Friday, 29 March 2013

Birmingham Saturday 23 March 2013


A short little job today taking children and adults from the Stagecoach Theatre/Dance club to Birmingham.
I only have one pick up at Bohunt School in Liphook and then straight through to our second city.
The concern I have is the weather. It hasn’t snowed in Petersfield or Liphook today but I was in Farnham this morning and it snowed heavily all morning, and the forecast for Birmingham and the midlands is not great. Hopefully all cleared by the time we arrive.
We are not due to leave until 15:30 but I drive to Bohunt for 15:00 to allow time to load up. There is some event going on in the school today and I cannot park in the pick up lay-by due to cars everywhere. There are two young lads marshalling the traffic but cannot help me much. I wait on the main road but this doesn’t seem to go down well with locals including those coming out of and into the school – the reason I am on the road! – due to the horns beeped at me.
In the end somebody from the school sees sense and makes some room for me.
There are only 21 travelling on the coach and by the time they are all ready it is 15:45 before we are on our way.
The roads are fairly quiet and the closer to Birmingham we are the more snow there is. The roads stay okay and we are at the hotel, Millennium Copthorne, by 18:15. It doesn’t take long to unload and I can park a hundred yards away.
A quick shower and change and I’m ready to go and have one of these famous Birmingham Balti’s! A quick venture outside changes my mind though. We are very centrally located but there is so much snow on the ground, with the promise of a lot more, that I turn back shortly after setting off.
The nice looking Asian restaurant in the hotel is looking good for tonight.
I am sat at my table having dinner when a family approach the restaurant. I look up and it is Hendo from the Folly!! Small world. His children are in the Stagecoach club and they have driven up.

The plan is for all of the Stagecoach members to perform at the National Indoor Arena tomorrow evening after a day of rehearsals. I am not needed to drive until 22:00/23:00 tomorrow evening!

My meal is excellent and I’m glad I chose to stay in, as did all of the coach party who are sat together in the restaurant.

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