blipmeet Birmingham

It starts off badly and ends badly.  But the bit in the middle is just delicious - like the creamiest, most chocolaty filling in your favourite cake.  With lots of nuts and sprinkles for good measure.

We decide to go by train and so a few days ago I reserve and pay for a parking space at MK train station car park.  This will save a lot of stress and hassle on the day.  Then I hear on the grapevine that buying a parking space does not in fact guarantee a parking space. I email the car park company; they confirm what I’ve heard.  So I email back asking what’s the point of reserving a space.  They email back saying there is none - and indeed they don’t advise it…..  Not only that they suggest getting there early - before 9.00am - just in case there are no spaces (even though I’ve paid…..)

Then it turns out Kelly needs a lift to work and we have to leave NOW and I can’t find my rail card and blah blah blah..…  What is meant to be a leisurely start to the day turns into a rush through the hour of rushing.  We do in fact end up with a parking space but also an hour wait for our train.  Because we are early.

After an hour and a half of gentle plodding through the countryside of Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, on a packed train, we eventually pull into Birmingham New Street Station to be greeted by the smiling face of BlackTulip, who left from Milton Keynes station after us and arrived before us.  Work that one out.

Hildarose has organised the day and she does us proud.  After coffee and a catch up, the next step is organising lunch.  Then an introduction to the cultural highlights of Britain’s second city.  I am just knocked out by Birmingham - I’ve passed through many times but never stopped.  A big mistake.

Old and new architecture and old and new artworks sit side by side quite happily. The library is  really impressive (extra photo) - it’s the largest public cultural space in Europe. 

It’s a great day - lots to see, good food and nice people to spend time with.  Eventually Anniemay and I and Blacktulip and her husband take our leave and catch a train back to Milton Keynes (the same one this time).  At Northampton the train stops and we’re told that it’s not going any further - they’ve run out of drivers.  So we get off and walk the length of the platform in the pouring rain and wait almost half an hour until another train arrives to continue the journey.  
Looking back I guess it’s just a blip in an otherwise great day.

I think for future blipmeets we should all take a photo before we set off, then we can leave our cameras at home and get on with the serious business of eating and having fun.