New paintings and regular art updates.
Trees I saw today
Big and small,
Burnt and fallen,
Cut down and rotten.
Trees I saw today,
Ash and Oak
Beech and Willow
Yew and Birch.
Trees I saw today,
By water by houses
By Moat by industry
By roads by carparks.
Trees I saw today,
Old and new
In leaf and skeletal
Sapling and full grown.
Trees I saw today ….
Tudor Little Moreton Hall. North of Stoke-on-Trent on the A34. It’s owned by the National Trust. Surrounded by a moat. It is beautiful and quirky. The long gallery was added slightly later than when the hall was built. It’s really worth a visit. There are also plant sales and a cafe.
As a candidate at the recent local elections count I was surprised by the lack of seating for candidates, counting agents and guests inside the sports hall being used for counting the vote.
The staff counting the votes were all supplied with a seat but members of the public were not.
After being on my feet visiting houses for most of the day from early morning onwards, and particularly because I am no longer as fit and healthy as I used to be, I felt the lack of chairs or other seating was at the least an oversight, and to be honest pretty unfair. People ended up sitting on the floor but not everyone can do that.
I managed to grab a chair early on during the count but was not able to use it through the whole evening. I shared it with others who were equally exhausted because of the work they had done over the day.
I think the local council should have taken into account the age and fitness of the candidates and their supporters. There were some quite elderly people there. People who stand for local elections are representative of the whole community. There has to be some level of fitness but standing up for 7 or 8 hours for the count is surely not feasible.
A rosy dawn this morning foretold rough weather later. We have had cold strong winds and hail showers! I feel sorry for the baby tomato and other plants we have outside. They should be hardened off by now but cold weather keeps coming back. We have also not had much rain over the last month. When we do get it we have heavy showers. Cloud bursts and bolts of lightning. Pink dawns ar harbingers of rough weather.
Walking round a garden centre a couple of weeks ago. This huge statue was for sale. Far outside my price bracket it’s cost was far lower than some of the garden buildings being sold there. Some of them cost more than my house in fact you might have to take out a mortgage to afford to pay for them.
The photo is courtesy of my friend who was with us on the day.
Well, that was a day I stood in a local election. I didn’t win.
I walked around about half the ward today. I talked to lots of people. I had some good responses but I was not well known so I understand why I didn’t get the vote. I will have to try and help more there perhaps. At the moment my knees and ankles are aching so much I can’t move. I wanted to help. I hope the person they selected is able to help.
Must sleep
Before sleep spins me into unconsciousness, before dreams tangle my hair and twist my body. Before dark night closes in on me. One last thought. We need more kindness and care. We need to look after the poorest and those with the least resources. We need to see this world as a whole, not in parts. Why should luck determine where we are in the world. Why are people so selfish and unkind?
Dreams could be made real if we cared. Damage to life and the environment is our choice. With climate change we need to change our perspectives. I think we should all consider the future and work to make a better planet. Perhaps then we can all sleep a bit more peacefully in our beds if we have them. At least I hope so and that equality is our future goal. I know I’m naive but I still can dream.
Sitting in the Barnicle cafe, Fenton town hall, Stoke-on-Trent. I looked up and saw the ornamental cherry tree through the window and the stained glass above. The lights were on inside the cafe because the clouds were dark and low, but it was a pleasant place to have a lunch break. Cheese oatcakes and fruit loaf toast were our delicious meal. Sometimes a simple recipe can be as effective in sating your hunger as a complicated and over fancy meal. The friendly atmosphere and warm welcome made it even more pleasant.
X
Speak your mind
Talk to me
Tell me what you think
Answer the question
What’s your point
What do you mean
What did you say
Tell me something else
Explain the situation
Talk to the hand
Just talk to each other!
We visited the Middleport pottery a while ago on a rainy day and I took a few photos. I liked the atmospheric lighting, the sheen of water on the cobbles and the model of the pottery that is in the museum. I hope to visit again soon.
Middleport pottery is next to the canal in Middleport, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. It has a museum, a cafe, a shop where you can buy pottery and various events. There are also studios and workshops which make for an interesting place to visit.
Have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
