Cafes are good for the species

We need cafes.  Is this a strange statement?  After all, it seems daft to go somewhere to pay sometimes outrageous prices for wet-but-hot flavoured water.

Yet, there is something communal about a cafe.  One gets the chance to be with one's species in a friendly way - and relax.  Giving oneself time to relax, even at home, is hard.

It's just a matter of finding cafes with reasonable prices and pleasant ambience - like the market cafe in Burton.

Last in the county for livestock

The Leek Cattle Market, which takes place every Tuesday, is the last livestock auction venue left in the whole of Staffordshire. 
It seems strange that such a rural county should have only the one market - but that tells you something about farming I suppose.

Decaying before one's eyes

The 'indoor market' in Burslem has been closed for some time.  At its other entrance, there is a rather hopeful placard announcing that it is hoped to re-open it one day, but it looks doomed to me.

There is a reason for choosing this photo for today, as this is the day that the City Daily Portal website is calling for photos on the theme of the 'Beauty Of Decay'.  I guess the scene is not in any way beautiful - but maybe the composition of it is (?)

Anyway, if you want decay, Burslem is the place to go.  I love Burslem, but... yes, it is decaying... Before one's very eyes. 

This post was featured on the City Daily Portal June 2013 theme

Fruit in the sun

The sun has come out so rarely this summer, it's like a special day when it happens.
Somehow the appearance of water-melons and honeydew melons in the market seemed to confirm this view.

Italians come to market

Outdoor markets on various themes (‘Farmers’, ‘Continental’ etc) are very popular now.

Getting in the mood, Leek town centre had an Italian Market today… and we had some Italian sunshine to go with it.

Resales markets grow

The current hard times mean that lots of little ‘resales’ markets have sprung up, in which folks can sell off some of their excess goods and make a little cash. Of course the buyers don’t have much cash either, so prices are very low.

‘Porthill Resales’ has its market in an abandoned pottery factory in Longport.

Fleas in Leek

The best weekly flea market in Staffordshire is the one at Leek (in my opinion), which is on Fridays. You can find some truly quirky stuff there, and the prices aren’t outrageous.  It takes place in the old market-square by the market cross.

As for other flea-markets in Staffordshire: the Newcastle flea market (sorry Newcastle) seems a bit predictable to me. I haven’t yet been to the one at Penkridge.

This post was featured on the City Daily Photo's Theme Day pages