Intricate

A Birmingham day with so many contrasting experiences and impressions that I'm struggling to digest them, or create a narrative.

Some clean, efficient, timely public transport. 

In a city notorious for aggressive driving, so many stopped their car and waved me across in front of them on foot - do my country ways give off a hazardous aura? 

The highest derelict building I have ever seen with broken windows 10 or 12 stories up. On the same street, piles of broken glass, where many car windows have been smashed on a recent night

Nearby again, a manicured retail 'village' in an Edwardian brick street. The area looks hyper-managed by some over-arching landlord, intent on attracting affluent customers

The famous jewelry district: an entire area of the city, a multitude of businesses, devoted to gold, silver, diamonds and other 'precious' metals and gems - all of them having no practical utility except decoration

A long queue to sign a book of condolence for Ozzy Osbourne - son of the city, rock music icon, working-class boy made good, questionable role-model, especially for vegetarians

A quiet moment in the opulence of the museum tea room - but an opulence that is open to all