Not much going on over the last week or so. A quiet week last week with a bit of Xmas shopping at the weekend. Warwick seemed like a good place to go, and although we managed to get a few things, the highlight was picking up a copy of Blur's Live at Budoken CD from Oxfam for the grand price of £2.99.
Last night Clare and I popped into Solihull for a bite to eat at Bella. Despite the Christmas run up and the shops now open until 8pm it was remarkably quiet! Good for us as we got a good table, with no waiting for food and when it arrived it was piping hot. It was a lovely evening all in all.
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Monday 21 November 2011
Shopping
There was one decent stall that was doing a roaring trade in Christmas decorations. We bought a couple of things and Clare also bought herself a couple of scarves.
We also toured some of the pound shops around the area and managed to pick up one or two other decorations in readiness for the forth coming festivities.
The Besnard Lakes @ The Hare and Hounds
Hailing from Montreal, The Besnard Lakes are a 4 piece indie band. They make great music. Brilliant harmonies with distorted guitars and driving bass lines. Very atmospheric and at times, nothing short of beautiful.
Having only heard a couple of their songs prior to last night, I booked tickets and headed along not knowing what to expect. Could they recreate their recordings live? Yes they could! It was brilliant!
From the opening song to the end of the set, the fairly large audience were captivated. A good hour and ten minutes later they left the stage.
I would love to be able to give you the set but unfortunately I don't know their catalogue well enough. I will by the time I see them play live again!
From the opening song to the end of the set, the fairly large audience were captivated. A good hour and ten minutes later they left the stage.
I would love to be able to give you the set but unfortunately I don't know their catalogue well enough. I will by the time I see them play live again!
Monday 14 November 2011
A Busy Few Days
It’s been a busy few days, starting on Thursday evening in the Coach House for a drink with friends. It was a good night but I was surprised at how quiet it was in the pub. Usually Thursday nights are quite busy but even the town centre seemed quieter than usual.
On Friday Clare and I went to The Royal Spa Centre in Leamington to see The Holly & The Ivy written by Wynyard Browne and starring Stuart McGugan and Corrine Wicks.
Set in a Norfolk vicarage on Christmas Eve 1947, the vicar's family gather for the festive season. Peace and goodwill radiates from the warm-hearted elderly vicar, cared for by his young daughter. But with the arrival of two irritable aunts and an errant daughter the emotional veneer is skilfully peeled away. As skeletons tumble from closets and stones are turned over, family members are forced to confront their regrets and secret anxieties. Even the lovable vicar is not immune to the stresses and strains of a normal family life.
The play is split into 3 parts and after a slow start I found myself being drawn further and further in. The cast were superb (with the exception of one aunt’s dodgy Irish accent, which could be forgiven) and although the whole play took place in the one room the set looked fantastic!
It’s a shame that it wasn’t a full house. It deserves to be sold out each night. However, the fact that it wasn’t worked well for me as it enabled me to move seats during the first interval. Having been hemmed in for the first part we asked if we were able to move during the break and we ended up with nearly an entire row to ourselves!
One last thing, the staff, at the centre, are great, friendly, polite and willing to help. It is how a theatre should be run!
Saturday
An early start. The 8.05 to London was quite busy but I’m glad we went at the time we did as England were playing Spain at Wembley later in the day so if it was busy when we went it would have been horrendous as the day went on!
Arriving in London we headed straight for the National History Museum (having stopped on Baker Street for a sandwich and cup of coffee).
We arrived and made our way to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 exhibition. There were some fantastic photos. Favourites included Moonlight Over Aloba by Marsel Van Oosten, Polar Power by Joe Bunni, The Assassin by Steve Mills, The Coming by Sven Zacek, False Killers Disguised Dolphin by Clark Miller, Sinuousness by Macro Columbo and Trust by Klaus Echle. There were also one or two that seemed either a little clichéd or, in at least a couple of cases, it seemed to me not worthy of entry but then again what do I know!!
Having spent the best part of 2 hours in there we decided we would save the rest of the museum for another visit and headed off to Tate Modern. I was amazed at the queue to get in!!! If you are going to go then get there early!
With parts of the tube closed for Engineering Work we headed to Embankment and walked along the river towards the Tate. With the mild weather it was lovely and we browsed the books of at The South Bank Market before continuing our stroll.
We arrived and immediately headed for The Turbine Hall to see the installation by Tacita Dean. Having first viewed it from the Level 1 we headed downstairs and whilst most people kept a respectable distance Clare and I went in for a closer look. I’m not sure what I made of it to be honest. I was impressed by it’s size but can’t say it spoke to me.
Upstairs we happened to stumble on A Living Man Declared Dead And Other Chapters I - XVIII by Taryn Simon.
This was a great exhibition, photographs of families from around the world depicting bloodlines. In some cases, blank spaces were generations have been lost, refused to participate or were banned from participating on religious grounds etc.
Not only was it interesting but also very moving. A Brazilian family torn apart be a long running feud, a Bosnian family who lost many of their men folk during the massacre at Srebrenica and children from an Ukrainian orphanage are just some of the subjects.
We left Tate Modern and headed across the bridge towards St Paul’s and the tube station. Passing the Anti-Capitalist occupation at the steps of the cathedral. We also saw a few of the floats that were used in the Lord Mayor’s Parade which had also taken place that day and had been rerouted because of the demo.
Tate Britain houses a work by Constable that both Clare and I wanted to see. It is a picture of the deer park at Malvern Hall or as we know it now, Solihull Nature Reserve. We headed over to Pimlico and to Tate Britain. We wandered the galleries dismissing most of the other works and eventually found the Constable collection but unfortunately the canvas did not seem to be on display. A quick look at Henry Wallis’ The Death of Chatterton (a larger version than the one in Birmingham) and then we were off again. Walking back along the river, up through Westminster, along The Strand and then to Convent Garden and Piccadilly Circus before finding some place to eat.
Afterwards we walked up to Leicester Square and then jumped on the tube back to Marylebone but not before Clare had got herself an ice cream!
We hung around the Departures board, waiting for a platform number to show next to our train and hurried through the turnstiles when the number 2 appeared, in an effort to get a decent seat.
It was a lovely day out and having spent the best part of 12 hours traipsing around London it wasn’t long after arriving home that I headed to bed!!
Sunday
The Rum Diary, written by Hunter S Thompson, is a fictional account of his time working for the San Juan Star. Johnny Depp has now made it into a film.
Although I could have done with something a little more quick paced on a grey Sunday afternoon it wasn’t too long before I settled into the film. It is slick, stylish and looks great. You really do get a sense of the humidity, the hot sticky nights and the rum soaked haze in which the lead characters see it.
A great story (although not much actually happens), superbly acted and beautifully filmed. Not for everyone I should imagine but I really enjoyed it.
Set in a Norfolk vicarage on Christmas Eve 1947, the vicar's family gather for the festive season. Peace and goodwill radiates from the warm-hearted elderly vicar, cared for by his young daughter. But with the arrival of two irritable aunts and an errant daughter the emotional veneer is skilfully peeled away. As skeletons tumble from closets and stones are turned over, family members are forced to confront their regrets and secret anxieties. Even the lovable vicar is not immune to the stresses and strains of a normal family life.
The play is split into 3 parts and after a slow start I found myself being drawn further and further in. The cast were superb (with the exception of one aunt’s dodgy Irish accent, which could be forgiven) and although the whole play took place in the one room the set looked fantastic!
It’s a shame that it wasn’t a full house. It deserves to be sold out each night. However, the fact that it wasn’t worked well for me as it enabled me to move seats during the first interval. Having been hemmed in for the first part we asked if we were able to move during the break and we ended up with nearly an entire row to ourselves!
One last thing, the staff, at the centre, are great, friendly, polite and willing to help. It is how a theatre should be run!
Saturday
An early start. The 8.05 to London was quite busy but I’m glad we went at the time we did as England were playing Spain at Wembley later in the day so if it was busy when we went it would have been horrendous as the day went on!
Arriving in London we headed straight for the National History Museum (having stopped on Baker Street for a sandwich and cup of coffee).
Having spent the best part of 2 hours in there we decided we would save the rest of the museum for another visit and headed off to Tate Modern. I was amazed at the queue to get in!!! If you are going to go then get there early!
With parts of the tube closed for Engineering Work we headed to Embankment and walked along the river towards the Tate. With the mild weather it was lovely and we browsed the books of at The South Bank Market before continuing our stroll.
Upstairs we happened to stumble on A Living Man Declared Dead And Other Chapters I - XVIII by Taryn Simon.
This was a great exhibition, photographs of families from around the world depicting bloodlines. In some cases, blank spaces were generations have been lost, refused to participate or were banned from participating on religious grounds etc.
Not only was it interesting but also very moving. A Brazilian family torn apart be a long running feud, a Bosnian family who lost many of their men folk during the massacre at Srebrenica and children from an Ukrainian orphanage are just some of the subjects.
We left Tate Modern and headed across the bridge towards St Paul’s and the tube station. Passing the Anti-Capitalist occupation at the steps of the cathedral. We also saw a few of the floats that were used in the Lord Mayor’s Parade which had also taken place that day and had been rerouted because of the demo.
Tate Britain houses a work by Constable that both Clare and I wanted to see. It is a picture of the deer park at Malvern Hall or as we know it now, Solihull Nature Reserve. We headed over to Pimlico and to Tate Britain. We wandered the galleries dismissing most of the other works and eventually found the Constable collection but unfortunately the canvas did not seem to be on display. A quick look at Henry Wallis’ The Death of Chatterton (a larger version than the one in Birmingham) and then we were off again. Walking back along the river, up through Westminster, along The Strand and then to Convent Garden and Piccadilly Circus before finding some place to eat.
Afterwards we walked up to Leicester Square and then jumped on the tube back to Marylebone but not before Clare had got herself an ice cream!
We hung around the Departures board, waiting for a platform number to show next to our train and hurried through the turnstiles when the number 2 appeared, in an effort to get a decent seat.
It was a lovely day out and having spent the best part of 12 hours traipsing around London it wasn’t long after arriving home that I headed to bed!!
Sunday
Although I could have done with something a little more quick paced on a grey Sunday afternoon it wasn’t too long before I settled into the film. It is slick, stylish and looks great. You really do get a sense of the humidity, the hot sticky nights and the rum soaked haze in which the lead characters see it.
A great story (although not much actually happens), superbly acted and beautifully filmed. Not for everyone I should imagine but I really enjoyed it.
Monday 7 November 2011
Remember Remember
Remember Remember the 5th November. To celebrate the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot Clare and I went to the bonfire and firework display at St Margaret’s C of E school in Olton. We have done this for the last few years. It’s a great display (put on by Solihull Fireworks) that lasts for about 20 minutes.
Hot drinks and food stalls helps fend off the cold (despite it being mild for the type of year it is still quite chilly having stood around for an hour and a half). After the display we paid my parents a visit and, having had baked potatoes, spent the rest of the evening playing Yahtzee.
Early in the day we headed over to Sandwell Valley to see what migrant birds had arrived. Although still fairly quiet we had Teal, Goosander and Snipe on and around the lake. On the walk to the lake we noticed a flock of birds at the top of a Poplar Tree. On closer inspection the flock was comprised of Goldfinch, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll and totalled about 20. Other birds included Redwing, Mediterranean Gull, Lapwing, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Kestrel and Buzzard as well as the usual Black Headed Gulls, Blue Tits, Great Tits and the like.
Sunday was a quiet day. Having spent some time wandering around the shops in Solihull we returned home. I spent the afternoon watching the football and listening to music.
After dinner we settled down to watch Harry Brown. Michael Caine plays a pensioner who lives on a housing estate which is terrorised by kids. Having lost his wife to illness and his best mate at the hands of the teenagers he finds himself alone in the world. With nothing left to lose he decides to take on the teenagers.
This is a dark film. It’s violent and paints a grim picture. At times farfetched and at times extremely accurate. Great performances by Ben Drew and Jack O'Connell who played gang members made for some very realistic scenes and some uncomfortable viewing.
I can’t say whether I enjoyed the film or not, perhaps it was the subject matter, but I’m glad I took the time to watch it.
Early in the day we headed over to Sandwell Valley to see what migrant birds had arrived. Although still fairly quiet we had Teal, Goosander and Snipe on and around the lake. On the walk to the lake we noticed a flock of birds at the top of a Poplar Tree. On closer inspection the flock was comprised of Goldfinch, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll and totalled about 20. Other birds included Redwing, Mediterranean Gull, Lapwing, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Kestrel and Buzzard as well as the usual Black Headed Gulls, Blue Tits, Great Tits and the like.
Sunday was a quiet day. Having spent some time wandering around the shops in Solihull we returned home. I spent the afternoon watching the football and listening to music.
After dinner we settled down to watch Harry Brown. Michael Caine plays a pensioner who lives on a housing estate which is terrorised by kids. Having lost his wife to illness and his best mate at the hands of the teenagers he finds himself alone in the world. With nothing left to lose he decides to take on the teenagers. I can’t say whether I enjoyed the film or not, perhaps it was the subject matter, but I’m glad I took the time to watch it.
Friday 4 November 2011
Birmingham City 2 Club Brugges 2
The Belgian side went ahead after 39 minutes through Thomas Meunier who scored from a corner. 5 minutes later it was 2-0 when Joseph Akpala side-footed past Colin Doyle.
Jean Beausejour pulled a goal back in the second half after Brugge failed to clear Nikola Zigic's effort. Marlon King levelled the score from the penalty spot after Ryan Donk fouled Beausejour.
The point leaves Blues second in the Group H table, on head-to-head, with two games to play.
To be honest, the first half performance was poor but after King, Wood and Burke were brought on after 65 minutes we looked a better side.
It was good to see another full house and I was surprised at the amount of Brugges fans who made the trip. 3000 of them all in good voice (well at least until Blues scored).
A nice moment was the applause on 23 minutes. It turns out that Club Brugges fans do this at each match in memory of sriker Francios Sterchele who passed away in a car crash back in 2008. When we played them at their place the Blues fans who had travelled over joined in, the only away team to do so. Last night we did it again. Both home and away fans came together for that minute, something the Club Brugges fans appreciated. At the end of the match they even sang Birmingham City’s name! A nice touch and something I’d not seen before!
Although we only managed a draw it was a great night and I’m hoping for many more European nights before this competition is over!
Tuesday 1 November 2011
The Weekend
Saturday and despite the EDL, anti -Capitalist, and anti -Fascist rallies all taking place in Birmingham, along with West Brom and Birmingham both playing at home it was off for a spot of shopping and a bite to eat before leaving Clare and my Mom to go to the theatre. The amount of police upon our arrival at Moor Street Station was quite something! Only once have I seen a larger amount on a train station and that was at London Bridge when Blues played Millwall a few seasons back.
Having taken my mom around the Bullring we headed to the markets (talk about a contrast). Whilst browsing I ended up buying a couple of reggae sound system CDs and when I arrived back home I spent the rest of the afternoon listening to them. A great way to spend the day!
Food at the Coffee Room Bar and Bistro (formerly the Green Rooms) was OK but slightly overdone. Actually, my pizza was burnt around the edges, which was a shame as the middle bit was quite nice. The staff were friendly and the menu reasonably priced.
Sunday and it was back into Birmingham to do a bit of Christmas shopping with lunch at the café in Debenhams. I’d not been there before and although the food is pretty basic the views of the south side of Birmingham make up for it.
I tried in vain to buy a new coat and whilst looking in one department store bumped into one of the women I sat by at the ballet a couple of nights before!
Weather wise it has still been quite mild and although there has been the odd shower it is still lovely for the time of year. I think it will come as a shock when we have our first really cold snap of the winter.
Having taken my mom around the Bullring we headed to the markets (talk about a contrast). Whilst browsing I ended up buying a couple of reggae sound system CDs and when I arrived back home I spent the rest of the afternoon listening to them. A great way to spend the day!
Food at the Coffee Room Bar and Bistro (formerly the Green Rooms) was OK but slightly overdone. Actually, my pizza was burnt around the edges, which was a shame as the middle bit was quite nice. The staff were friendly and the menu reasonably priced.
Sunday and it was back into Birmingham to do a bit of Christmas shopping with lunch at the café in Debenhams. I’d not been there before and although the food is pretty basic the views of the south side of Birmingham make up for it.
I tried in vain to buy a new coat and whilst looking in one department store bumped into one of the women I sat by at the ballet a couple of nights before!
Weather wise it has still been quite mild and although there has been the odd shower it is still lovely for the time of year. I think it will come as a shock when we have our first really cold snap of the winter.
The Snow Queen @ Solihull Arts Complex
I’d not been to the ballet before and was worried I would get bored. However, last Wednesday, on the spur of the moment, that's exactly what I did and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This was not a lavish production but the small troupe of Ballet Theatre UK kept me entertained throughout.
The story, by Hans Christian Anderson, is about Gerda and her quest to find her lover Kay, who has been placed under the Snow Queen's spell. Her adventure takes her on a journey where Gerda encounters a band of gypsies, an enchanted reindeer and the mysterious Lapland woman, who tells Gerda to continue travelling north, where she will find Kay and the Snow Queen's palace of ice.
Only Gerda's love for Kay can release him from the spell and break the Snow Queen's curse of eternal winter.
Although not as spectacular as the poster promised I was still drawn in and the time passed really quickly. I can't really comment upon the quality of the dancing, it looked good to me, but as a novice I might well have missed some of the finer points. The two ladies next to me who are regulars at the ballet said it wasn't a bad performance although one or two were playing to the crowd. I could not say whether or not this was the case. I still enjoyed it and I think a trip to the Birmingham Royal Ballet may not be too far away.
Stopping for food before the performance we ended up going to the Handmade Burger Co. A little on the expensive side (luckily we had a 2 for 1 offer) but good food and a large vegetarian selection!
The story, by Hans Christian Anderson, is about Gerda and her quest to find her lover Kay, who has been placed under the Snow Queen's spell. Her adventure takes her on a journey where Gerda encounters a band of gypsies, an enchanted reindeer and the mysterious Lapland woman, who tells Gerda to continue travelling north, where she will find Kay and the Snow Queen's palace of ice.
Only Gerda's love for Kay can release him from the spell and break the Snow Queen's curse of eternal winter.Stopping for food before the performance we ended up going to the Handmade Burger Co. A little on the expensive side (luckily we had a 2 for 1 offer) but good food and a large vegetarian selection!
The Specials @ Plymouth Pavillions
The crowd were a strange mix and seemed much friendlier than the Wolverhampton lot. Although friendlier they were a lot less lively when the band took to the stage with a large amount around us content to stand and watch. This surprised me as I had seen The Specials on their last tour in Plymouth and the crowd that night was just one big sweaty mosh pit from front to back.
Prior to arriving at the gig the first part of the evening was spent at the Jury’s Inn bar. A great atmosphere with a group of us who were there just for the gig. We watched the football (QPR beating Chelsea 1-0) and talked about Man Utd's defeat to rivals Man City 6-1. It's funny how a result like that can bring people together! Afterwards we ended up back there for a nightcap before heading to bed in the early hours.
Monday arrived far too quickly, no sooner had I gone to sleep and it was time to get up again. We checked out, found somewhere for breakfast. Afterwards it was a mad dash up to Bristol to get my train back to Birmingham.
As expected the train was overcrowded and there was a delay whilst the powers that be added more coaches. I got chatting to the woman next to me who was trying to get back to the Isle of Man. She had been performing at a music festival somewhere in Cornwall. Chatting away made the journey so much quicker and it wasn't long before I was back in Brum.
Cornwall
Saturday and having spent an hour or so on Praa Sands (T-shirt weather in October!) It was off to Hayle Estuary for a spot of bird spotting. Black Tailed Godwit, Bar Tailed Godwit, Oyster Catcher, Little Egret, Shelduck as well as Black Headed Gulls, Lesser Black Backed Gulls and a highlight for me a Whimbrel!
To be honest, I wished I'd stayed longer and got a bit closer to the birds as I'm sure I missed loads but I intend on going back in the not too distant future.
One Man, Two Guvners @ The New Alexandra
No posts for over 2 weeks! This is down to a busy run about a fortnight ago and a lazy streak in recent days.
To bring you up to speed I’d like to go back to Thursday 20th September.
We arrived in Birmingham and, having had something to eat at Pizza Express in the Bullring, made our way to The New Alexandra Theatre to see One Man Two Guvnors starring James Corden.
I was not aware of the story prior to arriving but apparently it is based on an Goldini’s The Servant Of Two Masters. Richard Bean’s version is set in 60's Brighton and tells the story Francis Henshall (James Cordon) who inadvertently ends up working for Rachel Crabbe (disguised as her dead brother) and Stanley Stubbers (lover of Rachel and guilty of the murder of her brother).
To bring you up to speed I’d like to go back to Thursday 20th September.
We arrived in Birmingham and, having had something to eat at Pizza Express in the Bullring, made our way to The New Alexandra Theatre to see One Man Two Guvnors starring James Corden.
I was not aware of the story prior to arriving but apparently it is based on an Goldini’s The Servant Of Two Masters. Richard Bean’s version is set in 60's Brighton and tells the story Francis Henshall (James Cordon) who inadvertently ends up working for Rachel Crabbe (disguised as her dead brother) and Stanley Stubbers (lover of Rachel and guilty of the murder of her brother).I am not really one for farces and there were parts that I thought were predictable (you could see the punchlines coming a mile off) but there was enough here to make me laugh and keep me entertained. James Cordon suited the role and played it very well as did the majority of the supporting cast.
Not the greatest trip to the theatre but not a bad night. I’m not sure it is as good as the reviews make out but, judging by the audience reaction, I might be in the minority when I say that.
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