Sights of Birmingham

Muddy Mucky walk

Its all excuses - I do realise that... but we have been a bit slack on the Camino Training program. The kids have a specialised program, and I have been given one specifically designed for core strength and endurance.. by my personal trainer.. and I'm embarrassed to say, I've probably done it a half dozen times since he gave it to me.. Sorry Michael...( embarrassed face) but as he says, the only one who will be hurting will be me on the track, and every day I don't do something in training, will mean more pain and suffering up there.. great.

Rachael took us for a gentle walk round the lakes nearby today. With so much rain happening, there was a considerable amount of mud along the track, and it got to the point where we just couldn't go back because we KNEW how bad and deep it was behind us; and had to hang on to the hope it would be drier ahead.. ha ha.

The shame of it was that I didn't have my special camino boots on, only my convos, which got extremly muddy and mucky.

But we had a fab time.. which is all that counts.. huh?

Cadbury World - Birmingham

What a dream visit this is! The only disappointing thing about it was that we couldn't take any photos along the way, so I guess you will have to tag along with me. Just imagine being dipped in meltded chocolate and that smell hangs on your clothes all day .. well.. you are half way there. 

Cadbury World is based at the Cadbury factory in Birmingham. Cadbury was founded over 200 years ago, operating out of a small grocery shop in Bull Street Birmingham, but having to move out of that so their operation grew quickly with the tastes of the clients. 

Cadbury World is now a full on experience, taking guests through a whirl wind tour of the history of chocolate and a tour of the packing process plant.

We were greeted with gifts of chocolate at the front door, so tucked in enthusiastically.  By the third lot of chocolate bars, we were feeling a bit green. By the time we went through the factory and our clothes and hair reeked of chocolate, we were glad to be out of the smell. 

I enjoyed seeing all the advertising material and TV clips made to promote different bars.  It was a very interactive and excitingly educational experience for the kids and one I am glad we went on.

Its defiantly designed to sell the idea of chocolate and promote buying more - espec with the factory shop at the end with all the odds and ends for sale at cut prices.

I also enjoyed reading about the socially conscious efforts of the Cadbury family, in their attempt to look after their workers with housing, education and hospitals, something that other factories didn't do. No doubt the work would have been messy, hard and long, but they appeared to pay fairly and look after families welfare