Gone a bit crazy in Birmingham at the moment.
Saw four of the 7 official memorial sights (as per the leaflet given to me at the entrance to the Birmingham Museum and Art Galary) yesterday.
1. Ozzie the Bull at Birmingham New Street. A bit strange, this, as the bull was designed and built for the Commonwealth Games. Only got given the name "Ozzy" later on on popular vote. But a few flowers left at his feet.
2. Mural on the wall over New Street Station. Four old blokes decided to add their own "art work" to it. But I suppose that, compared to their behaviour earlier in their life, is very much forgiveable. Lots of flowers, barriers, attendants and lots of people seemingly on the verge of the Blue Rinse brigade period of their life who wouldn't look out of place with a rolled-up copy of the Daily Mail under their arms, looking misty eyed.
3. Pictures in the blacked up windows of the Crown Pub, Birmingham, where Black Sabbath were the house band. Slightly grates, in that the property owners are desperate to knock the place down and build something that will make them some more money, but ruin the spirit that makes city centre living so attractive. More flowers.
4. BM&G, as above. Didn't join the queue for the book of rememberence - might have lost a good chunk of the day had I done so. Nice walking around the rest of the art gallery playing "Metal Head or Art Gallery Fan". I guess a working-class lad from Aston would never have dreamed that he would be bringing great crowds into the biggest Art Gallery / museum in Birmingham. There might be a number of of Pre-Raphaelites that are wondering if they took the wrong path. No flowers.
Missed the Black Sabbath bench, Ozzy lego statue in Selfridges and outdoor photo exhibition which is just a couple of minutes from the desk where I type this, and 90 seconds of which are catching the lift to the ground floor.