h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Having grown up in Halesowen and having lived there most of my life, I would just like to state my fondness for this Black Country town. Thank you.

How can anyone dislike a place where there is a hairdressers called 'Curl Up and Dye'.

Brilliant. Where is it? Is it actually in Halesowen? And do you remember Ivivi Cavan? That was a seriously flash establishment if you wanted to come out with a big do.

I used to live and work from Coventry but head ogffice was in Halesowen. I used to *love* the cummute for early morning meetings at HQ. At least I lived above the office in Coventry.

'Curl up and Dye' is in Bloomfield St West I think, its in one of those side roads just off the Stourbridge Rd near the football ground. Have you seen the Independent on Sunday have been running a page every week with comments from people who live in Downing st, Halesowen?

I've lived in Halesowen all of my life. What I want to know is why are't there many websites about Halesowen on the web? There are no photographs either, which is a pity.

If anyone knows of any sites with photos, let me know

I've just spent Christmas with my folks in Halesowen. Do you know the Hare and Hounds? I used to work there a long time ago. Also, I went for my favourite walk again this year, across Broadway Avenue, over the bypass and then through patchwork fields near the golf range, the chimney stack of the Blue Bird toffee factory looming on the left hand side. Crossing a wee brook, then trudging up past the dairy farm, you make a right, down through a large sloping cow field till you get to the edge of Uffmoor wood. Go into the wood and head in a south easterly direction (there are a paths aplenty to help you out) till you exit the trees and join the winding road that takes you up to Clent Hills. Carry on up this road for a while and turn right where you'll find St Kenelms Church hust set back off the edge of the road. In the grounds of this old wee church is a spring which is said to mark the spot where Kenelm, Prince of Mercia, was brutally murdered around 820AD. Continue along up the road and witness the unfolding majesty of the magnificent Clent hills and the subtle, pale wintry magic of the Black Country countryside. As the road weaves and narrows and dips down a little you'll come across a little cottage on your left on Vine Line (the mysterious, curiously-named Clatterbach Lane veering off up in to the trees just to your left) and a couple of minutes later you'll find The Vine pub, set back on the right hand side. Now, after all that, it would be stupid not to sit down and have a couple of pints, wouldn't it?

I CERTAINLY DO REMEMBER IVIVI CAVANN HAIRDRESSERS I WORKED THERE FOR 4 YEARS !!!!!!!! I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE THAT WORKED OR VISITED THE SALON 1972---1979 MY NAME THEN WAS ROBERT