In Flanders Fields

Creative Moments
Designed by Phillipa England

The Creative Moments Craft Group teamed up with local volunteers to create this textile artwork featuring a mass of poppies commemorating the century of WW1.

We spent a magical morning at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham, despite the penguin area being rebuilt - so no penguins to see. What was great was receiving tickets to go back after the penguin exhibit re-opens in June to catch up on the penguins. The family are certainly going to do that, of course.


National Sea Life Centre

Library of Birmingham

At last I got to visit the Library of Birmingham - an iconic building by architect Francine Houben of Dutch architectural practice Mecanoo. It is said to be the largest public library in the world.


Library of Birmingham
Mecanoo

M & N's Big Day

The hairdresser was first on the scene, so while we had breakfast, S and M both had their hair fixed. After a short break the make-up lady arrived and began M's make-up - golden eyes and a lovely natural look. Suddenly we needed to be ready and to leave - S,D and me for the hotel then a taxi to Redhouse Barn; and M and Dad in a taxi straight to Redhouse Barn about half an hour later.
No ready rooms at the Hilton, but that was to be expected, so we left the cases on a trolley hoping they would put them in the rooms. After we saw a couple of friends, our taxi arrived and we whisked off to the venue, meeting up with A and M there.


The tables looked beautiful, and the cake had also arrived from Alexander Taylor's in Guildford. They had iced the three tiered family recipe fruit cakes. It was a fantasy of flowers and butterflies and one caterpillar and looked gorgeous. The choir, Enchant, were rehearsing and soon N and his Bestman, A arrived, so M retired up to the room upstairs. The photographer, Nick of Boundless Photos, came up and after a couple of photos arranged to return when we were lacing up the dress. Some friends came up to see M, and soon it was time to get her into the dress, lace it up, more photos and then in came the registrars for the all important pre-wedding chat and formalities. One last check of M's sash, and I went down to take my place in the ceremony room, catching up with family and friends on the way. Nearly everyone was seated, the registrars took their seats and the doors were closed. A hush came over us as the music filled the room - YoYo Ma playing the first of the Bach Cello suites; then the doors were opening and A and M walked in, down the aisle between the seats to where N was waiting; and with a light kiss, A handed M over to N and the ceremony began. The choir, Enchant, sang Purcell's 'If music be the food of love', the registrar took M & N through the vows and exchange of rings and then Laura and Charlie read ' by W H Auden 'O Tell me the truth about love'. Now it was time to sign the register as Enchant sang The Guillemots' Made up love song #34. Following the official signing, M & N moved round the table, took up a fancy quill pen and posed for photos, but soon the registrars were ready and presented them with their marriage certificate. The music began agin, this time the introduction to 'All you need is love'heralded the end of the ceremony and N & M smiling hugely, exited to the choir singing, and into the champagne reception.
Fizz and canapes circulated among the guests as a well ordered procession of photographs was taken on the lawn - a windy location, but it remained dry until the last group were captured by the camera - Boundless Photos taking boundless numbers of photos. The 22 children were well entertained with their party bags. We were called to take our seats in the so far secret other side of the barn, using the table plan and M's maps to find the right location. Everyone was delighted at the sight of the tables and soon discovered where they were sitting and when we were all settled, the Master of Ceremonies, Andy, called on us to welcome the new Mr & Mrs. The staff of Redhouse Barn now served us the delicious wedding breakfast prepared by Chef Anthony of Morgans - the level of service was excellent and the food outstanding.

Tian of lightly smoked trout and crushed avocado with cucumber pickle and a citrus dressing
(v) Quinoa Salad

Mint Lemonade

Roast rack of lamb with creamed celeriac, marjaoramand garkic crust with redcurrant and port sauce
(v) Mushroom risotto on butternut squash

Panache of vegetables and potatoes

Dessert Trio
Raspberry crème brûlée
Iced lemon posset with fresh berries and a tuille biscuit
Summer berry jelly

Tea & coffee, fudge and petit fours

As the dessert was cleared away, Andy introduced the speeches, first A, Bride's father, then N, the Groom and finally A, the Bestman; and with that out of the way, N & M cut the cake.



The room was partially cleared and the Ceilidh Band, Burdock, set up so the dancing could begin and we danced to midnight when a taxi swept M & N off to the hotel and the rest of us boarded the bus and followed them at a much more sedate pace. What a lovely, lovely day it has been, so full of friends, families and memories.

Redhouse Barn

Morgans

Enchant

Boundless Photos

Caroline Ede

Burdock Band

Alexander Taylor

Nails and stuff

Thursday was nail day while the chaps went off to collect the seven morning suits from Peter Posh. M and I walked down to Urban Tonic where Charlotte did a brilliant job of making the bride's nails look wonderful for the wearing of the ring on Saturday. Then we made a trip over to Redhouse Barn for a final check in with the wonderful people there. All the amazing ceramics, books, maps and other printing, chocolate buttons, leaves etc. that will make up the table decorations, not to mention the neatly rolled and be-ribboned napkins were delivered. For the centre of each table there is a Particle Article from Clare Benson and Amy Nightingale. There are also the party bags for the 22 children who are expected. The dress is hanging in the Bride's retiring room - we forgot the sashes, but N & A can take those tomorrow when they test out the laptop connection. Then it was back home to prepare the BBQ and down to the station to collect A from the train. Nearly everyone is here now. It is getting exciting.





Urban Tonic
Peter Posh
Redhouse Barn
Particle Articles

At the MAC, Moseley

Tonight we visited the Anticurate no 6 exhibition at the MAC in Moseley. Mel had her Molecular Pebbles in the exhibition as she had been chose for the third and fourth shows in the series. This is the final show and is on until Sunday. By then the artist will be married and off on honeymoon with N.
All this was after a busy day tying up loose ends for the Big Day on Saturday followed by a couple of hours down at Redpoint Climbing Centre. What fun, but hard on the arms and hands. Luckily nothing broken - not even a nail, which M has been preserving for our manicures tomorrow morning.




Redpoint Climbing Centre
The Mac, Moseley

A weekend in Brum

This weekend it was BBC Gardener's World at the NEC in Birmingham. We went to stay with M&N and I volunteered for RHS on Saturday in their Floral Pavilion while the others visited the Gardener's World and the BBC Food shows that were on together. It was a great show and they managed to buy some plants as well as fish cakes for our evening meal.

On Sunday, Father's Day, we had brunch in Kings Heath at the Kitchen Garden Café, which is a great place for food during the day. It has loads on in the evening, too - live music of several kinds, comedy nights and lots more. We had some porridge, a full English, hash browns, black pudding, bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese, coffee, tea, OJ - all absolutely delicious.

So now we had to walk it off, so drove up to Hanbury Hall, a National Trust property with some extensive parkland surrounding their lovely gardens and the Hall itself. We walked up to the church, then across the parkland to eventually enter the Garden via the gate by the Haha. We had time to enjoy the Garden before the second Birds of Prey show that was being held outside the Orangerie. There was some spectacular flying by several birds, with the Griffon vulture ending the show - it is an enormous bird.

And then it was the long drive back, along the A rather than M roads which were pretty clogged on Sunday evening.

Visiting Bilston and Brum

Today we bought Daytripper tickets with network west midlands and took the train and tram to Bilston. Bilston is mentioned as far back as 985AD, but was mostly a farming community until the industrial revolution brought coal mining, the steel industry and their associated populations to the area. The coal and steel have now left again, but the community remains and Bilston Craft Gallery is the largest dedicated craft venue in the West Midlands. It was built as a private house in 1905 by the Harper family who made locks and then between the wars it was a girls' school before being extended to become Bilston Art Gallery and Museum. Apparently, Professor Bodkin of the Barber Institute opened the Art Gallery in 1937 and it remained as such until the 1990s when the art collection was moved to Wolverhampton and the building was renamed Bilston Craft Gallery. Bilston Library also uses part of the building. We went to see their new exhibtion, More Than Floral, which runs until 25th June as well as their display, Craftsense, linking 18th century industry and modern crafts which is in place throughout 2011. Both exhibitions were excellent.

But it's thirsty work looking at stuff, so we were ready to find a café for refreshments. Café Metro looked inviting, so we went in and found a table. We ordered coffee and sandwiches at the counter and soon delicious freshly made coffees and cakes and sandwiches were being served. Very tasty, good value fare. On the way to the tram we crossed this amazing bridge with its story panels about the industry that put Bilston on the map and then we took the tram back to the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham. We strolled around the area, window-shopping along the displays of sparkling gems, enjoying the old door signs with their quaint wordings. We called into the Museum, looking around the shop, but we didn't take the tour.

Now we walked down to the centre, looking in at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists; stopping for a cup of tea at Saint Caffè on the Georgian St Paul's Square, where they serve great Mighty Leaf teas; following a route via the Art Gallery, bringing us to the Mailbox where we wandered up the escalators to the BBC shop, at the entrance to their Birmingham studios.  We could watch the DJs presenting local radio and there was the Tardis lurking in the corner.From here we could walk down to the canal towpath where there were plenty of people enjoying the outside eating areas of the cafes along the canal and several narrow boats taking others on canal tours. There is a stunning new building here called the Cube - just finished, it has shops, offices, a hotel, club and spa, and a rooftop restaurant by Marco Pierre White.

But it was time to have dinner and the plan was to go to Carluccios on Brindley Place. It was fun walking by all the sports bars as it was the final of the cricket World Cup and there were plenty of people watching the event on the big screens - plenty of cheers for boundaries and wickets. Carluccios was busy, but we were soon seated and enjoyed our meal before catching the train back to Kings Norton and a well earned rest!

Bilston Craft Gallery
Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
Saint Caffè
Mighty Leaf Tea
The Cube
Carluccios