Uploads from CoasterMadMatt, tagged midlands, with geodata

A Trip to the Stars (169/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:58:34 -0700

With Man of Steel out on 14th June it was only a matter of time before I went and saw it

The Venue? Star City in Birmingham, now a Vue Cinema it was once owned by Warner Village and it's claim to fame that it was (and I think still is) the UKs most cinema screens in one building, with over 30 in total

St. Matthew's Quarter (165/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:18:21 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

For the first time since my trip to Spain, I'm back at Brace Street for my helping duties

St. Matthew's quarter in Walsall, is essentially a multi storey car park attached to an Asda. Well since 2007 this has been the case, when the Asda first opened, directly opposite was Shannon's Mill

A Reminder of the Past (163/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:58:11 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

If you ignore St. Paul's Church, there are not that many older buildings beside the main bus station in Walsall, but this is one of them

When you see old photos of the bus station, this building is always one of them, so I can only presume it was originally something to do with it and if it was, it's a lot better than what we have now!

Looking Up (157/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:26:43 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

Perhaps one of my most obscure photos so far away from the home, looking up at the roof of Walsall's Bus Station

I've always thought its an odd structure, you only have to look on some of the exterior shots I took in January for that, but the roof is odder

With various circles to let in the light, it looks like a mixture of Swiss cheese, a UFO and some kind of mental institution where you get spied on

Returning to Walsall (128/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Wed, 08 May 2013 10:57:13 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

After another evening of overtime, it's time to return to Walsall via the bus!

Unfortunately this is only a small fraction of my journey back home, but it's a fraction done nonetheless

Wharfside Reflections (123/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:49:46 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

Early on in the morning before I had to be at Brace Street, I popped up to the Wharf part of the Canal and there was some good reflections

Approaching Walsall (108/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:30:19 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

Unlike yesterday today was an overtime free day, so it means I'll get back at a semi reasonable hour!

This shot being from the top deck of the 529, a view you get as the bus approaches Walsall

Entrance Building in the Snow

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:26:09 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

The Power of the Trebuchet (160/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 04:14:33 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

Unlike my most recent weekends, I'm back out again today, this time (slightly) down south to Warwick Castle!

My second trip to the castle in 2013 and noticeably a lot less snowy! The sun is now shining after a cloudy start so at least I have got some sunny pics here in 2013

A Trip to Tesco's (159/165)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:32:17 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

Constant readers/viewers of this 365 project will know that a few of the trips I do are done on impulse. With the exception of the hols that I've done this year I've only properly planned out 5 days! (And considering the numerous parks, heritage properties and just generic trips out may surprise a few people!)

So what has this to do with Tesco's? Well tomorrow is another such day, well sort've!

Tomorrow marks the final weekend that my sister is 22 (her birthday is next Thursday) and I'd offered to take her to Alton Towers (so she could finally go on The Smiler after mine and her failed attempt on May 23rd) or go to Blackpool (as she really wants to go on the Wallace and Gromit ride). Today I found the answer, and as the vast majority trips to the Pleasure Beach we've done together have been in the illuminations, she said about "it would be different doing Blackpool in the warm" so the decision has been made!

Or at least for the moment, so a trip to Tesco's was needed to get some supplies for the potential long journey in the morning

Travelling over the Toll (156/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:28:38 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

One of perhaps the biggest white elephants within the past 10 years in the UK is this the M6 Toll!

Bypassing Birmingham it joins the M42 and Cannock together, however, since it opened it has continuously lost money, and hasn't made that much difference to the congested M6.

When you consider this photo was taken around 6.15, you'd expect there to be more users than this

Join Us - Just Not Yet (143/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:17:50 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

Another day at Alton Towers today, for my first proper midweek experience (not counting my Bank Holiday trips as today I needed to book the day off)

For those in the know, today was the launch date for The Smiler, the World's First 14 Inverting Roller Coaster

Except it wasn't

Announced on the web yesterday afternoon and confirmed this morning with notices such as this. And with it announced it will not be open tomorrow either, it makes you wonder how long it'll be, before we'll all be able to get corrected

Fields of Yellow (142/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:02:21 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

Whilst walking home, the sun was starting to shine on the farmers field of Rape, and although the digi zoom on iPhones are not that great, you get the idea what it was like

Fallen Blossom in the Park (141/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:26:58 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

We're now past the half way point through Spring; Summer is just around the corner

The blossom is in full swing and with the recent wind, makes it looks like fallen snow

Come Fly With Me (134/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:24:29 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

So here I am again, but yet somewhere new for 2013. My abroad trips so far, have involved me going to Dover, to catch the ferry into mainland Europe!

Today is different in that I've only had to make the hour journey to Birmingham airport. The last time I was here was back in August 2003, which was also my first time on a plane, the only other time was August 2011

Anyhoos, this is the last you'll here from me for a couple of days! Unless the hotel has free Wi-Fi

A Walk on Birmingham's Canal (118/365)

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:05:53 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

No sooner am I back in good old Blighty it's time to be off again! But compared to the 400 mile and over trips over the past few days, it was a more manageable 20 miles into Birmingham

The point? To see Iron Man 3 at the IMAX cinema in Cineworld

This photo is of the redeveloped part of the canal which leads to Brindleyplace and beyond

Top of the Gardens

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:07:56 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

Rita in the Dark Forest

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:07:19 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

X Sector & Smiler

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:08:27 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo:

The view into X Sector has forever changed, although a bit of The Smiler is still yet to be constructed, this gives you an idea of the final product come May when it opens

Entering a Snowy Arboretum

nobody@flickr.com (CoasterMadMatt) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:27:37 -0700

CoasterMadMatt posted a photo: