Women explain Islam

The Islam Exhibition is in Shelton this weekend. Intended as an introduction to the faith for both locals and non-Muslims, it profiled Islam through a series of exhibits and displays.

The most worthwhile element of it all was, I thought, the local Muslims, who acted as guides to the exhibition and who answered questions about the religion surprisingly candidly. I was very impressed.

Among the ‘guides’ were many local women – both converts and those raised in the faith. The prominent presence of these women - who responded in a relaxed way to visitors’ concerns about a perceived second-class role of women in Islam, among other questions – was another surprise for those of us who dropped in.
Zaynah and Aaliyah were even happy to have their photo taken.

Link: Islam Exhibition

Daughters die of fever

If three children from one family died suddenly of fever today, it would be all over the national papers. But, 150 years ago, all it merited was the most basic of tomb inscriptions and a single grave.

Poor Henry and Caroline - three daughters taken at one stroke, and quickly buried, here at Holy Trinity Churchyard in Oakamoor.

We don't know how fortunate we are, do we?

Sun-rain-sun growth

The torrential rain in England of the last few days has caused flooding in some parts; and means that this June will be remembered as the second wettest on record in this country.

Staffordshire has escaped the worst of the flooding... but the up-side of this sun-rain-sun-rain-sun-rain crazy weather is that some growers are reporting wonderful blooms, and fat vegetables.

Allotments - like this one at Cobridge - should have very good crops.

No respect for Bear

The Bear in Stafford looks out over the main street through the town and has done for many years, so (you'd have thought) he deserves some respect.
However, the pigeons just don't seem to care...

Rat immortalised

Modern art doesn't often depict rats, but this fine metal sculpture in Cheadle is a tribute to an underrated local resident living here in the Cecilly Brook.

Of course, it's really a water rat (aka a vole), so not a rat in the true sense. Still, it's close.

Killed by a tennis ball

Anyone who thinks tennis is a soft sport should consider the case of the poor youngster John Stanley, who was killed by a tennis ball.
As you can see in this photo of his tomb, he is depicted holding the offending ball in his left hand, and, with his right, cupping his head, where the fatal missile struck.
The idea would be funny if it weren’t so sad.

Of course, the year of poor John’s death was 1460, and the balls then were made of wood (true), and medicine isn’t what it is now… but still.
I thought it best to mention this fact on the day that the Wimbledon tournament gets under way.

The Stanley memorial is in St Peter's Church at Elford, which you should visit if you get the chance. It’s a large and amazing church with many more monuments.


Link: St Peter's Church / This post has been featured on Taphophile Tragics the cemtery-enthusiasts' website

Back England - by betting

This betting shop seems to say that the best way to be patriotic during these European nations football tournament is by having enough faith in the English team to place a bet on them.

Am I alone in finding that a rather distasteful exploitation of our desire to see England do well? Or... maybe it's just me.

Anyway - good luck to England tonight.

He made the desert smile

The Alton Towers Gardens were mentioned in a previous post on here, but I hadn't realised that the gardens had been articificially created in what was a 'dry valley'. Thousands of trees were shipped in and a local spring diverted.

The monument in the photo was set up to remember the man who undertook this huge work - Charles, the 15th Earl of Shrewsbury, who died in 1827.


The monument's subscription reads: "He Made The Desert Smile".

I-sola-ted solar panels

These are solar panels (I think) … and they are isolated on an island … in the middle of a park lake.
Hmm.
If they are solar panels, I can’t quite compute what they are doing there - unless the electricity generated from them is driving some pumps in the water (?).
If anybody who knows Longton Park (in Stoke on Trent) can tell me the answer, I’d be grateful.

Mind you, we’ve had so many cloudy days recently – with so much rain to go with them – that I doubt much has been processed from these particular panels anyway.

Taskers play STT

The Taskers are a garage-rock band from Stafford. Sophie here plays drums, while Jack (out of picture) plays guitar. They’ve been compared (rather lazily) to the White Stripes – because both bands are a brother-sister combination.

I was astounded to see that The Taskers, who have a very edgy sound, have entered Stoke’s Top Talent, a local version of the famous BGT competition. I’m not sure how well they will fit alongside the jugglers and crooners.
Still, should be an interesting occasion when they do appear…

Links: Taskers  /  Taskers enter STT