

3.    Had our Morning coffee sat in the sun, watching folk go past in Boldmere High street.

4.   Restarted my Abel and Cole box delivery, really missed them all summer, had spinach and apple  juice,

       to celebrate.

5.   Got a free bottle of wine just for my restarting orders.

6.   Found a new deli-only been opened a couple of days.  Ohh...they had some good cheeses.

7.   Had an idle wander round Sutton, still in the warm sun.

8.   Took Joe for a walk, still in the sun.  He enjoyed it as much as me, it's a been a long time since he     

       happily walked THAT far.

9.   Found this old book from the 50's in a charity shop......

         .....it's pictures were simply too beautiful to resist, so I didn't, I brought it home with me.

What a messy post, what is Blogger playing at?
My lines are all over the place, I've come downstairs to get my Macbook to try and do a tidy up,  I can't alter it at all.... but short of wiping the lot and starting all over again....I am going to put up with....maybe....just this once....Grrrr.  

And now for something prettier...

     .....much prettier...

           ....my huge bunch of Roses from M.and S. yesterday.   Beautiful, and a real bargain for £3, a simple case of being in the right place at the right time!

He might share my blanket.....

.......but there was no way he was going to share my spare rib....

                    .....no matter how hard he tried.
      This picture made me giggle "Blimey" Darsh said "He has still got some teeth"
It was his "living with us" birthday last week, he has been here for 11 years, so he must be about 14 years old now.  He had a bowl of chinese leftovers to make up for not getting the bone, he was happy-very-as he usually is, and I think that is fine for such an old boy.

We made butter...

    .....at the open door weekend at Blaise Castle.

     And Sunday was spent on a walking tour in Bath, led by Selina, with the map book in her hand.

    We had cream tea to keep dad happy, and our favourite Chinese for supper one night and the weather was kind, very kind, it only rained on Monday as we drove home - but it hasn't stopped raining since - and the house feels very cold when we got here.

OK....

           .....we can share!
   How can one old blanket from Nev's house be so popular with me and the dog?

Joes depressed.....

 

     .....he saw me coming down the stairs with his basket under my arm.  "Oh now where are we going" his expression said as he curls up in a sulk on the settee.  He hates going away, especially if he sees his bed getting into the car.

     Things got worse....

     ......we aren't going anywhere, I'm just washing his bedding, he hates a clean smelling bed, now he's going to have to be sick in it all over again, just to make it smell right.

    I have thrown his pillows in the washer so many times.....this time it doesn't look as if they are going to recover, time for some new ones, he is going to hate them too.

     One delight in doggy world....his favourite blanket has returned from it's camping trip to Scotland, and it's fallen on the floor.  He spent a luxurious evening snoring loudly in his new nest....

To my nose that blanket smells of tent...and dog....guess where that's going now my washing machine is empty.

      He's really got the Monday morning blues....

             "Clear off you....and take that wretched I-Pad with you"