Meant to say, the last time I was in Dollman St was last July. I took a drive down to the lampost that still stands almost beside where our old house stood. There used to be an old Victorian one that was replaced towards the end of our time there.... You know, I was only saying to a mate of mine when I was over.... We used to climb them old Victorian lamposts, swing on the arms of them, put ropes on them and swung around them, but not one kid damaged or broke any of the glass in any of them, perhaps in the hundred years they stood there....
I'd rate those old cream and maroon Victorian lamposts up there with red telephone boxes, the original old decorative Birmingham street signs, the old hop on, hop off, cream and navy double deckers with the forward crest on the side, the old blue enamel, circular, Buses Stop Here By Request signs, along with the old Bundy Clocks as great images of old Birmingham. There are still plenty of the old street signs but the new ones are..... well.....new!
I don't really like new. It's practical, but sterile. It's unappealing, shapeless, designless and charmless. All of those old things I mentioned had character, an identity, a life, and you missed them when they passed away.....
You know the thing that strikes me about the birmingham forum is.... It's a good website and diverse and all and, it's great for a good moan.....
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