Beauty of Birmingham

 Even though Birmingham is known as being at the heart of the Industrial Revolution and the City of 1000 Trades, many people who have never visited there are surprised at how green the city is, even close to the City Centre.

The city has more miles of canal than Venice, more trees than Paris and more parkland than any other European City. All of the images below were taken within a couple of miles of the City Centre.

Bluebells at Winterboune Botanical Garden

Winterbourne is one of the best surviving examples of an Edwardian Arts and Crafts suburban villa garden in Birmingham. The garden was lovingly created by the homeowners, Margaret and John Nettlefold, of Guest Keen and Nettlefold, using the books of Gertrude Jekyll as guides and inspiration. It is located in Edgbaston, just about 2 miles from the City Centre

Edgbaston Pool

Edgbaston Pool, located just two miles from Birmingham City Centre, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Edgbaston. Also known as Edgbaston Park, the site is adjacent to Winterbourne Botanic Garden and Edgbaston Golf Course and close to the University of Birmingham. Access is via Winterbourne Botanic Garden.

Not far from Edgbaston Pool, we have Edgbaston Reservoir.

Edgbaston Reservoir

Edgbaston Reservoir, on a crisp January morning. Originally a small pool, it was extensively enlarged by Thomas Telford between 1824-1829 to supply water to the Birmingham and Wolverhampton Levels of the Birmingham Canal Navigations canal system via Icknield Port Loop at the foot of the dam. It was formed by damming a small stream. The dam is a 330 metre long earth embankment with a height of 10 metres near the centre.

Birmingham City Skyline

Birmingham City Centre skyline as seen behind the dam of Edgbaston Reservoir. Showing the Post Office Tower to the left, and the new Birmingham Library in the centre.

City View

The view from the roof of the Birmingham City Library (the orange building in the centre of the photo above) looking towards Edgbaston, demonstrating just how green Birmingham is. The building to the left is the National Sea Life Centre, while on the right is Birmingham's National Indoor Arena (NIA).

You may see more of my images from Birmingham by visiting my Birmingham Gallery.

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As usual, my work is available to purchase as original  Wall Art, in a variety of formats from stretched canvas or framed prints, metal or acrylic prints,or simply as standard prints for you to mount in your favourite picture frame. They are also available as greeting cards or printed onto iPhone or Galaxy phone cases, throw pillows, duvet covers or tote bags. Simply click on the  image and you will be taken to my gallery where you will find full details.

Best Investment Advice

 

UKRAINE

 I am sure that the majority of us feel the same about Trump and his actions. If you are a Trump supporter, please do not visit this blog - you will not be welcome!

Back Again!!

 I started this blog 22 years ago and last wrote something nearly 2 years ago. For some reason I thought that I might start writing again but not sure how long I will keep it up! At the ripe old age of 78 it probably won't be for very long!

I will start with a joke I recently heard.

Two doctors were walking along the road away from the hospital when they saw a man in front of them who was having difficulty walking. He was limping and had an almost crab like gait. Poor fellow, said the first doctor, he must have a slipped disc. No, said his colleague it is surely an arthritic hip.

Anyway they soon catch up with him, said that were sorry for his preidcament but asked if he would mind saying which one of them was right, telling him that one though he was suffering from a slipped disc while the other one thought it was an arhritic hip. Well the man replied_ 

"you are a doctor and you though it was a slipped disc, and you were wrong, and you sir are a doctor and you tthought it was an arthritic hip and you were wrong. As it happens, I also am a doctor, and I though it was a fart, and I was wrong!"

TWO TOUGH QUESTIONS

Question 1: 

If you knew a woman who was pregnant,

Who had 8 kids already,

Three who were deaf,

Two who were blind,

One mentally retarded,

And she had syphilis,

Would you recommend that she have an abortion?

Read the next question before looking at the response for this one

 QUESTION 2 :

It is time to elect a new world leader, and only your vote counts.

Here are the facts about the three candidates.

Candidate A:

Associates with crooked politicians,

and consults with astrologists,

He's had two mistresses,

He also chain smokes

And drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.

Candidate B:

He was kicked out of office twice,

Sleeps until noon,

Used opium in college,

And drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.

Candidate C:

He is a decorated war hero.

He's a vegetarian,

Doesn't smoke,

Drinks an occasional beer,

And never committed adultery.

Which of these candidates would be your choice?

Decide first .. No peeking, and then scroll down for the response.

>

Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Candidate B is Winston Churchill.

Candidate C is Adolph Hitler.

And, by the way, on your answer to the abortion question:

If you said YES, you just killed Beethoven.

Back Again

It's been a while since I last posted here, but with the rise in wokeism countered by the new Trump presidensy in the US, I thought I would try and start posting regularly again.