Birmingham

Arrived in Birmingham to 14 degrees, windy and damp. Apparently two weeks ago it was sunny and 28 ... yeah right!

Steven and Elanda met us at the airport, drove us back to the Plough and Harrow Hotel, the oldest hotel in Birmingham. Gorgeous place, lots of long and winding corridors between reception and our room made for an interesting journey this morning.

Today Steve has a big exam so Elanda was our tour guide. On the way to town, we did stop at the spot where the kids met

The founding fathers of Birmingham looked very bright and shiny!

We did the walking tour - including a little retail therapy ... you see I left part of my wardrobe in the hotel in Dubai - quite a shock when I was looking for my jeans and warm top and I dimly recall hanging them in the wardrobe and not removing them. Ho hum, thank God for Marks and Spencer - I now have nice new jeans, very flash!

Elanda took great delight to show us the floozey in the jacuzzi - at least that is what the locals call this statue.

Couldn't resist a picure beneath Queen Victoria of course.

It is all Elanda's fault, fancy taking me to the jewellers quarter, of course I am going to buy a ring.

Thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the Museum and Art Gallery, and a walk back over the canals. I did not realise that there are over 160 kms of navigable canals in Birmingham. Some of the canal boats are set up as restaurants.

Off to dinner tonight to meet Elanda's parents, should be fun.

We are then off to Scotland tomorrow.