A place growing around me

As we have imagined on behalf of Thomas Attwood

I know it’s been a while since I scribed some words about the modern day, so here’s my latest thoughts about the world around me which I feel are perhaps especially appropriate considering it is now officially spring and it is much brighter when out and about!‘

Tis the season for everything new, and Paradise continues to change – or in other words, grow – around me (whether it is Octagon, which continues to rise above the city, as well as Three Chamberlain Square, which I can almost touch from the steps of Chamberlain Square).

This building in particular has really caught my eye – mainly because it is directly in front of my general repose and has risen quickly since last year and taken over my entire field of vision.

This new commercial building will allow even more people to work at Paradise, and do it in a truly lovely and considerate environment.

It will be the most sustainable workplace in the city, so I am told by those who have designed it, and I am looking forward to seeing its soothing colours and terracotta façade emerge above the hoarding line.

But what equally excites me – since I am a sociable person, amongst many other attributes – is the new public realm that will come along with the new building.

Ratcliff Passage (named after my good friend, John Ratcliff, who was Mayor of Birmingham from 1856 to 1858) will soon connect my corner of Chamberlain Square with Paradise Street at the other side of the Town Hall.

This will surely become a principal throughfare for those wishing to catch the trams that I currently cannot see – yet hear whistling by every ten minutes – on their way across the city.

I cannot wait to welcome these huge vehicles – which amazingly, I am told do not require horses to pull them! – into my line of sight.

They are one particular piece of modernity I would like to learn more about and which actually, if I am being entirely honest, excite me.

Should I need to have some afternoonified rejuvenation however, such refreshment may be required from the fine eateries throughout the Paradise estate.

And while I have enjoyed hearing tales of the Germanic fun factory that is Albert’s Schloss, the Irani-Indian delights of Dishoom, and the wonderfully fragrant Thai food of Rosa’s, it is the F1 Arcade that I admit I would most like to visit in person.

Racing automobiles around a track? While enjoying what I hear is a very large range of tasty food and tipples? It sounds right up my street to be honest, and all thoroughly tickety-boo!

Ah, if only I could stroll as I once did, through the city I not just love, but adore, top hat on my head, walking stick in hand, and find my way to the doors of these establishments for myself.

I can still smell their fare and drinks and am constantly tempted by them, which is pretty much the only drawback I can think of being located so close to such a fine selection of establishments.

One thing I do long for is for someone to bring me a selection of pastries, sandwiches and choice of fragrant teas – a tradition since Victorian times (1840 to be exact) when Anna Russell, seventh Duchess of Bedford asked for some cake, a pot of tea and some bread and butter one mid-afternoon so that she could fill ‘that sinking feeling’.

Maybe the new Yorks café will help me out in this department when it opens?

Anna’s enthusiasm for petit gateau, savouries and scones, as well a choice of tea and tisanes, soon became the de rigueur afternoon pastime for a certain class of lady and gentleman about home and about town.

I still agree with her essentially sound appraisal that there’s nothing worse than a low point in the middle of the day, which is why I enjoy being sat here where nothing – and no-one – ever disappoints me.