A Birmingham and Black Country thread for all things Brummie and Yam-Yam

[Smokeandsteam]

Really sad. Wrong place wrong time. Night out with friends and it ends tragically for no fucking reason. Not heard anything about the woman who was in a critical condition. I hope she's going to be ok. There's no doubt really that we've got a real bad problem with knife crime, for a myriad of reasons.

I’m unusually angry about this one - the thought of some prick wandering around town randomly knifing kids having a night out is sickening.

But you are right, knife crime generally is prevalent across the city, has been for some time and it seems that the expectation is that we regard it as an unfortunate facet of life.

 

[cybershot]

I noticed yesterday it made the front page of some nationals (not the main headline of course) about manhunt under way but absolutely nothing on any of them this morning about him being caught.

gives a real perspective of how south focused the media are.

although saying that. If it was Manchester it would probably have gotten more press too. Which I’m sure would have nothing to do with media city being there.

 

[Lorca]

Indeed, I thought this note at the end of that Guardian article on knife crime in Brum inadvertently summed up the National Media's complete lack if interest: '• This article was amended on 7 September 2020 to correct a misnaming of Sheldon as Shelby.'

 

[blossie33]

Indeed, I thought this note at the end of that Guardian article on knife crime in Brum inadvertently summed up the National Media's complete lack if interest: '• This article was amended on 7 September 2020 to correct a misnaming of Sheldon as Shelby.'

I don't know whether to laugh or not at your last sentence

 

[BCBlues]

More bad news in the area. Let's see if the nationals pick up on this.

Brum Covid infection rate rockets overnight - lockdown fears rise Brum Covid infection rate rockets overnight - lockdown fears rise

I'm in North Brum and the attitude to Covid is really bad with " I dont know anyone who's had it" and a total lack of social distancing/masks going on. It's not looking good.

 

[cybershot]

This whole ‘stop meeting in peoples homes’ message does my head in. Surely it’s the pubs and restaurants that are the problem. But I guess that don’t matter as long as people have their ‘covid resistant debit card’ with them.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

This whole ‘stop meeting in peoples homes’ message does my head in. Surely it’s the pubs and restaurants that are the problem. But I guess that don’t matter as long as people have their ‘covid resistant debit card’ with them.

Quite, I also note we are allowed to ‘gather‘ in our workplaces, in our hundreds. People aren’t stupid. They see the contradictions and they understand what their meanings are.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Indeed, I thought this note at the end of that Guardian article on knife crime in Brum inadvertently summed up the National Media's complete lack if interest: '• This article was amended on 7 September 2020 to correct a misnaming of Sheldon as Shelby.'

I saw that. It felt profoundly apt.

Despite the, now increasingly shrill, attempts of ‘influencers’, the always abysmal local professional middle class and Street to hype Birmingham the cracks are really beginning to show.

Closed buildings and shops, half finished new ones that will never be finished, derelict land being sweated by investors for years and years, the nighttime economy collapsing from the dual threat of rocketing unemployment and the religious zealots in office.

The decision to throw everything at the centre, to make it a play space of consumption for an imagined affluent young middle class was always twenty years too late. Manchester, Newcastle, elsewhere beat us to that dubious future.

The city looks fucked as you walk around it. An architectural disaster zone. The homeless sleeping under an empty half finished ‘Paradise’. The mood and the atmosphere remind me of the 1980’s. Rocketing crime and violence. A sense of the collective head dropping. Even the shit jobs that came to replace the old ones are going.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Looks like sanity has finally prevailed - the German markets are now not going ahead.

Woohoo!

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Looks like sanity has finally prevailed - the German markets are now not going ahead.

Woohoo!

Not until ‘ever again’ is added to the end of the first sentence it hasn’t....

 

[miss direct]

Looks like sanity has finally prevailed - the German markets are now not going ahead.

Woohoo!

I was looking up last night which Christmas markets are cancelled and was surprised Birmingham's hadn't been yet. Can recreate one by taking a flash of mulled wine to a hill or something.

 

[gawkrodger]

I've posted it in the photography thread, but, at the risk of spamming, think it's relevant to here.

I've just had a photozine, The Permanent Way, published on the mothballed South Staffs railway line which cuts across the Black Country and is now forming the base of the Wednesbury metro extension.

The Permanent Way by Christian Sayer (Collated Observations 06)

Collated Observations is a series of regular photozines showcasing aspects of twenty-first century Britain through the lens of a different...

www.artdecomagpie.com

 

[Smokeandsteam]

I've posted it in the photography thread, but, at the risk of spamming, think it's relevant to here.

I've just had a photozine, The Permanent Way, published on the mothballed South Staffs railway line which cuts across the Black Country and is now forming the base of the Wednesbury metro extension.

The Permanent Way by Christian Sayer (Collated Observations 06)

Collated Observations is a series of regular photozines showcasing aspects of twenty-first century Britain through the lens of a different...

www.artdecomagpie.com

Superb. I’ve just ordered one. I’ve always wondered why more artists don’t work in the Black Country. It’s a unique landscape with green space, housing, dereliction and industry all cheek by jowl.

 

[baldrick]

I've posted it in the photography thread, but, at the risk of spamming, think it's relevant to here.

I've just had a photozine, The Permanent Way, published on the mothballed South Staffs railway line which cuts across the Black Country and is now forming the base of the Wednesbury metro extension.

The Permanent Way by Christian Sayer (Collated Observations 06)

Collated Observations is a series of regular photozines showcasing aspects of twenty-first century Britain through the lens of a different...

www.artdecomagpie.com

That's amazing.

Lockdown has been great for me discovering new places to go running and I did a few miles along there from Wolverhampton ish towards Stourbridge back in April. I tried to do a similar route not long ago and found lots of it closed off. Wish I'd taken more photos.

I'm glad it's being revived though.

 

[cybershot]

The Van Gough Alive exhibition is now open at the hippodrome, looks good. Alo BMAG is back open Weds-Sun. Probably worth a visit to help out these places if you like them.

Van Gogh Alive – Birmingham Hippodrome

www.birminghamhippodrome.com

 

[purenarcotic]

The Van Gough Alive exhibition is now open at the hippodrome, looks good. Alo BMAG is back open Weds-Sun. Probably worth a visit to help out these places if you like them.

Van Gogh Alive – Birmingham Hippodrome

www.birminghamhippodrome.com

We went to this when we visited York in February. It is so worth doing, absolutely beautiful (and quite emotional too).

 

[cybershot]

We went to this when we visited York in February. It is so worth doing, absolutely beautiful (and quite emotional too).

yeah think I’m going to go. Bit pricey at £20 but sign of the times. Can’t quite muster anyone to go, which might actually be better anyway. I can just immerse myself in it.

 

[baldrick]

Arts organisation is commissioning seven public realm artworks in north Birmingham, they have 100k to spend - applications open until 2nd Nov.

Gallery37

 

[blossie33]

My side of Brum, Perry Barr
I'll be interested to see what sort of statue they come up with for Mothers Club

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Good to see the Fazeley Street canal route feature here:

Cast-iron classics: six great walks along Britain’s industrial waterways

From historic canals to stunning viaducts and marvels of modern engineering, get up close to Britain’s industrial heritage

www.theguardian.com

During lockdown the canals have been a brilliant place for cycling and walking. If any Midlands based urbanites have got any lesser known routes - especially cycling - bang em up on here.

 

[baldrick]

I plot loads of running routes on OS maps to try and work out the best/most scenic routes that avoid traffic/roads. Most of them centre around Sandwell Valley - annoyingly because of the flood works that have been going on forever there's not an easy route East towards Perry Barr and the canal any more.

I took this pic under Spaghetti Junction, it made me laugh

Harborne walkway is a useful artery for me, you can get to the south of the city without having to use the canal round broad street.

I've been trying to plot a traffic free Birmingham circular for ages (this is how sad I am in lockdown) so if I finalise it I'll share it. It will probably be immensely long tbf.

 

[BCBlues]

Tributes pour in for Birmingham's 'iconic' first and only female council leader Theresa Stewart

Sad news. I met this lady at a Free The Birmingham Six meeting years ago and she came accross as a lovely person.

I remember her saying too that 'one glove does not fit all' when it comes to running Birmingham City Council, highlighting huge differences within the many varying areas within the City.

 

[BCBlues]

I've posted it in the photography thread, but, at the risk of spamming, think it's relevant to here.

I've just had a photozine, The Permanent Way, published on the mothballed South Staffs railway line which cuts across the Black Country and is now forming the base of the Wednesbury metro extension.

The Permanent Way by Christian Sayer (Collated Observations 06)

Collated Observations is a series of regular photozines showcasing aspects of twenty-first century Britain through the lens of a different...

www.artdecomagpie.com

I've just noticed this. It looks very interesting, I've lived briefly on the edge of that track in Dudley Port and used to work at a bakery in Wednesbury that backed onto it. My main hunting ground, truancy spot, air pistol days were spent on the other (at the time) disused track which is now the main metro link from Wolvo to Brum.

I'd love a copy but it appears to have sold out. Will there be any reissues?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I plot loads of running routes on OS maps to try and work out the best/most scenic routes that avoid traffic/roads. Most of them centre around Sandwell Valley - annoyingly because of the flood works that have been going on forever there's not an easy route East towards Perry Barr and the canal any more.

I took this pic under Spaghetti Junction, it made me laugh View attachment 238377

Harborne walkway is a useful artery for me, you can get to the south of the city without having to use the canal round broad street.

I've been trying to plot a traffic free Birmingham circular for ages (this is how sad I am in lockdown) so if I finalise it I'll share it. It will probably be immensely long tbf.

You’re brave going under there

 

[baldrick]

You’re brave going under there

Nearly asphyxiated on exhaust fumes from the mopeds being ridden furiously up and down the bridges by a little group of teenagers. Some of it was quite spooky as well, glad I wasn't on my own

 

[discokermit]

i bin doing family tree stuff. turns out nearly all my relatives, for generation after generation, have lived on the same hill. different parts of the hill sometimes but mostly the same side, even venturing down it sometimes but not much and not far.

on my dads dad side, charles ross and sarah blakeway both born in sedgley in 1700.
another branch on my dads side i got to benjamin richards, sedgley, 1721.
on my moms side so far ive got to tipton, just down from the woodsetton side of the hill in about 1815.

and the jobs! miners mainly, lots of labourers, couple of boatmen, a chainmakers striker, a blacksmiths striker, iron moulder, iron puddler, couple of fitters, a bricklayer, a canal repairer/navvy, allsorts as long as it involves digging shit, carrying shit or just ommerin shit. hardly any of the women have paid work.

so far only my 3rd great grandads brother has been convicted and sentenced for transportation but he managed it twice! once for breaking into a warehouse when he got seven years transportation but they just put him on a prison hulk in the thames for a his time and then after he got back he stole some bacon and got sent to tasmania.
his grandad, my fifth great grandad was on trial with his son and two others for stealing sheep. the father and son were aquitted but the other two got the death penalty.

still got shit loads to do.

this is my third great grandfather and family, bricklayer, moulder, fitter and smith. you could start your own foundry with them lads.

 

[discokermit]

this is a bit nearer time, my great grandad the iron moulder, his son the iron moulder, my grandad and his younger brother, assistant iron moulders.

 

[blossie33]

That's very interesting discokermit

If you need any help with anything I can recommend the Birmingham History Forum, some of the members are brilliant at knowing where to find information, births, deaths, marriages, maps of areas etc. and there is stuff on the canals.
I know you're not actually Brum but they do cover the West Midlands area as well.
www.birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[discokermit]

That's very interesting discokermit

If you need any help with anything I can recommend the Birmingham History Forum, some of the members are brilliant at knowing where to find information, births, deaths, marriages, maps of areas etc. and there is stuff on the canals.
I know you're not actually Brum but they do cover the West Midlands area as well.
www.birminghamhistory.co.uk

i have discovered two hundred and thirty four grandparents so far. only two of them came from brum so far.

 

[discokermit]

one branch of the family were in blockley, worcestershire, for many generations then in the 1770's there is the sheep stealing, the sheepstealers son moves to broadway in worcestershire, then gets evicted by the magistrates with his wife and child for being too poor and sent back to blockley. one of their sons moved to rushall, nr walsall, presumably to work down a mine.
found out today the common lands of blockley were enclosed in 1772.
a black country tale. from the cotswolds to a hole in the ground.