The "Incredibly Impossible to Derail This Thread" thread | Page 529 | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

Woah, had no idea they looked like that. Obviously I have seen the video of Joe crossing Abbey Road , but that was from a distance and not very clear. He does look like an indie musician!

Never thought Zig would look like that. But then again, it’s not very clear and my eyes aren’t fantastic so he probably still looks different.

Ahem.

Birmingham has some deprived areas, yes (it is the second biggest city in Britain in terms of population – London also has very poor areas, only foreign tourists don’t see them), but also some nice parts. Money has been invested in the area recently and things are looking up. Brum did used to be a bit of a dump (I’ll be the first to say this), and there was a little woman who once lived who you can thank for that (or not), as well as the people involved with city planning and architecture in the 60s. Brutalist buildings aren’t to eveyone’s taste. Knocking down many of our lovely Victorian ones didn’t help, either. When was the last time either of you were in the city? See I usually find that those who churn out the same old crap about Birmingham being horrible have not been in a while. I invite both of you to come down and have a wander around Harborne, Brindleyplace and the city centre, King’s Heath and the Jewllery Quarter, to name but a few places. Many of the young Londoners settling in the city and mixing with us Brummies seem to enjoy these very much (not that I particularly like them moving in and pushing up house prices). If wine/cocktail bars, shopping, curry places (some of the best – and first – in Britain), theatres, art galleries and comedy clubs aren’t for you, then you might prefer to take a long walk around Sutton Park. This is where I’m from, and it’s quite lovely.

I’m suprised at you, @meanmistermustard as you’re from near Glasgow, are you not? I’m not comparing the two places, of course, but they do have some things in common.

I’ll be leaving the city next year, and there are things I will definitely not miss about it. I often find myself alone in the city quite late at night and I don’t always feel entirely safe. But then I could say the same about a lot of other parts of the UK and elsewhere. It’s a large city, and has all the problems that goes with it. However, I’m really fed up with people constantly insulting the place and, therefore, its people. No, it’s not paradise on Earth. Far from it. What it is is an industrial city that is suffering since the decline in manufacturing in the UK. But there’s a slight buzz in the air at the moment which makes me think that something is happenning, changing. What probably won’t change is the ignorant, and often quite offensive, comments online… but then that’s to be expected, I suppose.

That’s okay. It’s fine if you have that opinion, even if I disagree with it. I jush wish people would back up their opinion with… something. I don’t like it because of x, or x and y. For example: ‘I don’t really like London because it’s expensive and the people tend to be a bit rude and arrogant (generalisation, obviously), however I like the vegan food shops and cafes and the museums are very good’. It annoys me that people feel it’s fine to just say ‘Birmingham is a dump’ as if that were inarguable, a fact.

Meh, I shouldn’t let things people say online bother me so much.

New Street Station is being redeveloped at the moment so visitors still aren’t greeted with the nicest of sights when they step off the train, as the roads surrounding the station are basically a construction site. Having said that, it’s due to be finished quite soon so hopefully it won’t be like this for much longer.

Spaghetti Junction… Hmm, I second your thoughts. It is a nightmare and, well, a junction. No redeeming features, no. I don’t drive, but I encourage whoever I’m in the car with to take an alternative route as each time we go through there I swear I’m not going to come out alive. It’s pretty hectic, worst of all at rush hour.

As for the whole ‘Brum has more canals than Venice’ thing, you know what they say… it’s quality, not quantity. I’ve not been to Venice, but I’m happy to admit their canals are probably nicer. Attractive Italian men strolling along in the sun, eating ice cream is going to be better than rain, a cone of soggy chips and a can of Special Brew. I’m joking, of course. As you say, it’s not really a good comparison to make although, as I said above, there’s some really nice bars and restaurants along there now. I don’t really go out in the evenings but if I did then I’d definitely go down there.

parlance said
Lest we forget, Birmingham is to Duran Duran what Liverpool is to the Beatles.

 parlance

I think we’re more proud to say Black Sabbath were from here, to be honest.

Ahhh Girl said
I went on the High Five interchange in Dallas when I went to the McCartney concert.

Holy s**t. If I’ll show that to my mom, she’ll have a heart attack. She is absolutely terrified of those things!

Oh you guys wanna talk about a dump? Try Almelo in The Netherlands.

I’ve recently found out there’s a small town called New Almelo in America btw. I find that pretty funny.