An Actual Conversation

This took place between Robyn and I tonight.

Me: Ohhh Premiership football [on TiVo To-Do List], check it… Ahhh Chelsea vs. West Brom, that sucks…
Her: What’s West Brom?
Me: West Bromwich Albion, thats the name of the team from West Bromwich.
Her: Where’s that?
Me: It’s in the Black Country…
(long pause)
Her: …. Africa?

I swear to god, that’s how it went… Here’s what WikiPedia says about the Black Country.

The Black Country is a loosely-defined area of conurbation to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton in the English West Midlands, around the South Staffordshire coalfield. It is also known for its midland accent.

[…]

Places which comprise the Black Country include parts of the city of Wolverhampton, and the towns of:

* Aldridge
* Bilston, Blackheath, Brownhills
* Coseley, Cradley
* Darlaston, Dudley
* Great Bridge
* Halesowen
* Kingswinford
* Lye
* Oldbury
* Quarry Bank
* Rowley Regis
* Sedgley, Smethwick, Stourbridge
* Tipton
* Walsall,
* Warley, Wednesbury, Wednesfield, West Bromwich, Willenhall

The “capital” of the Black Country is generally considered to be Dudley, not Wolverhampton. The bounds of the Black Country. however, are controversial, and the whole of Wolverhampton is included by some and none at all by others. Despite the 1974 local government boundary, the northern border with Cannock Chase is also rather blurred. Birmingham is most definitely not in the Black Country.

So now you know…

EDIT: I must stress, she claims she was kidding, but I’m not so sure…