Burne Jones v James Bond!

I had plenty of mundane tasks to do today whilst getting over a cold, but then had the offer of a cultural day in.........Birmingham.

Not a difficult decision really.

We caught the train from Coleshill to New Street (3.60 return) and explored the new station.

It is fabulous, more like an airport, buzzing and welcoming.

After coffee at Pret, we went to The Museum and Art Gallery, I last visited with a school party from KS, perhaps 20 years ago, 

I remember a Ford Maddox-Brown painting from my first ever visit as a teenager, because of it's amazing light.

I now know/remember that it's called "The Last of England"

Even better than I remembered!

The whole place is brilliant so we had to limit the number of galleries visited.

We finished by seeing The Staffordshire Haul, 4000 pieces of Saxon treasure found near Lichfield, by far the largest haul ever found.

The workmanship is incredible.

We considered seeing "Spectre" later, but agreed to spend longer in the Art Gallery, visit the cathedral and the arcade opposite Snow Hill station.

We explored John Lewis in the station complex, bought books in Foyles and caught the 17.35 train back to Coleshill..

About to carve a steak off the gammon joint in the fridge to have with an egg for tea.