Thursday, 5th July, 2012.

Sunshine and fluffy white clouds in July shock!

Quick, take a photo.

What of, the car park?

Yeah, perfect.

We have been made so giggly with excitement by the general wooziness of the sunshine that we have driven down to the Cotswold village of Western Sub Edge for a pub lunch at The Seagrave Arms. Well, Vicky is on holiday.

Ah, a nice slice of bread and Gloucestershire butter whilst waiting for our mains (pollock for Vicky, and slow roasted belly pork for David and, yes, we had desserts - there's no law against it).

Yet another 'let's live here' moment.

Strolling around in the sun are we? Enjoying the best day of Vicky's break? Have you heard tomorrow's forecast? The word 'atrocious' has been used to describe it. Hmmm, atrocious weather and Silverstone? Could be an interesting combination. But, for now, let's just amble around the village. Nice.

The Hive, Worcester, Tuesday 3rd July, 2012.

The Hive, Worcester's new University/Public Library and Heritage Centre, officially opened to the public yesterday so, with Vicky on holiday all week, what better time to pay it an initial visit and give it the once-over?

We've already commented on Birmingham's almost completed new public library and it looks as though The Hive uses some of the same materials. So, after ten years of hard winters (and even harder summers) the cladding should be deteriorating nicely on both.

The external surrounds provide many skate boarding opportunities and chances for graffiti artists to practice their considerable skills whilst, ahem, older, visitors can recall the black and white era by doing Harry Worth impressions on their way through the main entrance.

Whilst digging the foundations the contractors discovered the remains of a Roman oven (amongst other things), which has been neatly incorporated into the library under the stairs.

No new modern building worth it's stuff should be without some modern art. Here, Vicky reflects upon  The Hives'.

The internals are light and airy and there's plenty of state-of-the-art technological stuff. None of it will last very long if that chap in the middle is the sort of scrote they're going to let in.

This is the one Vic: 'Ageing in Society', it can be our manual.

The Hive has won us over. It's got a lovely cafe and the menu includes 'Slow Cooked Belly Pork'. We'll be back.

Birmingham, Saturday 23rd June, 2012.

Dunno.

There's a free 'Cultural Olympiad' event at 10:00pm this evening. Might have summat to do with that.

The Town Hall has been 'transformed' into a ship for reasons best known to the organisers of that 'Cultural Olympiad' event we mentioned above. We're sure it will all make sense at ten o'clock tonight when the light show kicks in an' all. We'll be getting ready for bed about then so..............

Artsy-faartsy folk rehearse whilst the rest of humanity look on in intrigued bewilderment.

This blog reported the sad demise of Tempest Records a while ago and now, right next door, our favourite place for a hearty snack whilst in Birmingham (over the past 32 years, in Vicky's case, 28 years, in David's) has closed. To be honest we haven't eaten here for some time. It lost us when it tried to move with the times and offer more 'fast food' options etc. Perhaps this was a case for not moving with the times?

Crumbling kerb stones outside the soon-to-be-closed Central Library. It's about to be replaced by............

....................this modern-thing looming above the classic lines of Baskerville House. Blimey, the old library building was unpopular (with good reason) and we feel that this one is going to divide opinion. How's it going to look in a few years time after a few cold winters etc? Let's just say we hope it is better inside.

Moto GP, Silverstone, Saturday 16th June, 2012.

Flaming June? Abso-friggin'-lutely!

Hare today, gone tomorrow?

Yes, yes, Casey, very clever. But could you do this on yer push 'bike down the New Bedford Road at 30mph in the slipstream of a United Counties bus with all yer school mates mates at the back cheering you on? Not so clever now, eh?

Jorge Lorenzo needs one hand on the 'bars. He'll amount to nothing, him.

Four layers? Must still be flamin' June.

Cowin' bikers! Can't resist pulling one.

Alvaro Bautista graphically illustrating just what you have to do to stick it on pole.

Resident pied wagtail rounds up insect life living above the International Straight gravel trap for nestlings in tyre wall.

Red Bull Rookies race is always worth waiting for. This lot are causing chaos at the end of lap one. The race was red flagged and re-run over ten laps. That evolved into a seven rider epic for the lead. Only five of them made it over the line as two (predictably) crashed on the second last corner on the last lap. Great stuff.

Evesham Cats Protection, Sunday 10th June, 2012.

What's this old Birmingham bus doing out in the wilds of Worcestershire?

Dunno, but it says No 16a, Handsworth Wood and Hampstead on the back and No 11, Outer Circle, on the front, and as we used to catch both of 'em back in the day it's a very nostalgic drive to the CP this morning.

Having said that, the blue of the colour scheme is a bit darker than David remembers so it is likely to be from a time before he lived in The Wild West Midlands and one when Vicky was just a lass. Still, it's good enough, eh?

Best friends get to call him 'TC'.

We get to call him Top Cat.

Some young-uns in Intensive Care.

Top Cat (for it is he) enjoying some rare June sunshine (it won't last).

Don't go in there. The kittens are friendly enough but the Mum's feral.

Um, one for Vicky then.

Oh, grow up! The cats stand no chance if these are the sort of people put in charge on a Sunday morning.

Jubilee Celebrations, Birmingham, Monday 4th June, 2012.

Chamberlain Square. A bit of Rock 'n' roll on the stage.

Victoria Square. A bit of oom-pah-pah in front of the Floozie In The Jacuzzi.

Victoria Square. Nice old van. Well before our time (oh yes).

Shelsley Walsh, Saturday 2nd June, 2012.

Oi! No!! You're driving it back to front.

Afternoon tea, Shelsley style (aka keeping out of that sort of rain that makes you completely wet).

I think we can safely say that the fine line between 'capturing motion' and 'arty' has been well and truly crossed.

Too much oversteer, old chap?

Trekking (gasp) to the (huff) bogs (puff).

Only one of these people has the excuse that he's been up and down a hill in the cowin' rain and fresh air.