How The Other Half Lives

Just how big does a house need to be? I guess it depends on how many people live in your family but some of the houses in my neighbourhood are of mansion-like proportions, while others(including yours truly)live in shoeboxes. But I consider myself lucky to be housed at all, given that there is a homeless village just a five minute walk from where I live. I included it in my post Homes For The Homeless two days ago. I’m not having a go at the rich or trying to make a political point, just an observation.

The homeless village.

This is one of many local pubs which have now closed down.

A typical urban housing estate across the road.

View towards the city. The two white tower blocks are familiar landmarks on the Birmingham skyline for the last thirty-seven years, known as the Sentinel Towers, both originally council-house dwellings, now under the control of a housing association. They are both 32-storeys high and are home to many unemployed and low-income families. The tourqouise-tinted tower just behind it is Beetham Tower, home to the upmarket Radisson Hotel and penthouse appartments which sell for up to 1.5 million pounds.

Walking up Wellington Road, away from Bristol Road, the landscape changes, the post-war tower blocks and maisonettes give way to large, detached houses which get bigger and grander the further you walk up the hill. I could swear the air is cleaner too.

This is one of the biggest houses in the road, it certainly has the biggest driveway. Apologies to the owners for violating their privacy, but if you live in a house that big you’ve got to expect to attract attentionEven the pets round here are a cut above your normal moggies or mongrels. Initially aloof, this fancy feline's curiosity eventually got the better of her.