It must have been a shock to a returning boater.

 Last night, looking at the local news, we did find out where the blaze was situated. For those who don't know it was at Saltley recycling plant nearer to Star City then Birmingham city centre. See a photo click here.  And last night with the smoke now a white colour I took another photo. The sun was setting and the Library was glowing gold in the sun. Wonderful.

This morning, with no sign of any smoke on the horizon, I assumed the fire was out. We decided to move FS as I hadn't read the sign on the post properly and had  actually moored on a 2 day mooring. With us wanting to stay until Friday we moved.... maybe about 50 yds.... to take up a 14 day mooring vacated by a boat earlier. Still, this mooring is much better as we have the sun for at least 6 hours during the day and the solar panels are working nicely.

14 day mooring only one boat length.

 Deed done we headed off to the Bull Ring. There is a lot of regeneration happening around the centre and whereas a couple of years ago we walked through the Paradise centre to Victoria Square, it is now a building site.

I'm not a fan of the new station. The reflections in the silver walls looks peculiar and more like a building site. This is just my opinion as I know many people admire the patterns produced.

Grand Central Station

Reflections looks all wrong in my opinion

 And I'm also not a big fan of the Selfridges building. In fact I must be old fashioned as it's the modern look I'm not keen on, preferring the look of old historical buildings instead.

Eventually we made it to the Bull Ring. Did no more then glance in the windows as the shops all looked a bit to posh and expensive for us and I couldn't find my usual shopping outlet...Charity Shops!!! Anyway, took the compulsory photo of the Bull.

Stopping at Wetherspoons for lunch, we then made our way back to FS by mid afternoon but not before admiring some of the sights on the way.

Sand art of a dog.

 Having moved FS we were now moored directly opposite this boat. I couldn't believe someone would be so nasty as to do this to it. Obviously the fisherman in question must have been well peeved about losing his fishing peg to a boat. Feel very sorry for the owner as I would have been devastated.

Think some of the letters have been painted out for decency.