Friday, November 10, 2017

The Cereal Killer Cafe in Birmingham

While on a recent trip to Birmingham I spotted the Cereal Killer Cafe on the link between New Street Station and the Bull Ring shopping centre!

The Cereal Killer Cafe in Birmingham
The Cereal Killer Cafe just before it opened for breakfast

It's full of great retro items from the 80's and 90's.

The Cereal Killer Cafe in Birmingham
A wall of VHS tapes!

The Cereal Killer Cafe in Birmingham
There are loads of retro and import breakfast cereals on display
  
The Cereal Killer Cafe in Birmingham
WWF breakfast cereal!

The Cereal Killer Cafe in Birmingham
Wocka wocka wocka

The Cereal Killer Cafe in Birmingham
While I couldn't eat any of the (gluten-full) breakfast cereals, I could buy some of the great merch there
  
The Cereal Killer Cafe in Birmingham
And there's a Simpsons arcade cabinet at the cafe - it's a classic game and one I've been playing since 1992!

The Cereal Killer Cafe in Birmingham
I've been trying to complete the game for 25 years and I finally achieved it at the Cereal Killer Cafe (thanks to the Free Play)

Check out the Cereal Killer Cafe website for more info.

Related blog posts:
- Cereal
- Birmingham

Wednesday, November 08, 2017

You could be owed £0,000

Checking your PPI here looks like a bit of a gamble to me!

Checking your PPI here looks like a bit of a gamble to me!

Tuesday, November 07, 2017

Ryder Legends Mini Golf at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield

Playing the Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield.


Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield

On Friday 8th September we visited The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield to play the Ryder Legends Mini Golf course as part of the inaugural American Golf National Adventure Golf Championship.

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Playing hole 3 (inspired by the 17th at Kiawah Island)

Each of the 12-holes on the Ryder Legends Mini Golf course is based on a famous hole from 'big' golf. It's a tricky layout with some very long holes.

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield

Along with Peter Jones I'd qualified for the grand final of the American Golf National Adventure Golf Championship after winning the Welsh Regional Qualifier in April.

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield

The Ryder Legends Mini Golf course was the 456th course played and 768th visited overall on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour. You can see photos of the holes below and videos of the 12-holes on our YouTube Channel (123456789101112).

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
The Rules

Photos of the Ryder Legends Mini Golf course.

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Hole 1 - Inspired by the 17th at Valderrama 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
You need to play around the tree 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
A view back to the tee 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Hole 2 - Inspired by the 18th at Wentworth 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
A tough hole to score a two on

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Not easy at all 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Hole 3 - Inspired by the 17th at Kiawah Island 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
The longest hole on the course 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Hole 4 - Inspired by the 13th at Valhalla 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
You need to play a nicely paced tee-shot on this hole 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Hole 5 - Inspired by the 9th at Royal Lytham & St Annes 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
The pipes aren't as easy to putt into as they look! 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Hole 6 - Inspired by the 16th at Royal Birkdale 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
A long and uphill shot 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
It is aceable though 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Hole 7 - Spiral Fun Hole

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
A good chance for a hole in one - or a tricky second putt 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Hole 8 - U-Bend Fun Hole

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
An ace opportunity

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Hole 9 - Inspired by the 5th at Pinehurst 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
A good two

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Hole 10 - Up and Over Fun Hole 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
A good chance for a hole in one 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Hole 11 - Inspired by the 10th at The Belfry

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
The potential round-wrecker 

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Many teams fell foul of the ditch on this hole

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
A tough green to reach

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
Hole 12 - Inspired by the 15th at PGA National

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield
The last hole to play is a fairly long one

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course scorecard

For more information visit The Belfry Hotel and Resort website and Ryder Legends Mini Golf web page.

Ryder Legends Mini Golf course scorecard

The American Golf Championship Tour invited players from all parts of the golfing spectrum to compete in its range of events. This year more than 7,500 players competed in a total of 17 tournament categories at 168 venues.

A pre-match interview with Sky Sports presenter Gemma Care
A pre-match interview with Sky Sports presenter Gemma Care

It was brilliant to qualify for and compete in the first American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final.

Playing hole 3 in the American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final
Playing hole 3 in the American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final

The final was played over four rounds - two qualifying rounds of strokeplay, followed by a matchplay semi-final and a matchplay final. Peter and I played well as a team and qualified for the semi-final in second place after rounds of 35 and 34 on the 12-hole Ryder Legends Mini Golf course. We were victorious in our semi-final against the Watford qualifiers Simon and Jake Whitby, but unfortunately lost 3&2 in the final against Bristol qualifiers Simon Lee and Steve Gerrish.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- American Golf
- The American Golf Adventure Golf National Pairs Championship Final
- American Golf championships on Sky Sports Golf
- Set your tapes! Adventure Golf to be shown on Sky Sports Golf
- Winning the American Golf Adventure Golf Pairs Regional Qualifier in Wrexham
- Richard Gottfried - Player Profile and Tournament Record

Links:
- The Belfry Hotel and Resort
- Ryder Legends Mini Golf
- American Golf

Videos:
- Playing the Ryder Legends Mini Golf course at The Belfry - hole 123456789101112

Monday, November 06, 2017

Cycle Speedway in Stockport

Finding out about the Cycle Speedway track in Stockport.

Our friend and minigolf rival John Moore is a big fan of Cycle Speedway. Back in 2011 he took us to see some races in Edinburgh at the British Veterans over 50s and over 60s Individual Championships in Redbraes Park (home of the Edinburgh Falcons). What a sport it is!

Cycle Speedway at the British Veterans over 50s and over 60s Individual Championships in Redbraes Park, Edinburgh
Cycle Speedway action in Edinburgh

We were having a cycle around Stockport on Sunday and found ourselves at St Thomas' Recreation Ground - a bit of the town we hadn't explored before. Riding through the park we spotted a Cycle Speedway track! It's home to Stockport 2006 Cycle Speedway Club.

Cycle Speedway track at St Thomas' Recreation Ground in Stockport

Visit the Stockport 2006 Cycle Speedway Club website for more information about the sport and upcoming fixtures (the season runs from March to October).

Cycle Speedway track at St Thomas' Recreation Ground in Stockport

Looking at the results from this year Stockport and Edinburgh are local rivals!

Cycle Speedway track at St Thomas' Recreation Ground in Stockport

At the start of the year The Friends of Alexandra Park in Edgeley set a challenge to its members to get and about to visit as many Green Spaces in and around Stockport, based on a list from Stockport Nature Watch. The Green Spaces list showed 33 places to visit - of which we've so far made it to eleven. On our travels around the borough we've also been to another eight parks and green spaces! You can see the list on The Friends of Alexandra Park's Facebook Page.

St Thomas' Recreation Ground has two styles of sign - one looks really old. It's a pretty big park too