Terrifying! And not just because of the speed. I hadn't realised how much of the Longbridge end is shared pedestrian/cycle path which is dangerous for everyone, especially where the path goes past a side entry which is hidden by a hedge or fence. Too many poles plonked in the middle of the path too.
My school had a CCF but alternatives were available. While some pupils were outside playing toy soldiers I spent many a happy Friday afternoon cleaning the headphones in the language lab with disinfectant. No-one can say that I failed to serve my country.
Also, technology has changed. The Dad's Army of today won't be marching up and down with rifles, we'll be protecting power stations from cyber attack, or learning how to jam enemy drones.
My parents used to live at Portishead on the English side of the Bristol Channel where a sizeable part of the town could only get Welsh telly. Eventually a relay transmitter was opened to fill the gap, but the numerous hills prevented 100% coverage.
Live tracker works from both versions of the site, even though again the station name has to be selected via a search function - so why doesn't this work for buying tickets?
Screenshot of "Choose stations" from West Midlands Railway mobile site: Pineapple Road does not appear in the search list - Spring Road is chosen instead
Strange quirk of the @westmidrailway.bsky.social website: the mobile site doesn't allow purchase of tickets from Pineapple Road, because the station name doesn't come up in a search. It does work in the desktop site though. www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/stations/pin...
I need to get out more
As a native of the country where the English language was born, I always feel the need to apologise to anyone trying to learn it - especially the often illogical spelling. Place names are possibly the worst: for instance, there are two towns called Gillingham, one spoken with a hard G and one soft.
Nothing wrong with those words. Anyone who knows the "system" can work out exactly how to pronounce them.
Just been at a concert where, after the orchestra tuned up, someone in the audience emitted a loud burp. Not even a snigger… we were all so well behaved.
By threatening to cancel an online data storage service - I signed up last year at a discounted introductory rate - I have just got myself a year's free 5 TB of online storage. Note to self: take more photos.
The glory days are back... looking forward to the relegation battles!
Signposts attached to a heritage-styled lamppost: one sign points to the Market Place and Bishop's Palace, another to the Harry Patch memorial, all against a blue sky
#FingerpostFriday comes to you from outside Wells Cathedral: Harry Patch, one of the longest-lived First World War veterans, was awarded the Freedom of the City in 2008
(Ring like) thunder and (run like) lightning. I can only remember being with friends who did this <cough> in Germany where my father was working for the British Forces. A lot of people lived in flats with outside doorbells which made it extra tempting.
GCSE English question: make up a political slogan to comment on this policy. You may find the words “holes”, “Swiss” and “cheese” useful.
To be fair, Powell also spoke Greek, and indeed was a Professor in the subject at the age of 26. He was highly intelligent, but perhaps his obsession with the classical world made him incapable of relating to the modern world with its diversity, nuances and different needs.
“I send my…” best/condolences/love are the prompts offered by my phone, which doesn’t understand my lifestyle well enough to predict “apologies for the meeting”.
It’s intriguing to wonder what, if any, is the connection between the two statements
For a while it was "wonderful Radio 3"
Relieved to say that none of these are on my Christmas card list
I was once a governor at a primary school which earned an Ofsted report containing the wonderful phrase “Racism is alien to the children”. It would simply never occur to children to choose their friends by colour, background or language - as long as their minds aren’t poisoned by adults.
On Tuesday - the day the new line opened - I was at an event near Bournville station and decided, on a whim, to catch the train to New Street and then on to Pineapple Road, from where I walked home. I live half way between the two stations. So many possibilities!
I would imagine so. I have the luxury of a senior bus pass so am spared the hassle of buying tickets for local trains.
View along the tracks from a platform at Moseley Village station
Maybe this narrative will encourage others to take on the challenge of the Pineapple Ring. It’s easy enough to do if you have an hour to spare - because that’s exactly how long it takes. It can of course be done in the opposite direction, or even split up into chunks.
View looking through trees over the backs of houses
A train leaving Pineapple Road station
View along the railway line from Pineapple Road station platform. The line goes under a bridge with trees on each side.
View looking from above Pineapple Road station, showing the platform roofs and part of the line
“Here we go,” I heard, as the train got moving for the final leg of my journey. Trees restricted the view from the height of the Lifford embankment: a small price to pay for living in such a wooded area. I left the train at Pineapple Road and watched as it carried further adventurers on its way.
At Kings Norton station, the top of a plastic bottle sticking out of the top of a hollow rusty metal post
Looking across the tracks at Kings Norton station. Where platforms 2 and 3 ought to be are deserted, and a sign warns "Keep off the track"
Looking along the tracks at Kings Norton station, where a train heads off into the distance
Departure board at Kings Norton station, including the Camp Hill service to New Street
Kings Norton station has, for me, a rather desolate feel. Platforms 1 and 4 are in use but the central section is completely abandoned. I found a group of elderly men chatting about how long it had taken to get the Camp Hill line stations - closed in 1941 - back into service.
The Grade 2 listed Birmingham New Street Signal Box
University station platform sign: for Queen Elizabeth Hospital and University of Birmingham
View across a canal aqueduct towards University buildings, including the clock tower "Old Joe" (which happens to be the tallest freestanding clock tower in the world)
Selly Oak station sign, and a banner fixed to railings: "Drawing is my passion, it's where I find solace"
Five Ways, University, Selly Oak, Bournville - these stations have been in operation for many years, and the landmarks are very familiar to me. The line follows the canal for much of the route.
People boarding a train at New Street station. The platform display indicates that it is going to Kings Norton via the Camp Hill Line stations.
Platform sign indicating a departure to Bromsgrove, stopping at (among others) Bournville and Kings Norton
Passengers were already waiting on the platform to board for the return journey, since the train merely shuttles between here and Kings Norton every half an hour. I had other plans though, and headed for platform 12 to take the Cross City line.
Looking down between trees for a fleeting glimpse of a section of canal
A goods yard full of shipping containers
Behind the railway fence, a construction site, with tall commercial buildings behind
The train entrance to New Street Station, with the words GRAND CENTRAL above and a wall of the Odeon cinema on the right
I resumed the journey as the train took the long curve through Bordesley, glimpsing a canal and commercial sites as indications of past and present industry. Soon the train made its entrance to New Street Station.
Street art on a wall showing a fist and a Palestinian flag: "You can't separate peace from freedom"
Planters made from oil drums standing in the street. One is labelled "The Cuban Embassy" (it is actually a restaurant)
Visitors will find that, as villages go, Moseley is rather urban, and there are many signs that it is highly political.