Having not seen Rach for ages, and desperately missing her dulcet tones - I headed off to "The Black Country Living Museum" in Dudley, for some proper Bummie accent action! 
For those who don't know, this is one of those places that is set up to be a "live museum". Set around the mid to late 19th century industrial Midlands, them museum transported, brick by brick, Victorian houses, shops, workshops, cinemas, etc, etc -from all around the area.
They've created then a "Victorian era village" you can go around. It's quite cool if you like that kind of thing
I headed out with father-of_furie and mother-of_furie and the two minor_furies. FOF and MOF were both in the Midlands on a weekend break. I have no idea why anyone would spend good money going to the Midlands on a weekend break, but they did.
When we arrived, there was a massive queue. I'd not checked out what events were on, and there was a "Midlands car and bike rally" on that day there. The place was packed out with people lamenting the loss of the Midlands car manufacturing industry. Though there were some lovely looking old cars and bikes about.
Maxi-Minor_Furie was desperate to go down a coal mine though, so we did... It's a 30 minute trip underground in a mine. It's cool I guess, but it was fake!!! The walls were made of fibreglass. I assume it was a cut and cover job. It's still a good effect, and unless some bastard on a coaster forum told you, you'd never know and live in bliss and ignorance
Half way through, Maxi-Minor_Furie needed a wee, so we had to try and get the old fart doing the tour to hurry up, then dash out.
On the way back, we discovered:
"Demon Destrier - The Horse Wonder"
A superhero horse. MMF needed a picture with him!
MMF's obesity is tilting the world towards him... Sounds like a job for...
The place is pretty expansive, and there's a road and tramway running from the entrance to the village. There's a regular tram and omnibus service:
If you're from Wales instead of the Black Country, this is probably an "Omnieddanaubws"
Everyone who works there is in costume, they're all friendly and pleasant and stuff. The copper was a bit old and knackered though:
If there aren't bunnies, then a trip-report-of_furie requires porcine action!
The pigs were really friendly and affectionate actually, very cool walking bacon
The museum has an "olde time fayre". It's run by a separate group of carny types, but everything is pretty much early 20th century and fits in. It's nice to see old rides being enjoyed by everyone, even if the cakewalk hasn't been open for years.
MMF loved the Juvenile Roundabout:
The ride is actually hand cranked, you can see the girl with the wheel to make it go. Great stuff really. MMF loved the tank...
And the ill fated boat
All the rides were extra, and it was a bit of a rip-off - but that's why you take your parents
The owner of the Speedway died last year, which is sad. The ride is still running though.
It'd been 30 years since I last rode one at Rhyl. It was still great fun, but it was hard work on my back...
MMF loved his speedy ostrich!
They've also got a traditional "lighthouse slip":
and a few other stalls like coconut shies, hook a duck, shooting ranges, etc. It was good seeing people wandering around with stuff they'd won - especially the blokes carrying their coconuts :lol:
We queued extensively then for lunch - fresh fish and chips deep fried in beef dripping. They are really, really good fish and chips. You can feel your blood thickening as the lard hits it, but it was well worth it. NOM!
Just as we finished lunch, they paraded the motorbikes and cars:
Then my camera battery died
We spent the rest of the day looking through the old houses, watching Charlie Chaplin, skipping in the streets, etc, etc, etc. It was all hugely exciting and it's very sad that there aren't any photos to confirm this
By four though, the constant battering of the Dudley accent had beaten us, and it was time to retreat We headed home, arms laden with cuddly toys won on the stalls, heads full of great memories, and ears full of possibly THE most annoying accent in the country (it's a close contest between Dudley and Scouse).
If you're in the Dudley area and at a loose end (PMSL... Liek that's EVER going to happen) - it's worth nipping in if you like this kind of thing.
If you don't, I'd not bother
Hope you enjoyed
For those who don't know, this is one of those places that is set up to be a "live museum". Set around the mid to late 19th century industrial Midlands, them museum transported, brick by brick, Victorian houses, shops, workshops, cinemas, etc, etc -from all around the area.
They've created then a "Victorian era village" you can go around. It's quite cool if you like that kind of thing
I headed out with father-of_furie and mother-of_furie and the two minor_furies. FOF and MOF were both in the Midlands on a weekend break. I have no idea why anyone would spend good money going to the Midlands on a weekend break, but they did.
When we arrived, there was a massive queue. I'd not checked out what events were on, and there was a "Midlands car and bike rally" on that day there. The place was packed out with people lamenting the loss of the Midlands car manufacturing industry. Though there were some lovely looking old cars and bikes about.
Maxi-Minor_Furie was desperate to go down a coal mine though, so we did... It's a 30 minute trip underground in a mine. It's cool I guess, but it was fake!!! The walls were made of fibreglass. I assume it was a cut and cover job. It's still a good effect, and unless some bastard on a coaster forum told you, you'd never know and live in bliss and ignorance
Half way through, Maxi-Minor_Furie needed a wee, so we had to try and get the old fart doing the tour to hurry up, then dash out.
On the way back, we discovered:
"Demon Destrier - The Horse Wonder"
A superhero horse. MMF needed a picture with him!
MMF's obesity is tilting the world towards him... Sounds like a job for...
The place is pretty expansive, and there's a road and tramway running from the entrance to the village. There's a regular tram and omnibus service:
If you're from Wales instead of the Black Country, this is probably an "Omnieddanaubws"
Everyone who works there is in costume, they're all friendly and pleasant and stuff. The copper was a bit old and knackered though:
If there aren't bunnies, then a trip-report-of_furie requires porcine action!
The pigs were really friendly and affectionate actually, very cool walking bacon
The museum has an "olde time fayre". It's run by a separate group of carny types, but everything is pretty much early 20th century and fits in. It's nice to see old rides being enjoyed by everyone, even if the cakewalk hasn't been open for years.
MMF loved the Juvenile Roundabout:
The ride is actually hand cranked, you can see the girl with the wheel to make it go. Great stuff really. MMF loved the tank...
And the ill fated boat
All the rides were extra, and it was a bit of a rip-off - but that's why you take your parents
The owner of the Speedway died last year, which is sad. The ride is still running though.
It'd been 30 years since I last rode one at Rhyl. It was still great fun, but it was hard work on my back...
MMF loved his speedy ostrich!
They've also got a traditional "lighthouse slip":
and a few other stalls like coconut shies, hook a duck, shooting ranges, etc. It was good seeing people wandering around with stuff they'd won - especially the blokes carrying their coconuts :lol:
We queued extensively then for lunch - fresh fish and chips deep fried in beef dripping. They are really, really good fish and chips. You can feel your blood thickening as the lard hits it, but it was well worth it. NOM!
Just as we finished lunch, they paraded the motorbikes and cars:
Then my camera battery died
We spent the rest of the day looking through the old houses, watching Charlie Chaplin, skipping in the streets, etc, etc, etc. It was all hugely exciting and it's very sad that there aren't any photos to confirm this
By four though, the constant battering of the Dudley accent had beaten us, and it was time to retreat
We headed home, arms laden with cuddly toys won on the stalls, heads full of great memories, and ears full of possibly THE most annoying accent in the country (it's a close contest between Dudley and Scouse).If you're in the Dudley area and at a loose end (PMSL... Liek that's EVER going to happen) - it's worth nipping in if you like this kind of thing.
If you don't, I'd not bother
Hope you enjoyed
