Concrete greenery

In the concrete wilderness that is the ugliest shopping area anywhere, ever, ie the Bennett Precinct in Longton, there are these small tucked-away, struggling shrubs.  They are the only sign that Nature ever passed through this spot.

Knot turns to flames

On the Weston Road roundabout north-east out of Stafford is this splendid steel metal structure.  If you face it straight-on, as in the pic above, the strands of it assemble themselves in your vision - to represent the Stafford Knot, the symbol of the county.


If you stand slightly to one side however, the strands get mixed up, and could be the leaping flames of a fire.
The visual illusion (see pic right) is very clever, and has something to do with the nearby industrial zone. 

Tea's importance

This Chinese looking 'tea-taster' was one of four sculptures that once sat on top a tea warehouse in Stafford’s Market Street (see photo behind the sculpture).  It dates back to the early nineteenth century.
It is one of the artefacts on show at the 'Made In Staffordshire' exhibition at the county Archives offices.
The fact that the warehouse advertised itself in this prominent way – ie with specially commissioned sculptures (made of cement) – shows the amazing importance of tea in the lives of people two hundred years ago.

Thirsty on the hottest day

Today, England experienced its hottest day since records began some 200 years ago.

Cattle were glad of a drink.

Steadiness at the urinal

It's not often you fall into laughter on entering a men's toilet, but at the Roebuck Pub in Leek, you have to smile at least when you see this unusual structure.
The landlord/lady has kindly provided a head-cushion for the weary drinker who may probably have had .... let's say, more than a few. Unsteady on his feet he can lean forward whilst using the urinal and, placing his forehead on the cushion, keep himself in an upright position.
I deem this a kindly & considerate act by the owners. There's even a handle too.

Flying insects art

The Staffordshire University Arts Graduates Final Show is on in Stoke this week – dozens of rooms of new, original work. It makes for an insight into what art schools are teaching now and how their students are responding.

This piece is from the Fine Art department.
Called Absconditus, by Zoe Tomlinson, it highlights the plight of species-endangered flying insects. The works are hung lightly from the ceiling and, because they are at head-height, one can walk ‘through’ them. It creates an odd feeling - passing through a crowd of creatures that are slowly disappearing from the Earth.

Burning flowers

I always enjoy visiting church flower festivals especially in rural areas.  Villagers - not just church-goers - turn out to support the event, contribute flower arrangements and organise teas and fruitcake sales.
Such festivals, taking place often in ancient church buildings, almost have the feeling of being the last of England's rural customs. 

This shot was taken at St Luke in Onecote and the arrangement is an interpretation of Moses' burning bush revelation.

Kahlo and the 'knot'

It's #StaffordshireDay today (May 1st), the day in the year when one celebrates all things Staffordshire.
So I thought I'd put up another image of a 'Stafford Knot', the symbol of the county.

I found this painting, by the famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, among a number of other pictures, on the walls in a bar in Newcastle. It's called 'Self-Portrait with A Braid' - and the braid resembles a Stafford Knot.
Well, maybe...!

New life for pilgrimage route

The Two Saints Way, a 'pilgrimage' footpath through Staffordshire and Cheshire, has a new website.
Created only a few years ago, the route links Lichfield Cathedral to Chester Cathedral - by way of the historic Primitive Methodist Chapel at Englesea Brook.

In the background, you can see some rape fields - their custard-yellow crop is especially bright and prominent throughout the county this year

Water for the monks

Staffordshire has its own Buddhist monastery - the Wat Mahathat just outside King's Bromley - and monks come from Thailand to study here.
The institution priides itself on its openness and there are public gatherings and meditation sessions here.

Today, hundreds gathered on the site for the festival of Songkran, when water is poured over the hands of the monks by those attending.