Describe an average day at work. Wow, there is no average day to number nine; it starts with the missus getting a cuppa, then shouting at the kids to wake them up in time to be late for school, then off to see artists or visit customers before opening the gallery at 11am. The gallery day runs to 7pm. It's a bit like an ever-changing stage production here. Nothing stays in the same place for too long, luckily. Tell us about numberninethegallery. The gallery opened at the end of the last century, promoting and selling a colourful array of contemporary paintings, glass, ceramics and sculptures. It's a bit of organised chaos in the main room, but I like that. I have been told it is very like me, say no more. If you want something different, then pop by. Describe the scene in Birmingham to someone who's never been here. We're like a large village - easy to walk around, lots of space and trees, as well as shops, bars, cafés and friendly people. When you're off duty where do you hang out? What is that? Off duty? Non capisco! Best bar? I like One Ten upstairs and used to go to The Living Room a lot. I use All Bar One as the office and occasionally still want to play the piano around the city - any volunteers? Best place for a meal? I love Café Ikon. Fresh, tangy and tasty. Anyone who hasn't thrown me out over the years! Actually, I like different places depending on my moods but generally I pray for the no-smoking laws coming into force. Perhaps I'm being a grumpy old man, but I can't stay out too long these days because my eyes water too much. Where do you grab a coffee or lunch? Hudsons in Brindleyplace, I love to "not" eat those tempting desserts! For bigger meals it's Mackenzies or Bank. Best place for a boogie? Well how about Bank's fifth birthday bash? Favourite Birmingham landmark? My god, that is like breaking up a jigsaw, we have so many interesting places, statues or even people, I think we should have a massive arrow in the sky that says "this is it... Birmingham... enjoy". Best place to get away from it all? Sorry my dears, but it has to be the sea. Next to that, take a push bike and cycle around the canals. Believe it or not, it is so calm and you're in the depth of the city and wouldn't even know it. If there is one thing about Birmingham you would like to send to Room 101, what is it? People who spit out their chewing gum on our streets and pavements. We've got a lot of white floor areas and I would keep it like that, please. What do you say to Birmophobes? Excuse me, but our European neighbours respect the history of this city. We have reason to celebrate a lot, but maybe we just don't shout about it enough. New policy: Get Londoners up here and when they do, they all enjoy. Birmophobes are ignorant, and that my dears is our fault. We must continue to alter their narrow-minded perspective. We are not the capital, and never will or never wish to compete with it. But we do have a lot to show; everyone who visits the gallery from outside of Birmingham all say the same thing: "We didn't realise how nice the place is" - and you know what, they all come back. | 
