Birmingham was great to me but at the time I just never knew that, I don't need to look back because I always make a comeback every once in a while. I went back to Birmingham just the other week to see what was good. Bilston gets me down sometimes, so Birmingham had something to give! Who knew Botanical Gardens and Bubble Tea would be such a great combination?!
University brought me back to Birmingham once more. I have been back and forth to Birmingham since I moved out of halls, yes life is a little mundane at the moment but those little Brummie breaks take me back to my uni days. My blogging is crazy right now so with my crazy margins I needed a snap of UCB's frontage. Graduation is upon me, I never planned on attending for I had my grand Emirate idea of being a Cabin Crew for the airline but I was brought back down to earth with a bump when I didn't get the job. Nevertheless, I've been back to pick up my transcript so I will be graduating with honours in September. Fast forward to this time I had booked up a trip to Newcastle so with an early coach I made an afternoon out of it, choosing my time wisely to print my papers for the journey at the resource center. OK, I'm in transition so I'm living with my grandparents and life's on the pause button so I get excited about little occasions. Yes, I'm loving my life right now so don't you dare judge! Back to Brum please!
Choosing a university closer to home has worked in my favour so I took the Midland Metro to Birmingham Snow Hill from Bilston Central. It's mad to think I now make any excuse to visit UCB when in the last year I hardly ever attended, I still got all my work done but I preferred a good lie in because nobody loves 9am lectures. The resource center gives me life, as silly as this sounds I really enjoyed the quiet atmosphere that took me back to the frantic days when I planned my Dissertation. A Masters Degree isn't the path for me so I know that as of the 22nd of September my university career will be over but those moments of madness will stay with me forever. I wonder when my student card will expire? Why Birmingham before Newcastle? Trains are extortionately priced right now and Wolverhampton doesn't have a direct connection to the Geordie Shore, staying with a friend meant that I could get my formalities sorted at UCB the day before without stressing. My visit to UCB made my heart happy. It's the little things in life.
Bubble Tea is the cure for a lot of things. My current hometown of Bilston won't ever know what Bubble Tea is, I chose Birmingham! Caffe Chino was calling! I had planned to meet with my friend Kelly in the city but it wasn't meant to be so I went ahead with my original plan. I chose to drink a Hong Kong style Bubble Tea, accompanied by a Hong Kong style cheesecake. Yes, I love things from Hong Kong! Birmingham's Chinese Quarter reminds me of happy times from my university course. Aside from Bubble Tea and cake I took some solace from my visit to Caffe Chino. I learnt the art of buying Chinese cakes and pastries upon my first visits to Caffe Chino, this time I knew the drill because Bilston hasn't got a clue what I enjoy. Major's chips are amazing but I just want some Bubble Tea! Birmingham looked the same but it didn't due to the sheer amount of construction that's currently taking this West Midland city to new heights, Cathay Street will always look the same to me. Oh, looking back I should of really bought some Oolong Tea!
People seriously look down on Birmingham it angers me to see what great things are being developed, Centenary Square finally looked together with the pending construction of One Arena Central. Jeez I probably sound like such a fool, droning on about stupid things that I once took for granted, well appreciated less because they were on my doorstep. I'm a mad one for planning things, time in my book must be respected so I broke that rule completely. I wasn't feeling too good but I knew that my sweet treats would set me in the right direction to the Botanical Gardens. Since Blackpool things have been slow but its refreshing to see the simple things in life, a stroll out for a Bubble Tea makes everything fine. Bubble Tea and Birmingham makes things cool for me. I'll be back in Birmingham for my graduation in a few weeks but I have some good things planned until I get my papers all in line. Thanks again Caffe Chino! Bubble Tea and Birmingham sorted my headache out. So, let's move along now because I didn't have any time to waste!
Chilling out for the afternoon I walked for what felt like a million miles like really, I gave up on my IPhone map route to reach Birmingham's Botanical Gardens. I had been once before when I was aged seven, throughout my University College days in Birmingham I vowed several times to visit again but I failed. With my departure to China approaching I used my spare afternoon to my advantage and just got something accomplished for a change. Using my student discount for the final time I made my way through the plant houses, the heat was humid and the plant-life impressed me much. I'm not the best at reading so I had a mooch around the gardens, found a seat that overlooked the manicured gardens to read my book. I'm currently trying to finish 'Fresh Of The Boat: A Memoir' for the third time so I made the best at my attempt. Opened on 11th of June 1832 the Botanical Gardens are set in Edgbaston, a part of Birmingham that's got a regal feeling about it. I wouldn't mind going back to that Birmingham oasis. Yes!
Needless to say I couldn't believe a council estate lay a few minutes walk away from the image captured above. Let's just say that the time I spent relaxing with my book in the gardens was lovely, taking time out to zone out can be great. Getting back to Birmingham was the thing I needed before my Geordie weekend, let's just say it was nice. Bubble Tea and a little visit to university put me right. Birmingham is changing but I'll be back soon. I would rather be an ambassador for Birmingham with Deidre Kelly from Benefits Street because we know how it goes in the city of Birmingham. I'll have to bin my student card soon but I'm going to hold on to it for a little while longer. I could be persuaded to return back to Birmingham's Botanical Gardens, its well lush! Choose Birmingham's Botanical Gardens to take the stress out of the city, I know what I would rather be doing! I don't care if this blog sounds boring or if you think it lacks character, I can look back at my last Birmingham day with a smile. Visit the Botanical Gardens!
Joseph Harrison