On Your Own Doorstep...Grand Central

Hello Everyone,


Originally posted six years ago. Wow! Time flies. I can’t believe. I am reposting it today because Birmingham is an exciting place to be right now. On Monday I watched the Commonwealth baton carried right past my house on the way to the Sandwell Valley. The baton was carried through Sandwell on Monday before Solihull on Tuesday and onto Birmingham for the start of the Commonwealth Games. Grand Central and the Library, the largest in Europe (posted last week) will be visited by numerous peeps from around the Commonwealth this week. Enjoy.
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Yes, it's arrived...August and we all know what's round the corner. I won't mention it, well just say the 'C' word and leave it to your imagination!

I'm continuing with my theme of  'On Your Own Doorstep' and last week I went into Birmingham, on the Metro, using my concessionary pass, so it was FREE. Don't you just love that word! Free travel, one of the perks of old age in the UK. The Metro now goes through Birmingham city centre stopping at Bull Street and Corporation Street before terminating at Grand Central for New Street Station.

Birmingham, approximately five miles from home, so on the doorstep, has undergone much regeneration over the last decade or so. Grand Central is the masterpiece on the site previously known as The Pallasades. What used to be a cold, uninviting concourse with central escalators leading to New Street Station is now a vibrant, lively, inviting area full of eating places and surrounded by attractive shops. It used to be a boring thoroughfare to the station. Now, it is a hive of activity with an electric atmosphere.

The Birmingham of the 'swinging sixties' has disappeared to be replaced by a twenty-first century one. I was meeting a friend for lunch and a chat. While waiting I wandered out onto the main entrance to the station and surveyed the view. It was hard to believe it was still Smallbrook Queensway. The massive concrete block opposite the station had disappeared with new modern buildings in its place. There were only two features remaining, the iconic Rotunda building and The Odeon cinema, the only red brick building in sight. I was really impressed. In fact, I am going to make a prediction! Bearing in mind that the NEC is on the outskirts of Birmingham and its location in the country my prediction is that by the next century Birmingham will have replaced London as the capital of England. London will be a tourist attraction.

I will leave you with that thought and some of my pics.

The red brick Odeon midst the new Birmingham

The iconic Rotunda

The very modern roof on Grand Central

Have a great week,

Lady M  xxxxx