Skull and... smiley faces

The prsence of the caredfully-placed brooding skull atop the Jana narrowboat rather belies all the smiley faces...

The boat was photographed on the Cauldon Canal at Consall Forge.

Canal missionaries

The Days Of Elijah narrowboat can be seen touring the canals in this part of the world over the summer months. Its purpose is to bring the Gospel to boaters, and – well anyone else I guess…

It seems odd to think that Christian missionaries are sailing along the canals of the region some thirteen hundred years after St Chad converted Staffordshire, but there you go.

I guess it’s heading for its winter quarters now.

Link: Days Of Elijah ministry

Canal boat rises

The sight of a narrowboat slowly rising into view from down deep in a lock – it’s something that always makes me laugh, especially if I’m caught by a surprise.

Don’t know why it’s comical, but somehow it is.

Caldon Canal's 'Ugly'

'Ugly Bette' sits on the Caldon Canal - sporting a proud Stafford Knot logo.

The Stafford Knot (not the 'Staffordshire Knot') is the symbol of the county; and (some say) can be dated back to Ethelflaeda's founding of the town of Stafford in 913.