Birmingham Post

Anyway, my spy passes on the plaintive plea from Liz.
She states: "As I was slowly transferring my mobile phone numbers last night from old mobile to new, my husband took my phone off me and told me that he was able to complete the task in a far easier, more hi-tech fashion.
"So this morning, I now have a phone with all the numbers deleted from it, never to see the light of day again!
"In order to save my sanity (and me from committing a serious crime against my dear husband) I wonder if you’d be kind enough to just e-mail me back your mobile number and if appropriate your office number too. And I will go back to inputting the data in admittedly a slow, but safe fashion!"
And one assumes hubby, at least for the next week, is sleeping in the dog kennel at the bottom of the garden.
Bet your bottom dollar your phone plea sparks a fair sprinkling of porn lines and Battersea Dogs Home numbers from erstwhile chums.
Bow, wow, wow!
And our gal's president-elect of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
What a PR gaffe.
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There I was trying to get myself back home from Heathrow and had made the delights of Watford Junction, which I wouldn't wish on any of you.
It has got to be one of the world's most appalling railway stations despite the brave efforts of the staff to put on a cheery approach.
It was a Sunday, I was tired, the train I was supposed to be catching didn't exist, and the next one was an hour away.
OK, so I sat there watching the world go round, not a cup of tea in sight, and pondered whether I had accidentally arrived in the last Communist gulag on earth.
Anyway, the train finally turns up, pulls to a stop, and there I am being waved at from some grizzled brute in the nearest carriage.
I thought I vaguely recognised the craggy jaw. And yes, it turned out to be Birmingham's only film mogul, Gary Smith, looking completely knackered. He'd been participating in the London Marathon.
It was his sixth and he had managed it somewhere north of four hours. Not bad for a Blackburn Rovers supporter born and raised on North country ale.
Round his neck was this grotesque hunk of metal signifying the fine achievement.
Which reminded me of a story about my first editor, a kindly, if cussed, character from the north of Scotland.
He had just missed being called up for World War II and hence had no medals, whereas most at the black tie affairs of those days enjoyed rattling around in their pomposity. Somewhat embarrassed, Jimmy took to wearing a huge gong which nobody ever dared query.
It turned out his mother had won it years before for coming first in the best butter section at one of the many agricultural shows around those parts. Nobody knew the difference.
I trust Gary will be wearing his at the next big London film premier.
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Another huge victory for campaigning Bright.
I go along to the latest Breakfast Connection, the event put together by Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, to discover that bacon butties have been reinstated.
New venue, the Birmingham Hippodrome, have clearly paid attention to my scathing remarks on the initial politically correct catering effort.
Much to the chagrin of mate Clive Stone, of Redcliffe Catering, who was bemoaning why the cold porridge had disappeared, hot food had been restored.
Big chunky bacon butties and very nice they were too, replacing lots of green things, fruit nibbles and other disgustingly healthy, but inedible, dross.
The hot food included tomato and mushroom rolls – which looked pretty good – but I noticed that as we all marched into the auditorium to hear guest speaker Richard FitzGerald, chief executive of Aston Villa, give what turned out to be a thoroughly interesting talk, many were looking lonely and lost whilst not a bacon counterpart was to be seen.
A clear message, I fear, for the multi-coloured lettuce brigade.
Mr FitzGerald is anxious to see the stadium filled – so far this year it has only happened six times.
And his difficulty was starkly outlined at the Breakfast Connection event. Those attending – and it was a good turnout – were asked how many of them were not Villa supporters. Probably two-thirds raised their hands.
Not quite the vote of confidence he seemed to be expecting!
Barristers will argue their case on the pitch
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Can Birmingham’s cricketing barristers triumph for the first time in the John Bright Trophy this summer?
A record 17 sides are taking part in Birmingham’s corporate cricket tournament, opening next week at the picturesque Britannic Park ground in Moseley. And my man in the know tells me two city barristers’ practices are among the stronger sides in the tournament.
Sadly Three Fountain Court’s team exited the tournament after two impressive wins last summer when the practice dissolved. But the break-up has meant key team members have new posts working with the two other barristers’ practices in the tournament.
Three Fountain Court’s captain Matthew Barnes and talented all-rounders Jonas Hankin, a former Moseley player, and Tim Green, who took seven wickets for just 21 runs in his two 2007 trophy matches, are now among the St Philips ranks.
New recruits for the No 5 Chambers side, which is led by senior practice manager Abdul Hafeez, the ex-Worcestershire batsman, include Michael Duck, one of the tournament’s best seamers, and wicketkeeper/batsman Robert Juckes, QC.
St Philip’s have lost leading batsman and captain Ed Williams, who has moved to London. But course cricket admirers will be pleased to hear that Nick Brown, the pupil barrister who had the Moseley Noise Abatement Society on red alert last year with the loudest lbw appeal yet heard in the tournament, has been given the side’s coveted 12th man spot.
St Philip's, who reached last year’s semi-finals, are quietly confident of going one better.
Happily, Birmingham fund managers Williams de Broe are again generously sponsoring the tournament and this year’s newcomers are Pinsent Masons, Martineau Johnson and Shakespeare Putsman, who play trophy holders PricewaterhouseCoopers in the opening match on Tuesday evening.