12. Birmingham

Photo: www.intelligentcommunity.org

The Journey

The trip from Liverpool Lime Street to Birmingham New Street was excellent value at €11 for the one hour 45 min trip. It was booked on the Omio app and was with Avanti West Rail

King's Heath High Street
 Photo: www.birminghamlive.co.uk            

I stayed with my friends Graeme and Vicki who live just off King's Heath High Street, south of the city centre.  I was delighted to catch up with them as it has been a year since they visited us in Ireland.

Graeme waited for my arrival under the Birmingham Bull at New Street Station, which reminded me of the Nantes Elephant. It is so big that I didn't actually spot it at first - literally a bull, as opposed to an elephant in the room!

Then Graeme put on his official Visit Birmingham cap and dutifully pointed out all the important sights ...

... as we made our way back to their place, a very attractive Victorian semi.

Straight away a very colourful display of classic and 7in singles caught my eye in their TV lounge. 

On Tuesday night, we dined in one of their favourite local Indian restaurants, King's Indian Dining. It being Birmingham, the curries and side dishes were of course  top notch.

One of the restaurant's brilliant innovations was the possibility of having most main courses served as a starter size or main course size. So I chose two starter size portions of the aubergine-based curry and the chick pea one, but got to taste the whole range of dishes spread out on the table, including masala chips - a new one for me. For the remainder of Monday evening, Vinny (or George) just owned me on his favourite chair!  I can't show this photo to Ollie when I get home!

Depression has come over Ollie already, as he pines my absence, and he has retreated into the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet!

The next day we didn't go on our planned trip to the Malvern Hills. Instead I got to see the delights of the South Birmingham suburbs, including the Cadbury and Bournville districts, where the houses built to house the workers in the chocolate factories are now highly desirable, despite the long-held stipulation that no pubs are allowed in these areas! I wondered if this is where the description "chocolate box view" comes from?

And right next to this area is the massive Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Its futuristic design actually featured in a Doctor Who episode.

As hospitals go, it really is an impressive building.  

Dinner on Wednesday night was truly a family effort celebrating the British pie tradition, with Graeme's Nigel Slater-inspired mackerel pie, Polly's vegetarian shepherd's pie and Vicki's red berry crumble served with Greek yoghurt.  Amazing food and brilliant company. 

For my departure breakfast on Thursday, I decided (with an equal mix of trepidation and anticipation) to try Marmite for the first time. I was advised by both Graeme and Vicki to just put on a light skim on top of the melted butter. I also learned that you have to always use a separate knife! But guess what, to everyone's surprise (including my own) I LOVED IT!! 

Local bus transport in Birmingham is fast and efficient with easy smartphone payment available, while an Uber to New Street Station brought me there in double quick time, avoiding the rush hour traffic. 

As this stopover visit was fleeting, I departed with the feeling that there was still lots and lots to see and do in the UK's second city, and maybe next time I'll get to experience the Malvern Hills!