Coventry out and about

I do like that Philip. Very very nice indeed. Gilly.

I agree Gilly, it's just the job to lean on and have a good chin wag. Very good Philip. Hope the birdies don't fly in.

Hello all Sometimes, we, (sorry I), forget how good it is living here in Coventry. Our tele' screens have been awash of late with programmes about lovely Cornwall. I am mindful that we have at least two members who are from that part of the world. My parents lived in Bodmin for many years & I had an opportunity to move there thirty years ago, but I chose to remain here. Coventry gave me a good living. When I visit Cornwall, I am thrilled when I see the rugged scenery particularly the north coast, but we can't live looking at the north coast all of the time as nice as it is. Most of the Cornish folk can't either. Unless out walking, it is mostly only the very fortunate few who have property that has full sea views & where they are able to spend all of their time watching, even with the longest coast line county. Most people who live there are like you & me. Only visiting the beauty spots on high days & holidays. Nowadays, I can be there in five hours or less. Good old Coventry.

Philip, I just re-read your first post which started this topic, written on 1st March. Already the nights are closing in fast and the fireworks can already be heard if you're unlucky. Have we all spent the year wisely I wonder? One highlight of my year was to contribute a couple of minutes trailer to Coventry and Warwickshire Radio's Beatles tribute days, followed by fish and chips with my beloved dad in Wetherspoons nearby, watching Coventry pass the window. I just rattled on, reminiscing about what life was like in the early sixties and what effect the Beatles had on teenagers back then. Pure nostalgia, which was edited before broadcast. Great fun! Anyone have anything that they will take forward in their memory?

Hi Walrus I tell you one thing that the Beatles did, most of us boys had Beatle mop haircuts! You have a good day

Who can forget the 60's Walrus. Best years ever (well in our lives anyway) and music wise as mentioned on the forum somewhere before. Had the radio on this morning and Be Bop a Lula - Gene Vincent - came on. Just my husbands tempo when dancing the 'creep'. He had to have a few in the Coundon to move any faster. (loved him anyway x)

Philip, I fully understand your loyalty to Coventry. I moved to Cornwall 21 years ago because, quite simply, Coventry wasn't as nice a place to live in as it had been in years gone by. I wouldn't say that Coventry was worse than any other major UK city, but it had reached the stage where walking in some areas after dark had become quite intimidating. Whilst I heartily agree that one cannot spend all day looking at the north coast of Cornwall, I can travel there regularly and get paid for it in my taxi!! Despite all of this I am still an avid follower of Coventry Bees, Coventry City FC and Warwickshire Cricket Club. So although living in Cornwall, and loving it, I'm still a proud 'Coventry kid' at heart!

Hi Beesman & thank you. I do love Cornwall, make no mistake. A lot of my courting with Pamela was around Resprin. I was so fond of the railways around St Blazey & Bodmin. My Mum had business interests in the county as well as her two brothers living there. I still have many cousins & family who live around St. Wenn, St. Austell, Grampound & more recently Gweek. There are many sad things up here like you described, but twelve years ago the hotel in Newquay where Pam & I were staying had to have its outer doors held closed, as police engaged running battles with drunken yobs all along the main street of the town. That lasted most of the night. The following day the doors were reinforced by a carpenter in time for the following nights revellers, which was just as well. This was a four star hotel. I was in a pub in St. Columb once when a violent brawl broke out which had started off all about an argument about a throw a ball competition in the town. Two blokes were knocked out & a lady was also taken in an ambulance. Thankfully, my more recent visits have not been punctuated in that same manner. I even visited the same pub in St. Columb last year, but all was quiet. Best wishes to you & have a peaceful weekend.

Hi all Easter time is upon us, later too this year, so what are our plans for out & about? Without going into detail with sad events, I have not been much in the mood for being "out & about" of late, but the prospect of at least a dry Good Friday is luring me out. Going out with friends to special venues usually needs a bit of forward planning, but if like me you have not decided, where can we go? For those with a loaded bus pass, have you ever been aboard the No.82 to Solihull. Every hour, at ten minutes past the hour from stand F Pool Meadow, the journey takes just fifty minutes. Ok, it's just another shopping centre, but a good one. The parish church with it's bent support columns is also worth a visit. The huge precinct & a covered area with shops like Lewis, Hotters, along with plenty of coffee style shops & you have a readymade coffee morning for 11am. I know at least two people who are planning to drive to Solihull, but if I do decide to go, it will be aboard the No.82. The bus stops are more convenient than some silly car-park! What a pip! Besides, what would going to Solihull in a small car do to my street/cred!!! Most of the buses on the 82 route are Mercs! That sounds better already. That's Friday sorted, what about Monday, Monday is a Sunday bus timetable day, so that maybe the best day to visit & see what is what in Coventry. We on our forum are aware that not all members have access to their own transport, so we take that fully into consideration when posting these suggestions. Have a good weekend all.

Good ideas Philip! I used to catch the 82 from Allesley Village when I lived there. It was great to be able to go to Solihull so easily, via country lanes. I loved looking at all the lovely things in John Lewis - although I didn't buy things there, it was just nice to see them! I have to say, the drivers I had used to speed along as though it was Brands Hatch. This added to those slippy seats made for quite a white knuckle ride! I'm so lucky here in Malvern, there is so much to do. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to the Priory to listen to Stainer's 'Crucifixion' - something I listen to on record every Good Friday but now have the chance to do free and live - with the wonderful Priory choir performing. I'm feeling very Eastery surrounded by lambs, primroses, sunshine and nice people - including my forum friends!

I've just got back from a pleasurable trip into Accrington with two beautiful young girls and their attractive mum. Their mum, of course, is the friend who comes to tidy the house on a weekly basis. The two girls, aged 8 and 11, are at an age when a Chocolate Easter Egg would be acceptable but I realised that their closer family would probably be buying those for them. So, what do young girls like: shoes and dresses. Mum was off doing my odd bits of shopping while me and the two girls explored. At least with a mobility scooter I didn't have to look for places to sit down It took me back to when my children were that age and I used to do the same things with them. Saying that, whenever these girls visit I always feel 25 years younger. The went home with matching new outfits that were only a little over the budget I'd planned - and their happy smiles were worth every penny.

Hi all Surprise, surprise, water coming down the steps outside of the Belgrade. First time in how long?

Hi Philip, That is all new to me, but it looks very nice. Why the witches hats? Are they a safety precaution?

Hi Dreamtime It's been out of action for ages, some concreting of the stonework has taken place.