Random Stuff!

[Ray Finkle]

Good news about the marathon, I can see it being popular.

Will I be in it? I seriously doubt it. I've just started running again after quite a long absence and didn't realise just how unfit I have become, and so quickly. I think it's going to take a while to get back in shape

Agree about the Commonwealth Games, 2026 in Birmingham would be perfect

Have the council got the minerals to go for it though? I hope so.

 

[wolfheze]

I commend the sentiments but HS2 built by 2026? This is the UK remember. The GWR electrification, a minor task compared with HS2, is already years behind schedule and hugely over budget. Electrification was due to partly open in 2017 but we'll probably be lucky to get that by 2026.

And then there's Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Due to open in 2010 it now seems that it won't until at least 2018 - and that's in Germany the supposed home of super efficiency.

HS2? Biggest waste of money since the beginning of money wasting.It isn't needed, will be vastly over budget, will ruin the lives of thousands of people in its path not to mention the country side that will be decimated. It will line the pockets of a few but hey, I'll be able to get to London twenty minutes quicker. Errrm, hang on, actually will take me longer to get to London cos it will take me an hour to travel in order to catch the thing. So I like the majority will just continue to use the present lines and trains.
Better go and put my tin helmet on!

 

[Butty]

I agree on the Commonwealth games bid. I still have my Bring the Games to Birmingham 1992 beer mat!

I also think a good move would be a Tour de France start in the city. It has done wonders for Yorkshire and after a city centre prologue a stage one out to Warwick, Kenilworth, Leamington, Stratford, the Lickey Hills and back would be tremendous. Stage 2 round Worcester to Shrewsbury. Fantastic publicity. And of course all the bikes and stuff shoved onto a stonking big plane and flown out from BHX.

 

[wolfheze]

I agree on the Commonwealth games bid. I still have my Bring the Games to Birmingham 1992 beer mat!

I also think a good move would be a Tour de France start in the city. It has done wonders for Yorkshire and after a city centre prologue a stage one out to Warwick, Kenilworth, Leamington, Stratford, the Lickey Hills and back would be tremendous. Stage 2 round Worcester to Shrewsbury. Fantastic publicity. And of course all the bikes and stuff shoved onto a stonking big plane and flown out from BHX.

Think that would be a great idea,would be good to have a top quality event in the area.
After ten years of not doing much in the way of exercise I've recently got the old mountain bike out and surprisingly haven't found it too bad. Did a twelve mile charity ride last week without any trouble. Running might be a bit beyond me now though

 

[Butty]

Think that would be a great idea,would be good to have a top quality event in the area.
After ten years of not doing much in the way of exercise I've recently got the old mountain bike out and surprisingly haven't found it too bad. Did a twelve mile charity ride last week without any trouble. Running might be a bit beyond me now though

Maybe a BHX sponsored team for the Le Tour 20XX Birmingham Grande Depart? Might need to ditch the mountain bike for a road bike, though.

 

[wolfheze]

Maybe a BHX sponsored team for the Le Tour 20XX Birmingham Grande Depart? Might need to ditch the mountain bike for a road bike, though.

And get a defibrillator on standby

 

[wolfheze]

Another model arrived today. Never saw this for real G-BMHX. Justification for buying it was it was only 8 quid. View attachment 3244

 

[Elmdon80slad]

Another model arrived today. Never saw this for real G-BMHX. Justification for buying it was it was only 8 quid. View attachment 3244

That is a Nice collection there ))

E.

 

[wolfheze]

Don't know if anyone saw this today but I was driving down the cov road towards Birmingham and the traffic lights at the old airport when something moved across the sky from left to right. My intial thoughts were that it was a drone but it didn't seem to be the right shape. From some angles it looked a little like a microlight. Strange when you can't positively identify something it makes it difficult to judge its size or altitude. Was probably just an old bin liner or something

 

[wolfheze]

Guess no one saw it then?
Anyway, who remembers kunzel cakes? Milk chocolate shell with sponge in the bottom then a fondant layer with a small jelly sweet or chocolate button on the top. Didnt realise until I started researching that they were a product made and sold exclusively in Birmingham. Was probably lucky that that they found themselves getting as far as Meriden.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Sorry didn't see anything. Could it have been the police helicopter? I imagine that would be identifiable though

Guess no one saw it then?
Anyway, who remembers kunzel cakes? Milk chocolate shell with sponge in the bottom then a fondant layer with a small jelly sweet or chocolate button on the top. Didnt realise until I started researching that they were a product made and sold exclusively in Birmingham. Was probably lucky that that they found themselves getting as far as Meriden.

I don't remember them but they sound delicious. Are they still available?

Does anybody remember the stall in the markets that used to sell the huge cottage loaves?

 

[wolfheze]

Sorry didn't see anything. Could it have been the police helicopter? I imagine that would be identifiable though

I don't remember them but they sound delicious. Are they still available?


Does anybody remember the stall in the markets that used to sell the huge cottage loaves?

No definitely not a helicopter. Obviously wasnt but looked a little bit like when two parachutists 'stack' one on top of another. As for the cakes we left Meriden in 83, went to live in Olton for about 6 months and then to Coventry and I never saw a Kunzel cake again. Talking of cakes my mate used to live next door to the Lewis's, makers of the worlds finest almond slices at their bakery in Catherine de Barnes.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

who remembers kunzel cakes? Milk chocolate shell with sponge in the bottom then a fondant layer with a small jelly sweet or chocolate button on the top. Didnt realise until I started researching that they were a product made and sold exclusively in Birmingham. Was probably lucky that that they found themselves getting as far as Meriden.

I'd never heard the name, but as soon as I did the search I recognised the style of cake -

Perhaps it's a very regional thing, like Pikelets/crumpets. These -

are most definitely Pikelets, where I come from.

Kevin

 

[Butty]

Pikelets!

Hey, well done Leicester City. A Bluenose myself, but like most neutrals, celebrating a remarkable victory of hard work and team work over big is better.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

In the Bristol area crumpets were always known as pikelets. I don't know if they still are because it's not a subject that enters everyday conversation. I had reached adulthood before realising what a crumpet was................well apart from the other type, but even that term might now be unknown to the modern generation: like courting or walking out.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Hey, well done Leicester City.

Couldn't agree more. Thoroughly deserved and Leicester have brought a breath of fresh air into a league that has been stagnating in boredom (same four or five teams year after year ) for far too long.
For my sins, I'm a Saddlers fan.

Kevin

 

[Kevin Farnell]

In the Bristol area crumpets were always known as pikelets. I don't know if they still are because it's not a subject that enters everyday conversation. I had reached adulthood before realising what a crumpet was................well apart from the other type, but even that term might now be unknown to the modern generation: like courting or walking out.

That's very interesting, TLY!

I've been doing a lot of searching, regarding my Black Country roots and I repeatedly come across links to South Wales, which I suppose could spread as far a Bristol (no offence intended, to either region).
For example, the dish of 'faggots' has a history in both the West Midlands and South and Mid Wales. Also, the name of Walsall is thought to derive from 'valley of the Welsh speakers'.
Is it possible, that similar local terms are therefore shared, an example being 'pikelets' ?

Regards

Kevin

 

[richard winterbourn]

I'm a Brummie by birth and well remember Kunzle cakes. It is in the back of my mind that the Kunzles were Austrians and came to live in the city. Did they also have a cafe?, because i remember my mother taking me in on the tram and going to what i remember as Kunzles for tea and cakes.

Walsall? Well in my family it was know as the bow-legged city by virtue of its historic link with the tanning industry. Supposedly the tanners would sit astride a barrel to work the leather. Hence, a lot of men who walked bow-legged.

 

[jfy1999]

Now that Leicester are champions I'm slightly disappointed that it was settled with two games to go...I'd have preferred it to be decided on the last day of the season!

 

[wolfheze]

I'm a Brummie by birth and well remember Kunzle cakes. It is in the back of my mind that the Kunzles were Austrians and came to live in the city. Did they also have a cafe?, because i remember my mother taking me in on the tram and going to what i remember as Kunzles for tea and cakes.

Walsall? Well in my family it was know as the bow-legged city by virtue of its historic link with the tanning industry. Supposedly the tanners would sit astride a barrel to work the leather. Hence, a lot of men who walked bow-legged.

Regarding the Kunzel cakes it sounds like a plausible explanation. The only cafe I ever got taken to was in the subway by what I think was then Lewis's department store. I can remember it being the first time I ever had Coke and hot dogs. Would have been about 1970.