Day 1 - Friday November 4. 2022
Oslo - Frankfurt - Birmingham
Finally it was time after the pandemic to have a new tour to England to watch Hereford FC. I had booked the flight on friday to see the first match on Saturday, but to despair the match was moved forward to Friday due to being televised. Me ending up missing the match!
On Friday morning I got ready finalising everything in my home and finishing packing the suitcase. About Noon I set off to the bus stop and took the bus to a local bus-stop Smedstua and from there the airport bus to Gardermoen. I arrived early as the flight didn't leave until 16:10. Checked in my luggage manually after having problems with the machine and got through security.
Once inside, my flight wasn't set up with a gate yet, but earlier flights to Frankfurt were at Terminal D, so I chose to sit down in the pub there. It was a holiday so I could treat myself to a beer too! When the gate came, it was of course at terminal E! So then it was just to remove myself. Arriving the terminal I went straight to the gate and waited for boarding. As the plane was fully packed, it was important to get on board early, even if it was in groups. Eventually everyone was on board and the first flight to Frankfurt was ready to go.
Arriving in Frankfurt, I had nearly 4 hours until the second flight to Birmingham. I made it to the right terminal this time and through passport control out of Schengen. On the way, I had also made a little shopping of items I needed on the tour. Well through I had plenty of time and decided to get some food. Went into a place called Goethe and ordered Frankfurters. It turned out to be wiener sausages (direct translation of the Norwegian name), not the most exciting choice, but food in the stomach! After eating I went on to the street and waited there. While I was waiting, the cup match between Hereford and Portsmouth began. I got to listen to the first half hour and after 25 minutes there were full cheers as Hereford took the lead! (In the English league system there are 81 places and 3 levels between the teams!) I found my place on the plane and was able to follow the game until half-time. By then Portsmouth had equalized as I boarded.
The plane took off and the journey to Birmingham went smoothly. Once there, I had to check the match results while we were checking in. It turned out that Portsmouth won 3-1, but a good game by our boys! After looking around a bit I found the little driverless train to the train station and was able to catch the train into Birmingham city centre. From there it was the short way to the Ibis New Street Hotel, where I as usual spend the night. It was now almost midnight in England and well over in Norway. And since I always get tired from travelling, all I had to do was to find the bed. There was a full party outside on a Friday night so it was a bit difficult to fall asleep straight away, but it didn't take long before I was in dreamland.
Day 2 - Saturday November 5. 2022
Birmingham
Today I was going to just take it easy. Slept very long after a somewhat restless night. Had a shower and then I was ready to go out. Considered going to do some shopping, but too many people in town so I just went to Bill's and got brunch. It was too late to get breakfast!
Then I just walked around the town a bit and went to the Trocadero pub. There it also were crowded, so I continued to the Walkabout pub where I had a cider. Expected to see a football match on the big screen, but what was shown was a rugby match! After drinking I went on to O'Niells but even there it was crowded, so I ended up in the pub next door where I had a beer.
After finishing my beer I went back to the Trocadero and had a Fish and Chips and another beer. The fish was incredibly good, some of the best Fish and Chips I've ever had! I then walked towards the hotel and stopped at Costa where I ordered a tea and a small chocolate cake. I then went back to the hotel. After leaving my things in the room, I went down to the lobby/restaurant and had another beer and wrote a bit on the laptop. I eventually become very tired, so I just went to bed early this evening. This evening too, there was a full party outside, but I fell asleep quite quickly.
Day 3 - Sunday November 6. 2022
Birmingham
This day I got up much earlier than the previous day. After getting ready, I went over to Bill's and had a proper English breakfast. After breakfast, I started walking north towards the district of Aston. First I went through Aston University. After a while it started to drip from above and at the same time the pressure to find a small room started to become quite precarious. I therefore stopped and went into the Gosta Green pub where I ordered a cider and got relieved of the pressure.
After finishing my cider, I continued walking. Now I was able to walk for a little while along one of the canals and came up to Aston Locks. I continued along the road, but eventually had to seek shelter at a bus stop for another downpour. Once the rain had stopped I could continue towards Aston Hall and Villa Park. As I started to get closer, quite a few people appeared in Aston Villa colours.
Once there I took pictures of Aston Hall and the park and continued down to Villa Park. I didn't have a ticket for the match, so I contented myself with going into the Aston Tavern not far away. There were a lot of people inside the pub, but most of them disappeared since they were going to the match. In addition, there was another rain shower, so it was very good to relax inside! Unfortunately, there was no football on the screen, so at half-time I started to walk back towards city center. I then chose to go through the district of Witton where there were primarily residential areas, both older and more modern ones.
Once in the center I passed St. Chads and the cathedral and entered the Trocadero. The pressure had started to build up again... After finishing a beer and watching the first half of Tottenham v Liverpool, I went on to The Stables where I had a pizza and a cider. I then ended the day at The Railway where I watched the end of Tottenham v Liverpool and then Manchester United v Chelsea for the ladies. In the end I stumbled back to the hotel and went to bed.
Day 4 - Monday November 7. 2022
Birmingham
After a good walk yesterday, it was time for a quiet day today. Slept for a long time and then sorted myself out. Got dressed and went for a walk to the Bullring Shopping Centre. Here I did a bit of window shopping, especially for shoes that I had intended to buy during the tour. Continued through the Bullring and stopped at Cafe Rouge, where I ordered a pot of tea. Relaxed with the tea and thought through what to do next.
After finishing my tea and paying for myself, I started walking in New Street. Here there was a German Christmas market in the entire street over to Victoria Square. (The official name of the Christmas market is Frankfurt Christmas Market Birmingham, and takes place every year.) I went into Pret a Manger where I bought a simple breakfast and went up to the second floor and sat down by the window and ate the breakfast while watching the traffic outside. I then strolled around this area just north of the train station.
Eventually it was time for a beer, so I went into The Briar Rose. It was now early afternoon and there were quite a few people in the room. But I found a free table at the back. Here I sat and enjoyed the beer and wrote a bit on the laptop along the way and at the same time followed a bit of life around me. I had almost finished my beer when the fire alarm suddenly started ringing. I packed my things in a hurry, put on my outer jacket, drank the last drops of the beer and then followed the crowd out of the pub. Everyone got out safely and there was no sign of flames, so presumably it was a false alarm.
I went back to the room and relaxed a bit. And also had a round on the laptop. After that, it was eventually time for dinner. As usual when I'm in Birmingham I have to stop by Cõte Birmingham for a dinner. Although I hadn't booked a table this time, it worked out fine as I was only one person and also a bit early. A lovely entrecôte with chips and green beans, as well as red wine, was today's meal. Guess who enjoyed the meal!
1The next day I was going out on a longer tour again, so after dinner I walked back to the hotel. However, with a stop at The Railway for a glass of cider. When I got to the hotel it was of course still early, but no worse than I could go to bed.
Day 5 - Tuesday November 8. 2022
Kettering and Burton Latimer
Since I was going on an excursion today, I had to get up a little earlier than usual. I did my morning rutual in the room and packed what I needed for the excursion into my sack. I then walked up to New Street train station. Here I bought myself a light breakfast at Pret a Manger after first buying a train ticket to Kettering. I entered the station area where the train was to leave. Since I still had plenty of time before the train departure, I ate the breakfast at the station. I then went down to the platform and onto the train. The first leg was to Leicester where I had to change trains to get to Kettering.
Once in Kettering I strolled up to the center of the town and walked a bit there while I photographed and looked around. After a little while I stopped and went into The Peacock pub. It had started to blow up a few gusts of wind and occasionally some large drops of rain fell. It was time to seek shelter and at the same time it was also time for lunch. At Peacock I ordered a burger and a beer. The food tasted good and so did the beer. But when they came out with a new burger I was a bit confused! It turned out that they had mixed up the orders, so the burger I had eaten was actually ordered by someone else... But one burger was enough!
After lunch the weather was better and I could continue my walk. I continued through Kettering past the bus station and further south. I left the center behind and continued past a park called Wicksteed Park. After crossing the river Ise, I turned onto a minor country road where there was no car traffic. I was now heading out of Kettering and into the small town of Barton Seagrave. Here I walked through quiet residential areas and eventually also made my way through this village and into the third town called Burton Latimer. On my way into the center of the city, I passed the stadium where I in the evening was going to watch today's match. It had started to get a little dark, but at the same time not so far left to the city centre. At the south end of the city center I found Bunley's tearoom where I went in and got myself a pot of tea and a cupcake. It was good to sit down and relax a bit after a long walk.
After tea it was time to have dinner before going to the game. I chose to eat at Palmichael Restaurant on Bunley's recommendation. The food was Italian - scampi for starters and pasta arriabata for main course - and very good, absolutely recommended! I then walked back to the stadium. Still plenty of time for the match, so I had time for a beer first. The match itself was actually relatively poor play from both teams, not least Hereford and ended with Kettering winning 2-0. What was worse was that I eventually started having problems with my back during the second half.
Now it also turned out that I had slightly miscalculated the time because the last bus to the railway station in Kettering left before the match ended. I therefore asked if there was anyone who could give me a lift. After a bit of back and forth, I got a ride - with a Kettering supporter! His mate and his granddaughter also got a ride, so the two were driven to their home first and then I was driven to the station. Along the way we had a nice chat and when I wanted to pay, it wasn't about us supporters! Inside the station I got on the train. This time too there was a change of trains in Leicester. Once back in Birmingham I just went straight to the hotel and went to bed. The back had now become really painful.
Day 6 - Wednesday November 9. 2022
Birmingham
Woke up with a back that was still very bad. Waited a long time to see if it helped, but not particularly much. Got up and made myself and then took the laptop down to the reception. Breakfast was over, but I managed to get myself a pot of tea. Worked a bit on the laptop, but my back hurt so it wasn't that long. Only until the tea was drunk. Went back upstairs with the laptop and strolled up to the train station. Here I bought myself a simple brunch at Marks & Spencer, before I went back to the room. In the room I ate the food, before I went back down.
In the afternoon I again tried to walk around town and went up to The Post Office Vault where I had a beer. After the beer I had to move again and moved on to The Old Joint Stock where I found a table in the inner parts. Here I got a burger for dinner and a new beer. The food was good, but my back still hurt so it probably seemed like I had fleas in my blood. After the meal I strolled over to The Wellington where I bought a whisky.
After the whisky, my back was tired and I strolled to the hotel via Victoria Square and the German market. On the way I bought a couple of chocolate marshmallows and ate on the way. They were good, but still gave me nothing. Back at the hotel I bought a cup of tea and a whisky at reception. When this was empty, it was just a matter of ending the day and crawling into bed.
Day 7 - Thursdag November 10. 2022
Birmingham
Even this day I slept for a long time, which had become a habit... I made myself and prepared to go for a longer walk in Birmingham, although my back wasn't great this day either. I went over to Bill's and bought breakfast, this day I tried the pancakes with maple syrup. I have to admit that this was probably no favourite of mine!
After breakfast I started walking. I was now in the area called Digbeth. I walked past the bus station and a little further. I then entered one of the side streets called Gibbs Street where I passed a giant sculpture for the National Health Service. I continued under the railway and then turned rigth and followed the railway for a while. I passed Mama Roux's before going under another railway until the two lines joined at Bordesley station. The area I had passed through had many bars and restaurants which I probably need to explore better on a later occasion! I continued my walk in Upper Trinity Street, still along the railway until I was close to Bordesley station. Just before, I had gone over a small "hilltop" where an interesting situation unfolded. A bus in one direction and a large truck in the other direction, in a narrow street where there was no room for them to pass each other, and neither of them would back down! I stood and watched for several minutes without any of them moving. And more people gathered and watched, smiling. When I continued my walk after about 5 minutes, they were still there!
I continued into Coventry Road until I passed the Union Canal. Here I went down to the canal and continued along the canal in an easterly direction. The first bit of the canal there was a larger turn and a couple of extended areas of the canal which were areas where boats could be moored or just overnight. And on each side of this area there was a lock. I continued walking along the canal under the railway and further into an industrial area on the other side of the canal from the footpath I was on. I walked calmly on the path, but at one point I had to sneak past a tree that had fallen across the path. I was mostly alone, but occasionally another walker turned up. After walking a good distance and again going under the railway, I decided to turn. I took a path away from the canal and crossed the motorway and came down Waverley Road in the Small Heath area of Birmingham. As I entered Waverley Street there were rows of houses (terraces) on both sides of the roads. I now walked back towards the center again until I came to Small Heath Park, a large park in this district. Here I entered the park and crossed it diagonally. On the other side I re-entered Coventry Road, but now in the opposite direction. (It should also be added that this street had turned 45 degrees in relation to the part I had walked earlier.) I continued through the center of Small Heath with shops and restaurants and quite a few people out shopping. All the way to St. Andrew's Stadium which was the home ground of Birmingham FC. I continued through the Coventry Road bend and then turned into Arthur Street down to Kingston Road. I then followed Kingston Road and on into Adderley Street and further down to the main road by The Rainbow pub. I tried to enter the pub, but it was closed. Luckily(!) it wasn't far to go until I came to a new pub that was open, namely The Old Crown. Naturally there were no pubs along the canal, but I hadn't seen any pubs in Small Heath either, presumably since this was a Muslim area. When I entered the pub, there were hardly any people there, but when I had finished drinking my beer, it was quite full! I therefore strolled back to the hotel and relaxed for a while in the room.
This evening I chose to go to a new restaurant that had opened in the same building as the hotel - Happy Lamb Hot Pot. And here I got food that I like - spicy food from the Sichuan area in China, where you almost cook it yourself in a pot on the table. My pot was split in two so that I had a more neutral and a spicy broth to cook the food in. The food was a large platter of different types of seafood and a small platter of sweet potatoes. Then it was time to put the food in the broths and eat when it was cooked. Here it was all about just taking a little bit of the food at a time! Also, there was the art of getting the food back using sticks!, especially when you couldn't see it but had to fish it out... But it was really good!
After dinner I went for a short walk up to The Wellington where I had a beer and a whisky. Then it was just a matter of going back to the hotel and crawl into bed.
Day 8 - Friday November 11. 2022
Birmingham
Woke up with a bad back this morning too. The long trip yesterday had probably cost a bit. I therefore stayed up late in the morning that day as well. So long that I eventually waited for the maid to come and clean the room. I then made myself and took the laptop with me and sat down at the reception. After an hour I went up again, but the room was still not cleaned. Strolled back to reception with the laptop and waited another good hour. But still nothing had been done in the room. I therefore chose to get dressed and went up at the train station to Caffe Concierto where I had a brunch with another tea. I then walked back past the hotel to Los Iguanas where I took a cider. And then back to the room to see the status. By now the maid had been there and tidied up the room. And it was a good thing, because now my back ached badly, so I just had to lie down. A while later my back had improved and I had to go to the toilet. But a visit to the toilet is not the best for the back, which had thus become bad again. Took a shower and softened my back a bit that way. I sat down with the laptop in the room, but then my back reported immediately. So it was just a matter of getting out.
It had turned well into afternoon when I got out, so I went up to the restaurant The Lost & Found where I got a pizza for dinner together with a beer. There had eventually become a lot of people there on a Friday evening, but for me with an aching back it was just a matter of heading back home to the hotel. But first I popped into The Wellington for a beer and a whisky. Back at the hotel, I took a cider in the reception, before going to bed.
Day 9 - Saturday November 12. 2022
Wellington and Telford
Even though I was going on a trip this day, I still allowed myself to sleep for a long time due to my back. Shortly after I made myself, the maid wanted to clean the room. So I went out and down to the reception where I surfed a little on my mobile. Then back in the room which was now done to pack the sack.
I went up to the train station where I bought a simple breakfast at Pret a Manger after first bought my train ticket. I then went down to the platform to take the train to Wellington. It didn't take long and then I was arriving Wellington. I strolled around a cozy little town and took some photos. Now the football stadium was also this time some distance away, so I therefore started walking towards the stadium. However, it was not as far to go as in Kettering. And I only went through inhabited areas. Eventually I had arrived at the New Bucks Head Stadium and still had plenty of time for the game. I therefore went into Win's Bar, which was located in the stadium building, and bought myself a beer. A little before the match was due to start, I found the ticket window for away supporters, bought a ticket and got into the main stand. (Which actually is for home supporters...) Although AFC Telford were the better team, it was Hereford who won the match 1-0.
After the game I strolled happily back to Wellington station to catch the train to Birmingham. So did also a happy group of young Hereford supporters who were led to the station by a large contingent of police constables. It was actually a bit comical as the supporters just sang and were happy and didn't cause any major problems at all. In contrast, it was mostly just bisque police constables! (But maybe they were all Telford supporters?!) The supporters got on the train to Hereford and I and a number of other supporters on the train to Birmingham. On the way I felt that the chairs in this train set were not good for my sensitive back and feared another solid round of back problems. Once in Birmingham I walked back to the hotel and luckily the walk was healing for my bad back and the pain went away. I left my things in the hotel room and strolled to the hotel's backyard and the Los Iguenas restaurant. Here I bought myself a good Chili con Carne with another beer. After the meal I strolled up to The Railway where I had a cider. Then went back to the hotel and up to the room and crawled into bed.
Day 10 - Sunday November 13. 2022
Birmingham - London - Oslo
Then the final day had arrived and it was time to head back home. I got up a little earlier than usual on the trip, took a shower and got ready and packed the last things in my luggage. I then went over to Bill's and got myself a breakfast. After breakfast I went to Footlocker and bought a new pair of shoes. I had delayed breakfast a little so that the shop had just opened when I came by. Actually, I had bought my shoes earlier in the week, but there was a pair that I decided to buy at the last minute. Back at the hotel I checked out and then went up to the train station and took the train to the airport.
On arrival at the terminal at the airport, I checked in and then it was time to line up for the security check. The queue was very long and hardly moved forward. This is where I could get into trouble! At check-in I was told that the flight departure had been moved forward 20 minutes! After a while it was called out that those who were going on certain flights could move forward in a new queue. But only for a bit, then we had to join the big queue again... After waiting in line for about an hour and a half, I finally made it through security. On the other side of securuty, I just had to grab my belongings together and start running as there was only 10 minutes left to take-off! Fortunately, it wasn't a long distance, so I made it to the gate and into the back of the boarding queue. While standing in the queue, I could put on my belt and sort things out after the security check - and breathe a sigh of relief and calm down. Phew!
Even this time there was a transit stop in Frankfurt. Here I had plenty of time for the next stage. Sat down at a restaurant and got myself a chicken for dinner, as well as a couple of beers. Later in the evening I could move to the next gate and board the flight to Oslo. When the plane landed at Gardermoen, it was approaching midnight. I collected my luggage and went out and took the last airport bus home, i.e. to Smedstua. However, there was work there and the stop was actually closed, but a kind bus driver let me off nearby so I could catch the final local bus home to Stovner. I was home in the apartment at a quarter past one and left everything on the floor and just went to bed around half past two.
Hence another trip to England was completed!