Description:Mum: ‘I’ve lived in this area all my life, I still see people from my infant school. I suppose it’s changed for the better, I remember the big houses, there were families over there with 22 children. I was in Solihull for a while and I’d rather live here. In Solihull it’s all kippers and curtains.
Once I’m inside it’s not a flat it’s a home – my home is my castle. You don’t need money to be happy, there’s too much emphasis on it. I wouldn’t move now, unless I won the lottery of course! From this flat I can see what’s happening below before anyone else does. I love the views. You know when the Number 8 is on its way, you can see it coming down from the Moseley Road and be at the bus stop by the time it gets here. The only problem is there’s nowhere for the children to play. I’m a volunteer at a play group up the road, my health visitor told me about it and I took my daughter and they asked me to come and help – she really enjoys playing with all the children.
My daughter can take care of herself already. She can’t go out to play but she reads books, does painting, sings – she thinks Nanny’s furniture is a climbing frame. I’ve turned my balcony into a little play area – before they did the windows in my flat it was so cold there were icicles on the insides. The new balconies are lovely, if you had a cat you could put it out. I know of cats that have gone over the old balconies, one went over on the 8th and ended up on the 3rd.
Granddaughter: ‘I want to be a songwriter – record me please!’
Nanny: ‘I was born in the country, you see, but I wouldn’t go back to Ireland. I don’t think I’d like the quiet now. You can have the same problems living in the country as you have in the city. My fella always said if he had plenty of money he’d love to go back home and build a bungalow, but I don’t think I’d like the quietness now.’
Granddaughter: ‘Please could I have a go with the camera.’
Nanny: ‘You’re getting too excited now.’
The transient population doesn’t always fit a stereotype, either. Young professionals take advantage of relatively cheap housing costs and proximity to town, they can afford the extra rent charged for kitchen refurbishment and enjoy the diversity of the population.