This week we were at the stunningly impressive Hotel La Tour in central Birmingham.

Decided to take the train, got to the station in plenty of time….no parking. went to the car park at the rear of the station which is now boarded up for redevelopment! To add to this it was raining and we had to each transport a cardboard tube on our journey (Doesn’t bode well for dong any shopping!) Found a space purchased a ticket and walked to the railway subway…..also boarded up. My two minute walk in the rain became ten minutes. Great start to the day I thought! Got to the station though as did a train so great timing.

Sat opposite a really cute little boy( aged I guess about 8) and his Mum. They clearly weren’t talking. He gazed at his Mum wistfully and said”Please don’t ignore me Mummy” No response…..”Mummy….” no response. He then said “”Please Mummy can we just pretend this never happened….it really is the best way….” He looked at his Mum pleadingly. She stared at him and said coldly “I am not having a conversation with you on a train” turned and stared out of the window. He burst into tears and sobbed. My heart went out to him. I wondered what he had done that precipitated this and wished she would just give him hug,

Got to the station and found the hotel really easily. Very impressive eh?

Met by the always happy and smiley girls from Aston Uni and the first round of food.

A variety of wraps and sandwiches and just out of sight the healthy fruit options.

In this session we looked at Business Opportunity. I was concentrating on expanding our Appointee Department and Our Benefit Awareness courses. Listening to other cohorts plans and ideas and good lectures from the Aston Team. An inspirational session from a former cohort and Accountant( who was so not a boring accountant!) She certainly gave us all food for thought. Talking of food……

The title photo was the afternoon snack …little cones you could fill up with a variety of childhood sweets, there were also a selection of biscuits, fruit, crisps etc

Last break of the day…….more food…….

Mini Pizza and Mini Burgers. Although the food was good the general consensus was it bore no comparison to the wonderful food at the Novotel last week.

That will take some beating I think!

The journey home was almost uneventful…..shared space on the station platform with two cohorts and a train journey to Dorridge with one. Had to stand from Birmingham. How come we pay full price for a train ticket and have to stand? Imagine standing in a car or on a long coach or bus journey. How do the railways get away with it? When I eventually got a seat opposite a nice man wearing a UCB lanyard I put my tube down the side of me and my bag on my knee. Next thing my tube popped up and was pushed towards me as Mr UCB said “It was touching my foot” I thought he was joking but his face said not. I realised his feet were sprawled out under the table almost under my seat!

On Saturday when I left the office I noticed a piece of what looked like a bit of wallpaper stuffed down the air vent on my car. I pulled it out and Suprise! Surprise! a parking ticket from the station…. bizarre as I clearly displayed a 24 hour ticket to park.My blog was delayed by my appeal letter!