Oct 4, 2009 - Journey Begin

The first entry of this the latest journal. My route to this new continent takes me with Swiss (Swiss International Airlines as they are now officially called), from Birmingham to Zurich in Switzerland, where I then transfer to a overnight flight with Swiss and head south to Johannesburg. ... I would have perhaps in hindsight liked a day flight so I could see the deserts and landscapes and indeed countries that make up Africa, but this way I gain an extra day.The first entry of this the latest journal. My route to this new continent takes me with Swiss (Swiss International Airlines as they are now officially called), from Birmingham to Zurich in Switzerland, where I then transfer to a overnight flight with Swiss and head south to Johannesburg. ... I would have perhaps in hindsight liked a day flight so I could see the deserts and landscapes and indeed countries that make up Africa, but this way I gain an extra day....

Sep 11, 2009 - Back to Manchester

We arrived safely back at the Union Jack Club last nite in time for a couple of pints and bed. We decided to go to the Cadburys Chocolate factory en route back to Manchester so armed with cell phone and laptop we located the place (just south of Birmingham) called to see if we needed reservations and LeAnne navigated us to the front door without a hiccup. ... The Chocolate factory tour was great.We arrived safely back at the Union Jack Club last nite in time for a couple of pints and bed. We decided to go to the Cadburys Chocolate factory en route back to Manchester so armed with cell phone and laptop we located the place (just south of Birmingham) called to see if we needed reservations and LeAnne navigated us to the front door without a hiccup. ... The Chocolate factory tour was great....

Jul 25, 2009 - breakdown

Well, not all parts of an adventure are beneficent. Our rental car burned out its clutch on the drive yesterday, so we're currently stranded in Birmingham looking for transport to Liverpool. ... funny, I had no ambition to visit either of these particular English cities.Well, not all parts of an adventure are beneficent. Our rental car burned out its clutch on the drive yesterday, so we're currently stranded in Birmingham looking for transport to Liverpool. ... funny, I had no ambition to visit either of these particular English cities....

Mar 24, 2009 - Welcome

Welcome back! As I’ve written previously, like all good stories, a trip should have a beginning, middle, and an end (which is where it gets depressing as you pass back over the threshold into normality). This blog should be fun as I try to prove to myself that I haven’t totally gone over to the dark side of academia in the 19 months since I abandoned Walsall for Birmingham. ... In fact, I have this image of me already standing in the queue for the ticket window practicing the Polish equivalent of “une billet pour Oświęcim s’il vous plait?” (which is “odwrotny bilet Oświęcim sprawiać przyjemność”) before getting to the window and in my best Brit abroad manner “ER … CAN … I … HAVE … A … RETURN … TICKET … TO … OŚWIĘCIM … PLEASE?” hoping that the increased volume and slowed pace will automatically counteract the small fact that the person serving me obviously won’t speak any English!
This trip will see me fly from Birmingham for the first time since 1998, and it will be interesting to compare the airport as it awakes with Stanstead and East Midlands. ... Normally, I have absolutely no problem with spending the night before an early flight (again, I fly out at 6:30am) in the departure hall, and while I have no qualms about doing it again this time, from the airport in my hometown just doesn’t seem right.Welcome back! As I’ve written previously, like all good stories, a trip should have a beginning, middle, and an end (which is where it gets depressing as you pass back over the threshold into normality). This blog should be fun as I try to prove to myself that I haven’t totally gone over to the dark side of academia in the 19 months since I abandoned Walsall for Birmingham. ... In fact, I have this image of me already standing in the queue for the ticket window practicing the Polish equivalent of “une billet pour Oświęcim s’il vous plait?” (which is “odwrotny bilet Oświęcim sprawiać przyjemność”) before getting to the window and in my best Brit abroad manner “ER … CAN … I … HAVE … A … RETURN … TICKET … TO … OŚWIĘCIM … PLEASE?” hoping that the increased volume and slowed pace will automatically counteract the small fact that the person serving me obviously won’t speak any English!
This trip will see me fly from Birmingham for the first time since 1998, and it will be interesting to compare the airport as it awakes with Stanstead and East Midlands. ... Normally, I have absolutely no problem with spending the night before an early flight (again, I fly out at 6:30am) in the departure hall, and while I have no qualms about doing it again this time, from the airport in my hometown just doesn’t seem right....

Dec 23, 2008 - Goodbye Dorking, Hello Birmingham

Friday and Saturday were mostly time for relaxation and preparing for the next stage of our trip to the Midlands – the Birmingham area and Shropshire to the north. ... By 10:30AM we were on the motorway en route to Mows Hill Farm B&B, just south of Birmingham in Warwickshire. ... Mows Hill is part of the large estate of the well-known industrial and political Muntz family of Birmingham into which my great great aunt Agnes Soady married in 1867. ... After breakfast we drove into Birmingham in search of two residences where my great grandparents lived in the late 1800s. ...

Aug 19, 2008 - Home

Not much to say really, its homeward bound, a lunchtime flight from Dusseldorf to Birmingham, I would fly to/from here anytime, I think its one of the most chilled relaxed airports I have ever flown from. ... the space pods that connect the airport to the rail station are like a monorail from space 1999 Birmingham airport less spectacular and usual lengthy delay waiting for the luggage to arrive in the arrival hall, not good. ...

Aug 8, 2008 - Journey Begins

An early start to this trip, I had checked in online the previous day, but getting to Birmingham International by public transport is a challange! so a combination of bus and train finally got me there with a good 90 mins before boarding. ... Then the day got worse, a 2h 45m delay, my heart sunk but there was nothing I could do just sit and wait.An early start to this trip, I had checked in online the previous day, but getting to Birmingham International by public transport is a challange! so a combination of bus and train finally got me there with a good 90 mins before boarding. ... Then the day got worse, a 2h 45m delay, my heart sunk but there was nothing I could do just sit and wait....

May 23, 2008 - China II - There's alot of chineese in China

Firstly - Mum and dad, I tol. Now just chillin out with the boys in Birmingham, on sudnay getting the train to Edinburgh, hopefully going to sort out an apartment very soon and maybe even get a job. ...

Apr 8, 2008 - Tuesday, April 8 - Travel to Birmingham, Aston Villa Stadium tour

Today we travelled from London to Birmingham, and it was a beautiful drive. ... This is a beautiful facility in a rural area about 30 minutes outside Birmingham. ... We were met by Paddy Riley, the Performance Analyst for the club, who presented the girls with a very nice packet that included player pictures, a team program and an autograph book.Today we travelled from London to Birmingham, and it was a beautiful drive. ... This is a beautiful facility in a rural area about 30 minutes outside Birmingham. ... We were met by Paddy Riley, the Performance Analyst for the club, who presented the girls with a very nice packet that included player pictures, a team program and an autograph book....

Apr 10, 2007 - Stratford-Upon-Avon

Today is my favourite excursion of the Cotswolds - to Stratford-Upon-Avon.Today is my favourite excursion of the Cotswolds - to Stratford-Upon-Avon....

Apr 5, 2007 - Back in Blighty

Hello my friends! So here I am, back in Coventry amazed at the fabulous weather and the fact that my garden urgently needs watering.Hello my friends! So here I am, back in Coventry amazed at the fabulous weather and the fact that my garden urgently needs watering....

Nov 25, 2006 - Britain, where the history comes from!

I arrived in the UK on Tues after a great flight with Virgin.I arrived in the UK on Tues after a great flight with Virgin....