Brum is a Buzzin'.

 We had set off by 0930 and were soon at the first of the Minworth Locks. We passed nothing moving and only a couple of moored boats.

The girls opted to to work us through the locks and do what they do best, chat.

As we approached the Minworth top lock who should we come across on the tow path but old scout pal Stephen. He had walked from home to meet up with us. We stopped to fill up with water and then headed up the lock. Stephen had a ride with us into Aston

Her we are with the M6 alongside just coming up to Salford Junction. We missed the first turn and took the Aston canal, second on the left. Straight on would have taken us to the Perry Bar Alexandra Stadium where the opening ceremony and the athletic competition of the Commonwealth Games are held.

William and William T. Field were found at the Toll End Works in Tipton in 1880 but by 1884 it eas William alone. Before 1880 William was found alone at the Littleworth brickworks at Hednesford. These bricks were seen on the lock edge on the Aston flight of locks.

Here we are on lock from the top of the Aston flight. We only saw one boat and that was moored having their lunch. We didn't see another boat at all. Helen had a lock down the Ashted Arm and the moorings outside the University school were free, so we headed there. As far as I know you are only allowed four days in the centre of Brum. so we will stay here for a day or too before heading up the Farmers Bridge Locks.

The city centre was very busy and Victoria Square has constant live music and other things going on. We continued on as Helen really wanted to see the bull from the Opening Ceremony which was in Centenary Square outside the new library. It was very impressive.

I'm sure I heard that it is going to be a permanent exhibit somewhere when the games are over.

This is the Commonwealth Games and was designed by a girl called Emma from Bolton as the winner of a national competition. It is called Perry, after Perry Barr I assume.

The statue of Queen Victoria Square has been 'dressed' by another statue. It supposed to represent Queen Victoria with smaller figures representing those going out to other parts of the world. I suspect it may be to prevent any vandalism of the statue hidden within by protesters. Although I can only ever remember her with a street cone on her head before. This art work is by Hew Locke, a Guyanese artist.

Her are a couple of beauties on the steps of the square.

Round the front of the Town Hall building is the Queens College. This was the first part of Birmingham University and was founded by William Sands Cox in 1825 as the Birmingham Medical School. It was a residential school for training doctors. The building became redundant  and in the 1970's it was demolished other than the frontage.

I spotted this at the top of Comore Row on the way home. It is the old Scottish Union and National Insurnace Co. The building was opened in 1903/04, and the company started in 1841 as providing insurance for fire risk. There is a two storey central area with beautiful stairways and a glass roof. It is now obviously a bar as there seems to be a roof top bar there now.

Always look up when you are in a city, otherwise you will miss so much.

We went for our usual meal at the Barajee  overlooking the Worcester Bar. It was a great meal as always. We wandered back and put the aerial up and watched some of the Commonwealth Games.