Comments on: The transfer window

By: Russ L

Russ L — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:57:26 +0000

“Think you’ll find”s don’t really work with this one. I, RowleyRegisMon, am completely and absolutely Black Country but ‘town’ is Birmingham nevertheless.

By: Mick

Mick — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:16:36 +0000

Think you’ll find the spiritual boundary starts just past the baths on Thimblemill Road. From there on out people talk of “town” being Dudley which is 8 miles away rather than Birmingham a little over 5 miles and several light years away.

By: Russ L

Russ L — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:49:04 +0000

If the ground feels firm under your feet (apart from the mine subsidence), if the air feels pure to breathe (apart from the smoke) and if all is good and righteous – you’re in the Black Country.

(In all seriousness, Ben – there are some disputed areas but Oldbury really really really ain’t one of them).

By: Ben Whitehouse

Ben Whitehouse — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:36:18 +0000

Whoops.

As a Brummie transfer in (I’m sorry, you must not notice who got transferred out but I’m sure they were lovely) the whole Birmingham/Black Country thing to me is a bit odd.

There’s no dividing wall. There’s no huge green line to indicate you’re now in the Black Country.

And to be really honest because Birmingham has spread out and eaten up all the little towns it’s hard to tell where Birmingham stops and Wolverhampton begins. And that’s not an argument for Greater Birmingham. Just a gentle observation. (I know that’s not a popular opinion. I’m going to need to move soon aren’t I?)

By: Russ L

Russ L — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:44:38 +0000

He can think he’s from the moon for all that matters. He’s from the Oldbury/Langley area, being as that was where, y’know, he came from.

Fair enough about living in East Bromwich nowadays, though.

By: Jon Bounds

Jon Bounds — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:40:17 +0000

Sorry Russ, from reading Frank’s latest bit of autobiography (or tour diary) I can confirm that not only does he think he’s from Brum, but he’s got a luxury appt somewhere over Brindley Place way (along with his no-doubt swankier pad in London).

By: Russ L

Russ L — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:01:38 +0000

As tedious as it may seem, it’s incumbent upon me to point out that Frank Skinner ain’t from Birmingham.

Black Countraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

Of course I’ve no idea where he lives now, but I suspect it’s neither.

By: Mick

Mick — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:22:45 +0000

And while we’re about it could we bring in Telly Savalas (my kinda town) to replace any bald afternooon presenters on Radio WM

By: Mick

Mick — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:19:57 +0000

A certain Mr Doolan could easily be replaced by compatriate Rolf (do you know what it is yet?) Harris. This would also free up the council to get on with their job rather than take senior managers out of meetings to answer stupid questions on trivial “issues” like why the wonky paving slab outside Mrs Smith’s house hasn’t been replaced yet etc etc

By: Jez

Jez — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:37:30 +0000

If you shipped in Clarkson, I’d be shipping him right by out again. I’d trade him for Victoria Pendleton. It’d be net carbon reducing, which can’t be bad, and it would give Cllr Hassell an excuse to top off his mighty 50m pool with a velodrome on the roof.

By: Sammy

Sammy — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:34:17 +0000

OUT: Roshan Doug – following his dismal showing in the Brummie of the Year awards, I don’t think he merits our attention any longer (although it seems the editor of The Birmingham Post has already taken that decision).

IN: Idealy, Princess Diana (although this is probably unlikely for all manner of reasons). Instead I’d go for Dr Who – why should Cardiff get all the glory, the Time Lord would have a much better time of it in Brum.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:02:30 +0000

OUT: Mike Whitby (well…)

IN: Ken Livingstone (at least he’d be lively, and outsiders might start taking Birmingham a bit more seriously)

By: Ben Whitehouse

Ben Whitehouse — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:56:26 +0000

I’d like to transfer in the filmmaker John Waters. I’m sure he’d be as inspired by Birmingham as he has been by Baltimore. Plus it’d be great to see Birmingham being used as a location for filming. Which would mean I’d also get Patty Hearst on loan for getting John Waters. (Everyone needs a memory lapse, urban terrorist turned film star knocking around to make up the numbers for a game of bridge.)

So it balances out I’ll have to get rid of two (so-called) comedians and a radio presenter. So my Out list contains- Jasper Carrot (I don’t find him amusing), Frank Skinner (same) and BBC WM presenter Les Ross- he’s the worst radio presenter I’ve heard.

Does that balance out?