Reflections

Well the Soccer season is nearing its conclusion. Birmingham City blew the chance to gain automatic promotion on Saturday night. Winning 1-0 they eventually lost 2-1 to the Pressed-on Northenders. Lee Bowyer did what he always does best and was red carded for yet another girlie fight on the pitch. After his punch up with Keiran Dwyer (both playing for Newcastle United) against the glorious Aston Villa a few years ago, you'd suspect he would have learned to behave, but realistically if I was on £30,000 per WEEK I wouldn't care either.

The Baggies seem to have at last found their testicles this weekend and put a few in against The Mackems, but is it too much, too little, too late? Methinks so

As for The Villa, they seem destined to scrape in at 5th place, having halted a run of 6 defeats with 4 draws, but they still look like they can't win to save their life!

30 miles up the A38, Burton Albion have achieved league status for the first time ever! Well done to The Brewers.

What this area needs is perpetual or continual Premier League football with a strong (West and East) Midlands presence, and the yoyo teams, a title currently held by Small Heath Alliance, and West Bromwich Albion, to be London or Lancashire teams, like Charlton, West Ham, Bolton and Wigan. Then there's the banter preceding the big games Baggies v Wolves, Blues v Villa even Derby v Forest and Leicester v Coventry, followed by six months of bragging half of us and six months of cringing for the other half. Such a great feeling. Even if you've lost, you still have the belief that you can bounce back in the next game. Its such a pity that we've had such a void in that department in this area for so long.

I always will be a Villan, but unlike many others, I follow my local teams and hope they all do nearly as well as Villa. Next season 2009-10, it'll be Villa/Blues/Wolves in the Premier League. Let's hope that all three stay up and are joined for 2010-11 by the Baggies and even Coventry. Lets also pray for the relegation of West Ham, Spurs, Fulham, Bolton and Wigan.

DTW 27/4/2009

St Georges Day, 2009

[Both JPEGs have been plagiarised from other sites]

DTW - 23/4/2009

Standing Room Only!

This morning was the funeral of old family friend, Keith Wall. So in the space of 10 days, I've visited Yardley Crematorium twice.

We drove up the artery road from Stockfield Road to the chapel, and had no idea what awaited us, as the area was packed with people waiting for the hearse. As we slowly filed in, the main chapel room became full and the overspill went up the stairs to the balcony. 170 people must've turned out to pay their respects. Keith's casket was draped in The Union Flag, and he had Two flag bearers to accompany him to his final destination. In the service, between the two hymns, daughter Angela gave us a thorough and deeply touching speech, to which the mourners gave a rapturous ovation. Incidentally, it was really nice to see the cheeky smiling Nigel after 40 years. At the committal, we heard a recording of a sole bugle playing "The Last Post" and "The Rouse" separated by a minute silence. I'd never seen this before in real life and it was most moving. As we left the chapel, the lump in my throat doubled as Frank Sinatra sang "My Way".

Earlier back at Muriel's house, we'd seen hundreds of sympathy cards too, overtaking every inch of shelving space in the extended living room.

Keith (as we know) was obviously very very well liked and will be greatly missed by so many of us.

DTW 20/4/2009

[An apology to the family: In my previous blog, I'd incorrectly identified the cause of Keith's death as MRSA. This was wrong, although Vasculitis can be caused by many factors including MRSA]

Streets Ahead

Car purchased mid March 2008. Wheels purchased end of March 2008. Wheels sold end of September 2008 . Google Earth street view shots at the junction of Allenscroft Road & Reeves Road (right) must have been taken between those two dates. The shot above was taken in Ilfracombe on August 12th 2008.

There's lots of adverse publicity about Google Earth's Street View, but I'm quite chuffed they found me!!!

Roots

Many of us forget that the celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth at Christmas is only the second most important celebration in The Christian Calendar. The most important, Easter, The Crucifixion and The Resurrection are by far, the most symbolic of a faith that is now seriously under threat in The UK, by other religions. As I sit today, reflecting on things, my thoughts wander with wonder, to my own church, The Holy Trinity Church at Camp Hill in Birmingham, where I was christened (MCMLX), where my parents were married (MCMLV), where my grandparents were also married a mere 44 days after the end of The Great War (MCMXVIII). Built in 1822 at an immense cost of £14,235, the carcass of this Grade 2 listed building, with its four spires, still stands proudly, looking over the Bordesley Middleway (or The Sandy Lane Expressway as it should be called looking at the speeds some drivers reach down there). Now recently sold to a company, and awaiting planning permission, for change of use to a gallery and offices, it's former grand interior was ruthlessly stripped bare by its previous occupants, the boot night shelter, of St Basil's, so that the homeless, the hungry and the needy could have a dry place to sleep. A worthy reason, yes, but ruthless nonetheless. Back in the 1870's The Holy Trinity Youth Cricket Club (Like their now superior rivals, from Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel, across the city) formed The Small Heath Football Club (Later to become The Small Heath Alliance), so that they could keep fit during the winter months. That means that I am actually associated more closely with the Noses from my roots than I would care to be... Now on to the mid 1980s, and the redevelopment of Sandy Lane. So that this could be achieved and allowed, all of the graves from Holy Trinity were exhumed en masse and re interred in The Brandwood End Cemetery, before any work could be done. Recent commotion over the alleged mismanagement of City funds for redevelopment of a small part of Brandwood End Cemetery under the title "Gridlock Gregory And The Flowerpot Man" on Mr Goldberg's passionately pro-Brummie site "The Stirrer" begs one to wonder if the mass grave from Camp Hill would be safe from further disturbances? I sincerely hope that the new keepers of The Holy Trinity Church structure and building maintain its use as a worthy one, like The C of E and later, and like Boot also did.

[In trying to research this article I have hit the biggest brick wall as The Friends Of Brandwood website seems to have died a quick death, and there is no reference to the removal of the mass graves on any website using the usual searches. Photographs supplied are from a personal collection of Mary Wilson (née Mary Pitt) a member of The congregation of Holy Trinity from 1929 to 1963 including membership of the Parochial Church Council or PCC from 1947 to 1963, and former resident of Sandy Lane and Ravenhurst Street]

DTW 10/4/2009

My Turn

Just a little self congratulation today.

This day in 1960, my mother needed in excess of 15 stitches. Enough said. As Victoria is Always hyperactive on Saturday and Wednesday we decided to have a take away rather than go for a meal. Samantha, Jonathan and I had some charcoal chicken from Kings Heath. Annette had a Chinese from The Majestic in Cotteridge. Simon had a pizza from Cotteridge. Always a run around... by guess who? Yes the birthday boy himself. Yours truly.

Thanks to all my family and friends for all the cards and gifts. Even at 49 it amazes me the vast quantity I receive (4 this year). ROFL.

(Photos: Top Left. Happy Families Butlins 1968ish. Bottom Right Me and Jonathan at my graduation, 1981.) DTW 8/4/2009

In Memory of Albert

Following Dorothy's funeral on Bad Friday, and Keith Wall's sad demise on Sunday, today I wish to remember my late father-in-law Albert William Clarie, who was born this day in 1926. He was always supportive of me and my hair brain schemes. He adored Betty (even after her smoking caused his NSC-LC) worshipped his daughter, Annette, and all 3 grand children (Jonathan, Simon and Heather). If he were with us today, he would have cherished his first (step) great grand child, little Victoria. I miss his stories, I miss his wisdom, I miss his advice.

I just miss him. We all do.

DTW 7/4/2009