Catch-Up From The Capital

Blogging has been non-existent this week as I'm down in the big smoke for a few days. People need to smile more in this city.

Here's a round-up of what's been going on back in Birmingham:

• Soldiers from Birmingham and the West Midlands will be welcomed home today with a march through the city centre. A one-minute silence will be observed and I will be joining in from 100 miles away.
• The "Gym For Free" scheme, so successful in its trial across Ladywood, looks set to be rolled out across the city.
• Jewellery Quarter based company Life has developed the brand concept “WorldF3rst” for the Formula 3 vehicle developed by Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre.
• Birmingham's Chief of Regeneration Clive Dutton has left the city for the London Borough of Newham, managing the transformation of the area due to the 2012 Olympics.
• The City Council is taking advice on hitting tough CO2 targets from environmental guru Jonathon Porritt

There's also plenty of talk about the proposed UK City of Culture bid on which I have very strong views, so will blog about that separately.