Our writing group visited Spode Rose garden this afternoon. The sun was beating down so we took to the shade of the huge old willow tree near the “China” and “1770” end of the China halls. This is on the Kingsway car park side of Spode Site in Stoke-upon – Trent, one of the six towns in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
The flowers were past their best because they usually flower earlier in the season. White, Lavender and Blue are the theme colours of the garden because the factory produced the famous Spode “Willow pattern” that mimic Chinese ceramics that were imported into Britain a few centuries ago. Local potteries soon started copying Spode designs but the pots from Spode are some of the best known.
The willow tree had many coins pushed inro it’s bark over the years, but sadly these have been removed by person or persons unknown. The garden has had a bit of damage through vandalism but there is a strong group of volunteers to care for, and recently extend it. More planting can be found around the side of the building and fresh vegetables are being grown in raised beds.
In its prime a few years before it burnt down. Sadly one of the landlords passed away following an infection from a scratch. It sounds bizarre but it is sad that it eventually closed down after his death. The atmosphere was fantastic, with ghost tours and belly dancing groups, the hotel became a great place to meet friends while keeping a spooky edge to its historic building. In fact historical groups met there to discuss the Burslem riot of 1842. The troops were called in to quell it by reading the riot act. One man, Josiah Heapy was killed during it. Many more were wounded.
Old wooden floors and staircases, panelled rooms, hotel rooms at the back each with it’s own Victorian sink. How it must have impressed people who stopped there in the past. I miss the old place.
She came up on the bed, but as soon as I lay down she was gone! Came back later to poddle (air biscuit?). I do love my cats, good company until they try and trip me up! Another quiet, quite lonely day. But I’m used to solitude now. I don’t know how I’d cope with anyone moving in.
Infinity or beyond? The universe is around 13.5 billions of years old. It could continue for billions or trillions of years into a heat death ending. Cooling down and expanding forever. Or it might collapse in a backwards big band and a singularity.
I’m not a scientist but my interest was piqued by watching the BBC TV series “The Sky at Night”, I started watching in the 1960’s when Sir Patrick Moore presented it. I loved the old fashioned animations of how things worked. It was well before the time of CGI or computer animation.
I keep watching the 20 minute show monthly, over the years, finding out about comets, eclipses, meteor showers and meteorites. I still try and catch it all these years later. I’m interested in finding out about dark matter and quantum lensing. I hope the programme continues for years to come.
I just liked the way the light shone through my plastic glass tonight. Taken at an angle with my phone camera…. It feels like a jelly mold or reminds me of razor shells. Funny how shapes and patterns can mimic each other.
I like taking random pictures of things, I take picturesque photos but also enjoy playing with images x
The dragons head upper left, then a thin neck and body, looking a bit like a viking boat. Finally a great sail of a wing catching the glow from the setting sun.
This was last Monday and it lingered on my phone until I found it today.
I don’t see sunsets very often because I’m on the wrong side of the hill. This was at the top of our hill and there are still buildings and trees in the way and as the sun drifts northwest as it sets in the summer there is more vegetation in the way.