"Mine"

We went to Birmingham today and walked around an area that we've never visited before, Brindleyplace (if you know the city, it's behind the Symphony Hall. You just walk straight through
the building) It was the warmest day we've had so far this year or so it seemed. The sky was blue, the sun was out in full force and everyone was enjoying the unexpected sunshine.

One of Birmingham's claims is that it has more miles of canal than Venice. I'm not certain that this is true, but I can believe that the city has a huge network of canals from the industrial revolution era.

I've picked this particular photo mainly because of the bird's expression of disbelief, which has obviously spotted an unoccupied sandwich. I also like that the signs give the actual number of locks that you need to go through as well as the mileage. Can you imagine having to go through 58 locks in only 30 miles? That's very hard work as each one often has to be cranked (although some were hydraulic in the 1980's, this policy was abandoned in the 1990's) by hand! Add to that the factor that if the lock is empty, it can take up to15 minutes to fill up, you can see why the seagull has the easier time of things.

[Jenn]

Great photo!...and now I've got "mine, mine, mine" stuck in my head!

[Juliette Packham]

you make me chuckle - such wit! nice signs - I'd be going to Worcester frm here - I love locks! great for this week's theme

[Kate Beddow]

Great photo Matt, I love Brindleyplace! It's about the only part of Brum I know cause if we go we're usually going to see something at the Symphony Hall if we're going! It's so lovely and there are some lovely little shops and places to eat. Glad you had a nice day. Lovely weather for it too x

[Paul Naylor]

brilliant ecpression on the birds face. But 58 locks, I'd go to Wolverhampton, without a doubt

[Denise]

Love this shot. So much going on.

[Pyrrhula]

thanks for the story. And for this pic. I`ve been there so long ago that I mostly forgotten it. do you have to go ( with a ship ) from Manchester by a long canal to it?

[Kaz]

Wolverhampton all the way!!! Love your mini docos Matt :-) Love that you take the time and another great photo. Busy one this one!

[Trisha Ford]

Very great submission to the sign week! Love all the activity. So much to look at, but you keep coming back to the sign. Great energy.

[Fiona Kierans Dunne]

Lovely shot, nice b&w

[Matt Clendon]

@shutterbugger @sparkle @growingspirit @mrjuggles @denisedaly @pyrrhula @pyrrhula @kazzamazoo @tford @fluffy Thanks, was a nice day and felt good to be out and about in the sunshine.

[Tonje]

Wow, what amazing names! Looks so historic. Love the light underneath!

[B]

His expression makes me giggle. I find the lock information really neat.

[Matt Clendon]

@pyrrhula I really don't know, I expect you could travel from Manchester to Birmingham via canal and narrow boat though as it's not a very large distance.

[Matt Clendon]

@growingspirit We didn't try the cafes as we had arranged to meet Anne at the town hall, but maybe next time. I think the whole area must look very pretty at night.