I visited a dried out old swimming pool in Birmingham and found something perfect

Stirchley Baths have been dry for years but they're far from defunct

My track record of roaming around old Birmingham public baths has been, to date, absolutely top notch. Like that time I got my kit off in Balsall Heath in a bid to be a better Brummie and it worked.

While I go to Stirchley with some level of regularity given it's home to some of the city's best breweries, brilliant little watering holes and restaurants, I'd never paid much mind to Stirchley Baths. There's no water in them these days so they're easy to take for granted.

What I do know is that every quarter, locals come together for the Stirchley Community Market in the old baths. I love a market, from the one on the old green round in Bournville to the trendy Jewellery Quarter one and that get-together round the back of Home Bargains in Harborne, I'd take them over a mooch through the Bullring any day.

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So after Saturday morning breakfast at Caneat, I took a stroll into the baths for the first time to do what I love to do more than anything: Continue to treat myself. Buddleia reaches up to the sky from between the cracks of the face-topped wreath stating the baths was built in 1910.

Back then, Brummies splashed in the pool and, post-war, the water would be covered over and young Stirchleans would fall in love, arm in arm, at the dance. Now, the pools are empty but the lifesblood is still pumping, you can tell as soon as you walk in.

The market isn't huge but it was a really good mix of vendors to make it well worth your while. Always Balling Club had some super stylish graphic T-shirts with fun designs that nod to the Brummie identity, claret and blue tones on some outfits, royal blue on others and cute bull heads.

I delighted in the Frilly Industries build-your-own jewellery. You design your own book shelf (or VCR shelf) with a range of titles to personalise your collection and cats and other bits and bobs to add more 'you'. The halloween stuff was awesome.

Round at The Haunted Stacks, I picked up some horror-themed pin badges for my jacket, chuffed to have new additions ahead of spooky season. The 'Buffalo Bill's Body Lotion' one tickled me saft.

Beers and baked goods, trinkets and treats, hot sauce and art prints. I especially adored the bright vivid work of Karoline Rerrie, illustrator and screen printer extraordinaire and enjoyed taking it all in, even if I couldn't take it all home.

In the entranceway of the baths, I found something truly traditional: flyers for cool things to do with other people in the neighbourhood. So often I think that in order to enjoy Stirchley, I need to buy beer, eat in restaurants, pay for cocktails or splash the cash in the shops. It's ace to see that there's so much more to it than that, if your budget doesn't stretch to spending.

Free coffee is available every Friday from 10am until noon, thanks to the Stirchley Circle 22. From 10am until midday on a Thursday there's a community get-together, where you can meet new people and just have a natter.

On Wednesday nights from 7pm until 8:30pm you can get table tennis coaching for £3 (or £2 for kids) and there are fitness classes for over 50s too. Occupational therapy clinics, karate classes, a dance fitness class called 'Sofunk' that looks pretty groovy and tai chi, barn dancing fitness, meditation... There's tons on.

Keep your eyes peeled for dates for the next Stirchley Community Market, I really think you'll enjoy it, especially if you're already in the neighbourhood. And, if you're at a loose end, pop in any time it's open. Chances are, they'll have something perfect for you. Unless you're after a place to do the breast stroke!