Frozen at the cemetery

This pool at Keele Cemetery was still frozen (at least, apart from the edges) as I passed it today. Curious: as most of the snow is now gone, apart from some dirty clumps lying by roadsides. I really must brush up on my physics and discover why it remains frozen even now.

Keele Cemetery is very new; and the building in the background, which looks like a library … well... is, really!  Being all modern, it contains Newcastle Borough’s main burials-history research study-area, a community meeting room for the village (!), and offices of course – as well as the usual.
Seems a far cry from the Victorian cemeteries - where a Gothic-looking chapel/gatehouse might be the only structure apart from the graves.

Tower crane immortalised

Tower Crane Drive, which you will find just outside Cheadle, is a new-ish road, on which an industrial estate is based.
This particular street-name strikes me as odd.

I wondered about the name of the road, but, rounding the bend on it, what should I see but – a tower crane! See photo, right.


Now I know streets are often named after the landmarks that stand out on them – but isn’t a crane-fixture too temporary to be considered enough of a 'landmark' for such a semi-permanent feature as a street-name?

I guess ACB must have sponsored the name of the road as well as the sign.

It's possible.

Umbrellas are up

After the snow, the deluge... to paraphrase a saying.
Yup, the temperatures are now rising, the rain falling and thus the snow slides away. But, the thaw will mean flooding in some parts.

I think we are all a bit sick of the current unpredictable weather.


This post has been featured in the International City Daily Photo - Umbrellas Theme

Pelicans in the snow

You don’t often see pelicans in snow. Their natural habitat is warmer regions than our own. You can’t help feeling they are a bit bewildered by the white-stuff.

However, they are a great attraction (especially at feeding time) at Blackbrook Zoo, which is in the wilder parts of the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Sadly, the zoo, which specialises in exotic birds, has had lots of problems with the recent freezing temperatures, so it is temporarily closed. Should be back open in the next few days, I hope.

Generally, the snow is slowly receding from the ground now.

LINK: Blackbrook Zoo

A Long Way From Poland

'A Long Way From Home' is how these words translate from their original Polish.
However, there seems to be no reason as to why this archway should be here, as it's over an alleyway in Leek which leads just to a Belgian-style bar known as Den Engel.
Odd.

Anyway, it is probably associated with the 'Borderland Voices' project, which works with the local Polish community especially in the area of recording memories. Many of the Poles here came to this part of Staffordshire after the War.


LINK: A Long Way From Home - Borderland Voices

Bashed up bishop

Smashing up stone figures is a lot harder than one thinks, and while the Protestant reformers really would have prefered to completely demolish the 'Papist' images left in English churches in the 16th century, often they simply didn't have the resources.

So, they would often settle for just smashing off the noses of the various saints, angels, Virgin Marys, and, as in this case at St Peter's Church in Norbury, a bishop.
He now resembles a boxer...

Sheep cope with snow

Well, the snow came again as expected, though, here in Staffordshire, it didn't so much fall with a fury as a sort of lulling, soothing motion. Over time, it came to a slow halt, leaving a layer six inches deep in exposed areas.

There were the usual hysterics from the press, but - in general - most people (and sheep) that I came across handled it all with aplomb.
The warnings were made well in advance - and I suppose that helps.

Snow tree

The snow has stuck, despite the original fall being quite light. But the temperature is down to zero.
Apparently there will be a major snow-fall on Friday.

First snow of the year

Snow turned up overnight. It wasn't that thick, and a misty rain during the afternoon drove it from the trees.

But there's enough of it on the ground to make for black-ice tomorrow.

Grave with Revelations

The Recording Angel stands over this grave in Meerbrook churchyard. Edward Hassall (whose grave it is) clearly had thought a great deal on what might happen to him after his death, as the inscription under the angel’s feet gives this simple line: “Revelations Chapter 20 Verse 12”.

I looked up the verse (from the Bible’s Book of Revelations, of course). It runs: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
The angel is holding that very book.

I hope Edward's deeds will be enough to give him safe passage.

This post is featured on the Cemetery Sunday website