Sold us a washing machine that we viewed in store, we paid for delivery and fitting. The washer…read morethey delivered was not the one we agreed upon, and was not fitted as promised. They did come back and help to fit a few days later after some badgering. Fairly happy now we have a working washer but still feel somewhat deceived. Make sure you check you're getting what you expect.

The Bargain Shop on the Bristol Road is your one stop outlet for all manner of domestic and…read moreelectrical appliances. These kinds of establishments don't crop up all that often anymore which is a shame as the people here offer a good service. They make domestic appliances such as washing machines available at affordable prices which can be an invaluable thing to some people. They even offer a repair service at the Bargain Shop as well as having all manner of spares for appliances from fridge freezers to vacuum cleaners. This is good old fashioned service and many more places should take a leaf out of their book.

You don't see too many launderettes around nowadays as the vast majority of the public are content…read moreto do their washing in the comfort of their own homes. However, Selly Oak is populated by a large number of student residents and it is mainly them that make use of a service such as Sam's. This place is cheap and as cheerful as an establishment such as this can be and the people who run the business are friendly. The owners are on hand to help out with any queries that hapless students such as myself may have. So on the whole a solid business providing a service that has become increasingly rare.

This place was a God send when my washing machine decided to die and sort of explode all over the…read morekitchen floor. I had a huge pile of washing that really needed to be done and began to panic that I would run out of clothes to wear! I quickly Googled local laundrettes and found that this place was a five minute walk from my home. It was the best news ever! I gathered my clothes into a black bag and headed straight down there. When I got there I found that it was fairly cheap and the machines were pretty simple to use - well, if you have used a laundrette machine before. The people that ran the laundrette were in there when I went in and we exchanged pleasantries. I did not need any assistance, but I if I did they seemed approachable and I would have asked. It was quite busy in there so I guess it is a popular place too.

I have a strange attraction to wandering around cemeteries, so my judgement regarding comparison…read moreI'd say is pretty sound. It's a beautiful setting, and of course very peaceful as you would expect! There's an array of interesting head stones if you're into that kind of thing but otherwise it is a stunning capsule of serenity all in its own right; with gnarly old trees and other flora to enjoy. The changing seasons mean this is a great place to visit throughout the year.

*Sigh* I honestly don't spend all my free time in cemeteries. It's just that I fancied a trip down…read morememory lane, so I visited Lodge Hill again today. It's a trip down memory lane as I learnt to drive (again - passed my test when I was 17, then didn't drive again for over 10 years..) here. Well, re-acquainted myself with driving, then, shall we say. Which kind of gives you an idea as to the size of this place - it's massive. There's plenty of space for pathways and driveways. With a 5 mph speed limit, I hasten to add. It's divided into a number of plots, and there are acres and acres of grass. It's a lovely place though. I know its full of dead people, but it's like acres of quiet parkland, with plots of ornamental gravestones and flowers here and there. I think I'd quite like to be buried here - it's really peaceful and ordered.

Whilst the shop front doesn't promise much - this is quite an interesting little shop that delivers…read morerather a lot if you step inside. As well as offering a cheap dry cleaning service it it also stocks a range of card making supplies, buttons, Dylon fabrics (oh how I love Dylon fabrics), thread and well...all sorts really. Sadly it always seems a bit empty whenever I pop in but I suspect this is because the lady who works here has me marked as a browser rather than a genuine customer - for a start I'm not carrying a dovet, coat or set of curtains over my arm and I probably don't look like the crafting sort - but if you live near Weoley Castle and need some dye or a set of buttons this is a good place to come.

won't give me an address to return my item what fell to pieces for a refund and has been on holiday…read morefor 8 weeks and on going but he is still trading on eBay my advice is keep away

I first visited Nightingale Jewellery when I was looking to buy a Zippo lighter for a friends…read morebirthday, this was about 10 years ago and I've used them for my jewellery repairs and for purchases ever since. It's a traditional jewellers shop, rather than the jeweller/pawn brokers which seems to be the norm now. They will buy in unwanted gold and jewellery but they do not offer any kind of cash loan service, I've sold to them once or twice and got a fair price for the scrap gold I had - more than if I'd left all the broken chains and odd earrings sitting in my jewellery box! This is a popular jewellers so if you see something in the window or display case that you really want then I suggest you buy it or leave a deposit as they have a high turnover and tend to have completely different items by the following week. Even if I'm not planning on buying anything I will always have a look in the window because their more unusual pieces are displayed here and sometimes I'll see a pair of earrings or bracelet that I 'just have to have'! Everything is clearly labelled so the price can be seen from outside, this is great because I can see at a glance whether I can afford is as there is nothing worse than having to go in to ask the cost only to find that you can't afford it after all! Once inside the shop has a calm, quiet feel like any good jewellers shop. The glass display cabinets are sparkling clean and show the jewellery and gifts inside off beautifully. There always seems to be a lot of necklaces and link bracelets for sale inside the shop, as well as gold charms and pendants. I think the prices are extremely reasonable, obviously there are the more expensive pieces but you should be able to find something nice within your budget. Nightingales also sell a range of clocks and gifts including those gorgeous hologram pendants featuring a photograph you provide. I also like their crystal ornaments and have bought several as presents over the years - of course I also bought the Zippo from years ago which my friend still has and was beautifully engraved with her name. The staff in Nightingales are excellent, they never seem to rush you and are content to let you browse for as long as you need. I always get the impression that they want me to make the right purchase decision and not the most expensive option. This is great because sometimes in jewellers shop I get the feeling I am being nudged into the most expensive item, but not in here.

St. Francis youth club is great and easy way to get youths and young teenagers off the streets and…read moregive them something to do during any night of the week as well as getting them to meet new people and socialise in groups. The workers and volunteer workers here at St. Francis are full of advice, counselling and help. But they are also there to be (not in a corny way) your friends so that you always have someone to talk to without being under pressure. They provide a wide hall in which you can do many activities that are supplied for you such as, basketball, dancing, piano and tennis. They can also arrange fun activities if you wish; like sumo wrestling! If enough members go frequently they will also arrange residential events for you to get away and enjoy yourself with friends.

Absolutely fantastic service. We were nervous about finding the right company to reupholster our…read moreCollins and Hayes sofa. C&C'a knowledge and customer service, as well as the finished product, were excellent. Thank you Peter