The familiar clarion of “the Bawlly” (the scrap-metal collector) has followed me this past couple of days. This is the sound of a wrecked and strangulated trumpet piercing the air over otherwise quiet neighbourhoods…. followed by a damaged voice imparting what I can only assume to be “Old Iron!”. The Bawlly has always plied his [...]

Following yesterday’s tragic news of the deaths of three men on Dudley Rd., here is video edit of the grieving communities coming together to discuss their response; Birmingham Vigil: “The three who died, died nobly. Don’t riot in their name” – video, via The Guardian, 11th Aug ’11 A Peace protest is planned for sunday 14th [...]

For a view of the local events as they are unfolding: The Birmingham Riots 2011 – Casey Rain Blog Messages have been coming in from distant friends across the globe, saddened and bewildered at the news images depicting urban Blighty in 2011: Gangs of young looters, seemingly buoyed by a collective mob mentality, ransacking the high streets of [...]

A blockboard star and a camel and a fort: Three cardinals and the greatest story ever told. A broken camera-phone and a struggling car. the usual chaos and crisis management the budget festivities and the carefully executed control of expectations; the postcard winter landscapes and scuppered family travel-plans; the boiler that’s packed up with 2 days to go heart-warming offerings; [...]

My mobile phone has had a fortnight of mystery and adventure. It started with a flurry of what I can only describe as abusive texts (some with violent and threatening language) and a series of silent calls. I started answering these calls, but there was never a response. I then tried to ignore the calls, [...]

I’m in the grand old City of Hull – that place which gave us the pioneering spirit of William Wiberforce, Amy Johnson and er…The Housemartins – and I’m house-sitting for friends Jill and Adam, who are soon to relocate to that epicentre of creativity – yes, Birmingham!  While the Dowse/Ledger conglomeracy are off holidaying in [...]