Heartland

There was an article in the weekend press on how Birmingham has been rejuvinated and is now the city to visit in the UK. The article explained that this has something to do with the redevelopment of a bull ring- a shopping centre, I gather, not an ampitheatre for one of Spain's most noble pursuits. Apparently this shopping centre, together with Birmingham's other major tourist attraction, the National Exhibition Centre, will make us all cancel our plans to visit New York, Venice, Iona, Boracay or some other second rate world destination, and scoot up the M6 to Birmingham instead. To visit a shopping centre and an exhibition centre.

Now, you and I know these ares the last desperate spins of a city which has been on a downward spiral since the start of the last century. But how do we bring this to the attention of the "most culturally diverse" (Birmingham Evening News) city in the UK?

And then, on my way home from the lake district in the Viagramobile, nipping down the A50 (thank you Burn) thus avoiding the Salmonella Korma capital of the world, the idea struck me. We should make Birmingham the capital of Wales. Geographic issues apart (but only by about 30 miles), the two are as obvious a match as when Andrew met the Doktor and turned away from making passive decisions. A washed up city for a washed up adjunct of the United Kingdom. We get rid of them, and they could while away the years trying to fathom what the other was saying over a never ending supply of lamb and leek curries. I'll raise a pint of kingfisher to that.

But I like lamb curry.

Nice with lentil dahl and other such pulses.

Master Margarita wrote:Nice with lentil dahl and other such pulses.

i'll take the dahl but pass on the lamb if thats ok?

Great sig., QB. Gives me eyedeerrrs.

CorpPunk wrote:Great sig., QB. Gives me eyedeerrrs.

taken from that site jim mentioned: How to become an obnoxious internet cam whore in five easy steps

Ok Quiffy....put your site up for us to watch!~

Black Planet wrote:Ok Quiffy....put your site up for us to watch!~

Yeah--but it should be free for Heartlanders.

Back on the subject, I like the Birmingham idea. In fact, I have an idea for killing two birds with one stone. Anyone have a spare bandsaw? How long would it take to cut down the border, including Brum, and wait for a good tide to take the lot away?

I give up. I try to start an informed debate about the future of one of England's least loved cities and we end up talking about internet cam whoring.

Off to join the Birmingham City Council feedback forum instead.

Spoke too soon. Mr Chris, my hero, I know a great website you and I can join....

I do my best to stimulate informed debate. Sometimes.

its a sign of the times.Birmingham just like the rest of the provincial towns and cities long go woke up to the rapidly growing new religion of this century.i speak of course about commercialism.who goes to church on sundays now eh?
its set the alarm clock early to get to the local DIY store before the ques begin to form which takes priority over peace reflection and meditation.
the masses have swaped the pews for the discount factory wharehouse of a sunday.
so,looking at this from a "please the masses"point of view,the shopping centre is as close to a religious/cultural expedition most people will choose to get close to.
even follow the same trends when go abroad too.

oh,and i favour getting away from it all to Easter Island...someday,someday..

Kingfisher - ewwww!! Why does that stuff always taste of washing up liquid??

Kingfisher is brewed in the UK (by Bass I think) and is aimed at the "10 pints followed by a vindaloo" brigade, hence the poor quality control. If you can find it, the best "curry beer" IMHO is Cobra.

Cobra for indian meals and Tsingtao or Singha for Chinese meals.

That's all you need to know!

I can't remember Cobra. But I've been drinking plenty of Kingfisher's in my days. Not to forget Singha. With a hissingly hot Chicken Ticka Sislar and those greasy, dangerously delicious flat breads. Damn I'm hungry, haven't eaten since yesterday.

CellThree wrote:Cobra for indian meals and Tsingtao or Singha for Chinese meals.

That's all you need to know!

agreed! though "lal toofan" is quite nice too

http://www.fareastbeerco.com/feb_lal.htm

Singha for Thai too, altho it is a tad strong for a fey southerner like me.

CellThree wrote:Cobra for indian meals and Tsingtao or Singha for Chinese meals.

That's all you need to know!

Co-incidentally, I was talking about Tsingtao the other day with some people from Shanghai. Tsingtao comes from Qingdao, which was one of those cities which operated under international concession, in this case Germany. The Germans built a brewery there which was taken over by the Japanese and then Chinese following the second world war. Hence the beer tastes like a good German beer.

Unfortunately can't bore you with similar information on Singha. And neither of them beat a cold Maes Pils- just about the only Belgian main stream beer not to be sold in England.

Has anyone tried the Indonesian beer "Bintang" (star).

It's an instant hangover in a glass

Beer sucks!

Strictly wine for me, especailly Aussie and New Zealand chardonnays.

www.cloudybay.co.nz

There is no substitute.

Took a wine tour on the south island, Marlborough area, it's fantastic there. The wines were spectacular, spent a fortune to ship a case home, but it was well worth it

I personally find there's no substitute for a forty of Olde English, save a sharp blow to the left temple.

Just trying to drag this thread back into the gutter...