Random Stuff!

[Kevin Farnell]

New 20,000sqft Apple store to open next month replacing the current 5000sqft store located in the Bullring. The great thing about this move is that a massive retail name is moving people out of the Bullring shopping centre and bringing people back to the streets. New street hopefully will start to thrive again.

I'm absolutely gutted

As Waterstones, it was my favourite shop on the whole planet. It just seemed so right that such a beautiful building (the curved stairways were to die for) was filled with Humankinds most wonderful method of recording history, science, arts, and literature - books!
High tech just seems such a mismatch for such a wonderful building.
It was one place I always went into in Birmingham, even if I wasn't going to buy a book. I doubt I'll ever go into it as an Apple store.
Extremely sad

Kevin

 

[Brum X]

1 of 3 cranes going up for 3 Snowhill (85 metres)

Great pic from JayPeeDee @ SSC

 

[Butty]

Such a fabulous building, I hope that the internal alterations are as sympathetic as the outside works.

The Spectator have an interesting article about Birmingham, primarily focused on the new Chief Conductor of the CBSO but well worth a read.

There were one or two lines that stood out to me

and that you’ll never see the words ‘Birmingham premiere’ on a Symphony Hall programme. Birmingham doesn’t really do self-promotion, and when it does it tends to be about the wrong things.


Birmingham’s energy comes from a very un-English willingness to live in the moment: and then to push on to the next big thing. New is good. Tastefully repurposed heritage building, or shiny new shopping centre? No contest. Birmingham has always been about commerce, progress, change: the values embodied by 18th-century innovators like Matthew Boulton and James Watt, whose statues, coated in dazzling gold bling, stand across Broad Street from Symphony Hall. It doesn’t yell about how tolerant, lively and diverse it is: it just gets on and does it. Birmingham has had three Muslim mayors.


Birmingham can be maddening – but culturally it has a lot to teach London

I agree with that quote from the Spectator. One of Birmingham's great features is that it does not crow on about how bloody brilliant it thinks it is. We get on with our lives and move Forward. Always have done. Always will.

 

[JENNYJET]

I had an interesting morning here in North Worcestershire, clear skies and light but variable winds.

The usual R33 inbound traffic changed from the usual and aircraft were routed to R15.

The regular RAF Voyager from Prestwick flew directly above my home at approximately 9000ft and sounded musical and shortly after, the Qatar flight passed by North of me followed by Emirates A380, followed by a Monarch and Thomson service.

I heard the small stuff, I definitely heard the RAF flight but the A380? Nothing!

It was magnificent moving serenely across the sky in silence, binoculars emphasized it's awesome progress under control of humans and computers, seemingly defying gravity.

Climatic conditions offered me this day a rare treat, it remains for DWP to allow me the opportunity to visit BHX once more with my old cameras but I seriously need a Scanning radio device!

To meet only one of you would be a treat so that memories can be exchanged. It is likely that one of you shall be at the airfield!!

 

[jfy1999]

I think the airliners took a circuitous route due to a light aircraft that was circling to the northeast of my house near the usual flight path. But I've seen a few more flights take the same route this evening, so not sure what's going on there.

Some of the flights around midday were put in a brief holding pattern over my house. With the A380 flying over and other planes circling round it was pretty spectacular.

Every time there's a runway change during I get to enjoy seeing planes taking unusual flight paths or flying much lower – which is not often but makes BHX look really busy

 

[davecleaver777]

To the number crunchers out there I would like to know their take on OTT Movements do you record and log the aircraft as seen via FR24 or plane finder and trust the info is right or confirm registrations with the mark one eye ball. Something ive done since 1993

 

[wolfheze]

View attachment 3743 Viscount G-APEY. Saw the airframe countless times in British Airways colours.

 

[blotbuc1]

Flew on her in the 70's from NCL and LBA to LHR in both NorthEast and British Airways colours.

 

[Ray Finkle]

View attachment 3743 Viscount G-APEY. Saw the airframe countless times in British Airways colours.

That's quite a collection now, you'll be needing a second cabinet soon

 

[wolfheze]

That's quite a collection now, you'll be needing a second cabinet soon

It's getting a little full now and I've got two 747s and an L1011 to find yet plus a few narrow bodies which haven't yet been produced.

 

[wolfheze]

Flew on her in the 70's from NCL and LBA to LHR in both NorthEast and British Airways colours.

As lads we always wanted to get a flight from bhx to lhr but never had the funds to do it.

 

[blotbuc1]

Fortunately I wasn't paying!

 

[Ashley]

Air China's Safety Tips: Avoid Indian, Pakistani and Black Neighbourhoods

Air China’s in-flight magazine, Wings of China currently has a lengthy feature on visiting London and its attractions.

The following extract about safety is alarming to say the least.

“London is generally a safe place to travel, however, precautions are needed when entering areas mainly populated by Indians, Pakistanis, and black people. We advise tourists not to go out alone at night, and females always to be accompanied by another person when travelling.”

Not very proffessional at all. Surely those nationalities mentioned will be offended.

More at: http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/ ... +at+a+Time

 

[flymetothemoon]

Jennyjet,would you like me to pick you up one day and take you to
our airport. I hav e a mini if this is ok for you let me know. I am in LA
till next Thursday but aftewr that let me know i would be honoured!

 

[JENNYJET]

Jennyjet,would you like me to pick you up one day and take you to
our airport. I hav e a mini if this is ok for you let me know. I am in LA
till next Thursday but aftewr that let me know i would be honoured!

I believe there may be a misunderstanding here.

I also have a Mini, the ALL4 Countryman Cooper SD model.

I am 15 minutes from the airfield, and it is simply my mental state, my physical state and the need to allow my Peggy, a beautifully loyal Staffordshire Bull Terrier that has enabled us to become inseparable to be able to enter the airport site however limited it may be.

I need to be settled with DWP and the Draconian regime of testing and interrogation to secure a relatively small amount of money that enables me to eat, keep warm in Winter and allow me to keep a vehicle. A decision is due by Christmas but I expect nothing.

Frankly Sir, I would enjoy LAX but my heart is with BHX.

THANK YOU SIR!!!

 

[flymetothemoon]

I actually meant to BHX. If i can be of service let me know

 

[wolfheze]

Would taking a dog to car park 5 be frowned upon? Only asking because I might go for an hour or two on Friday morning.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Would taking a dog to car park 5 be frowned upon? Only asking because I might go for an hour or two on Friday morning.

I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem, I'm sure that I've seen people with dogs there in the past.

I need to be settled with DWP and the Draconian regime of testing and interrogation to secure a relatively small amount of money that enables me to eat, keep warm in Winter and allow me to keep a vehicle. A decision is due by Christmas but I expect nothing.

It's unfair that you have to wait such a long time, adding to the stress levels. I will keep my fingers crossed for a positive outcome.

When you finally get the good news maybe a meet up at the top of the car park could be arranged. I'm sure there are many that would love to meet Peggy

 

[JENNYJET]

I actually meant to BHX. If i can be of service let me know

I fully understood your message, my LAX comments were illustrative in nature. BHX is in my heart and I wish only prosperity fir the airport and be able to get to know the site once more before time has ended.

Thank you once more sir!!

 

[JENNYJET]

I wouldn't have thought it would be a problem, I'm sure that I've seen people with dogs there in the past.



It's unfair that you have to wait such a long time, adding to the stress levels. I will keep my fingers crossed for a positive outcome.

When you finally get the good news maybe a meet up at the top of the car park could be arranged. I'm sure there are many that would love to meet Peggy

Sir Raymond, perhaps an Earldom is in order but as of this night, your suggestion of a meet at BHX interests me, an ability to meet with fellow BHX followers in a forum of friendship may energize discussion and would perhaps alert the Airport company that there is a body of opinion that may shape future development of our Airport.

We may perhaps enjoy the simplicity of seeing the magnificence of Human ingenuity as the A380 escapes gravity and serenely engages in the transportation of people and commerce.