Who do you know that’s crazy enough to sit on a coach for 8 hours in a day just to meet me? Why, Gilly, of course! My lovely Lucid Gypsy friend. She of the luscious poetry and the lust for life. Crazy, but so lovable! Warm-hearted, impulsive, prone to hugs and tears, yet a lady of very good taste. Didn’t she ‘follow’ me to Tavira, and like what she found there? (Just the right mix of shabby and chique) All this I knew, but not the lady herself. If you’ve never ‘met’ Gilly, you’re in for a treat.
Doesn’t that smile say it all? Of course, there were the charms of Birmingham on offer too. It’s not every day you’ll find charm and Birmingham in the same sentence, but I absolutely loved the city. Even though on arrival I thought I’d come to a demolition site!
It was Gilly’s suggestion to meet in ‘Brum’ (didn’t I say she was a lady of taste?). A ‘midway’ point between Hartlepool in north east England and Exeter in Devon. We actually managed 8 hours together, which in the circumstances wasn’t bad. A week might have been better. What did we actually do, you’ll be wanting to know? Talk! Laugh! Share stories. Exchange hugs. But not enough! Never enough hugs. I’ll give you a quick glimpse of our day.
It was raining gently when I got up, and this steadily increased to a deluge. But Gilly brought the sunshine with her. First stop, coffee, of course! No, don’t get over excited! Gilly had an Eccles cake to keep her going till lunch. Nothing more exotic, for now. I had booked us on to a guided walking tour (well, you know me!) at 1.30pm. So, after talking, and talking, we set off in the direction of the Library, for the start of the tour.
Not just any library, you understand. Birmingham Library is a monolithic yet beautiful structure, and I suspect we could have spent most of our day there. Built over 10 levels, with garden terraces on floors 3 and 7, with a Shakespeare Memorial Room in the Rotunda at the top. Need I say more?
Look- blue skies too! We raced back down from the 9th floor just in time to join Jonathan and Dawn from Positively Birmingham Walking Tours. Jonathan, a history buff, and Dawn his apprentice. I’ll spare you the details but it was quite useful for orientation. Our visit had coincided with graduation day for the Law students at the university, and as we headed into the ICC we were awash with gowns, mortar boards and excited faces.
For me, the best bit was Gas Street Basin and the narrowboats, and exchanging smiles and small asides with Gilly. The tour was to last 1-2 hours, but time together was precious for me and Gilly. And hunger pangs were setting in. Back at the Library we tacitly agreed to drop out, made our apologies and headed back to the canals. We sat outside the delightfully quirky Canalside Bar and let the world of water entertain us. And talked, around eating and drinking, of course!
All too soon it was time to head towards separation. I walked Gilly back in the direction of the Bull Ring and there we found a sunny seat outside Bill’s. Apparently also a favourite of Gilly’s down in Exeter. Bramble mojito was a very lovely way to round off our day. Gilly had Peach Bellini. Ah, bliss! I wonder when we can do it again?
For Gilly’s version of events, have a look at A Gypsy and a Restless One.
restlessjo 
I would sit on an aeroplane for 24 hours to meet you, Jo. Who wouldn’t? 🙂 It looks like a splendid day and a perfect blogger meeting. I thought our new library was impressive but Birmingham’s looks amazing.
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Bless your cotton socks, Heather! 🙂 🙂 I’d buy you a celebratory cocktail (though I have a feeling you don’t drink? Babycham, maybe. Can you still get those? 🙂 )
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What on earth gave you the idea I don’t drink?? I have three teenage boys and work in special education. Of course I drink!
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Thank heavens for that! I’ll make it a large one 🙂 🙂 (and for no good reason that I can think, this took a nose dive into my spam! But I got ya!)
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You and Gilly are like celebrities to me. And you, two, like I told her is like the dream team blog meet.I’m frigging jealous TO THE MAX! 🙂
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Bless you, Rommel! She is a very special lady. 🙂 I’ve been so lucky this year. I do hope it continues 🙂 (Greedy, or what!)
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Wonderful that you two hit it off so well. And we got two fabulous perspectives on Birmingham in the bargain! Someday my urge to wander will connect me with the gypsy and the restless one 🙂
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You just never know, Madhu! This world gets stranger and stranger 🙂
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🙂
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Always a treat to meet a fellow blogger/friend. And what a lovely day you both had. Birmingham is surprisingly beautiful.
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That was our verdict too. 🙂 Thanks for keeping us company.
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What a lovely day out Jo! 🙂
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We had a fabulous time, Rosemay! Such a lovely lady 🙂
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Such a great idea to meet halfway too! 🙂
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How lovely, you two!
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Thanks, Cynthia 🙂 I think we both enjoyed it very much.
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Wish I’d been there to document the two of my favorite bloggers!
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And then there were three, Ruth 🙂 🙂 Thank you!
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Would be so fun
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G’day Jo just popped by to see what you are up to,what a treat to find you and the lovely Gilly sharing time together. What a fantastic place the library sounds.i could easily spend all day there.
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Hiya Pauline! How are you doing? I think me and Gilly both agreed with you over the Library. 🙂 Lovely to have you pop by.
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Enjoying time out Jo. Immersed in art now….
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Jo, I used to work on Broad Street many years ago (for eight months, that is!) and I know the area well – although it is slightly different to when I was there! Thanks for the reminder! Fun times!
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The city seems to be constantly engaged in reconstruction, Tom, but I liked a lot of what I saw. 🙂
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Apparently, the Broad Street area was a very run down, dilapidated area (from what I was told) so they’ve done wonders to it… sounds like they’re still doing wonders! 😀
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Oh, you do have the most wonderful adventures. 🙂
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I try, sweetheart! 🙂 Much of life is mundane and today is a washing and ironing day to get my son ‘turned around’ to go back to Uni (in Birmingham, funnily enough, though I’d never been there before meeting Gilly 🙂 ) for his final exams. Hope all’s well with you and the family.
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Mundane it is…….my biggest excitement today…..the surprise I got when my spatula broke whilst I was making French toast. 😀 😀
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🙂 🙂
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