Missing train trips

Posted on May 7, 2026 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged around Stoke on Trent, Life, light railways, Memory, miniature railways, Staffordshire, Time, Trains, VisitingLeave a comment

By this time of year we would have been to a couple of local steam railways. The Churnet Valley railway and the Foxfield light railway. There are other nearby railways we could visit including at apedale in Newcastle under Lyme, and a couple of miniature railways at the Brampton museum in Newcastle under Lyme and at Fletchers garden centre further away in Eccleshall. Even further afield is a small narrow gauge railway at Amerton Farm garden centre on the way to Rugeley. Then down at Chasewater there is a light railway. That’s on the way to Birmingham.

So really well supplied with trains you can visit, not forgetting the main line ones. Sorry for the lack of detail but I would go on for several pages!

Lands end

Posted on December 6, 2024 Posted in Fine Art, Memories, UncategorizedTagged Coast, Cornwall, Fine Art, Lands End, Oil painting, Postcard, southwest, st Ives, Visiting, WestLeave a comment

I still like this old oil painting I did of lands end twenty or more years ago. I actually painted it from a postcard. Lands End is at the furthest west part of Cornwall which is in turn the furthest west county of England.

We tried to go to Lands End on day trip while on a holiday once, but we couldn’t afford the entrance fee (I have no idea how much it costs now). So we ended up going down into Sennen cove slightly North of it. That was lovely, we found a great gift shop that was seriously tempting.

I think we were stopping at St Ives for a week, and visited the Tate gallery there. We also drove round to Penzance which was on the southern coast. I wish I could remember more about it. That’s the trouble when you only go somewhere once, long ago, memory fades.

Waiting in

Posted on November 16, 2024November 16, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Dark, Long drive, Sky, Staying in, Sunset, texted, Tired, View, Visiting, Waiting, where is she?2 Comments

The original photo I used for a previous collage.

I’ve been dozing, waiting for a visitor. I’ll get there late she said, but I wasn’t sure if it would be this late. It’s a long drive through the countryside and the forecast was for fog, so I’m trying to be patient.

She’s driving alone. I haven’t called her but just sent a text. I want to sleep but I’m pushing myself to keep awake. Fingers crossed she will be here soon.

Visiting gardens

Posted on July 16, 2024 Posted in UncategorizedTagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2001, Garden, Life, Plants, Time, Trentham Gardens, VisitingLeave a comment

Which activities make you lose track of time?

I can’t remember where I took this photo. I think it might have been the Trentham Gardens show gardens?

I lose track of time when I visit (which is not very often). I will try and get a friend to come with me so I can explore a bit further. It takes me a while to walk around a garden, and I frequently take photos so that I can rest on the way round. I’m slow and not sure so handrails can come in handy. But I love seeing how gardens change with the seasons. But sometimes my progress is glacial! I keep checking my heart points on my phone. They generally stick at 0 because I’m so slow!

Visiting Stoke on Trent

Posted on May 23, 2024 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged days out, Gardens, Information, lakes, Life, Potteries, Stoke-on trent, Visiting, visitors centresLeave a comment

Thinking of potbanks and the Dorothy Clive garden.

There’s lots to visit like the local potteries, Gladstone in Longton, Middleport in Middleport, Emma Bridgewater pottery near Hanley, Stafford pottery in Burslem. Moreland pottery near Cobridge.

Then there are parks and gardens like Trentham Gardens and monkey park, Biddulph Grange, park hall nature reserve between Bentillee and Weston Coyney, and there is Westport lake.

Then railway days out at the Foxfeild light railway and the Churnet valley railway at Cheddleton. There is also a flint mill there which has a working water wheel and Etruria Industrial museum where they are having the canal festival on 1st and 2nd June. Oh and the potteries museum and art gallery. Spode visitors centre in Stoke. Lots more to see and do. Just investigate. Plus outside the city there are places like Rode Hall, Biddulph Grange, Little Moreton Hall, Mow Cop. Not forgetting Ford Green Hall at Sneyd Green I think…

Knock on

Posted on December 9, 2023 Posted in Memories, UncategorizedTagged Card, company, Grief, Life, Loss, Poem, Poetry, Sadness, Stay?, Sympathy, Visiting2 Comments

Don’t be afraid

Knock on my door

I’m here inside

Just waiting to say

Be my friend still

A hug or a hand

Would serve me well

Don’t go away

Leaving a card

But nothing to say?

I need you to stay

Keep me company

I need you today.

Out all day

Posted on September 15, 2021 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged cat cafe, Cats, Coast, coastal defences, Driving, Flooding, Long day, Seaside, VisitingLeave a comment

It’s been a long day. We went to the seaside to visit a relative but when we went to the sea it was fenced off! Apparently there is work being done on the sea defences to protect the coast from flooding.

That was really disappointing but we did visit a friendly ‘cat cafe’ which was lovely. The cats and kittens are being well looked after and it was very calming after a long drive.

Visiting cat

Posted on June 12, 2021 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Black and white cat, Cat, Cat Food, Life, Outdoor cat, Photo, Tuxedo cat, VisitingLeave a comment

Our outdoor cat, comes in for tea. Sniffing at the food bowls, and looking for a bit of love too. X can’t really say more xxx

Under the cats eye

Posted on November 29, 2020 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Black and white cat, Cat, Fun, Life, Looking at me, Outdoor cat, Tuxedo cat, VisitingLeave a comment

Scrutiny, he watches, he’s the outdoor boy. Making sure you love him, have treats ready. A tickle behind his ears, under his chin, cheek rubbed. His cut nose is healing, not caused by our cats…

Then a look, aloof, I’ve had enough, I’m going out. He stands, stretches, front paws first, then back legs, doing the ‘downward cat’. Yowl, let me out. Gently closing his eyes looking up at me. I am under his spell. I’m OK while he’s out but as soon as he comes back. I’m gone. Xx

Blurry cat

Posted on November 6, 2020 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Caring for cats, Cat, Flea collar, Fun, Happy, Outdoor cat, Playing, Purr, Settee, Toy, VisitingLeave a comment

Outdoor cat is in again. In fact he’s been in three times today. Mainly to avoid the noise of fireworks 🎇 going off.

He will sit on the settee for an hour then mooch back off to the backdoor, to be let out. He’s also eating in the kitchen now. In the past he was eating in the shed, then by the back door. Eventually he started eating inside the back door with the door open… Now, inside. Next thing I want to do is get him a strong flea collar. He’s worn collars in the past so it should be OK.

Tonight there is more progress, he actually played with a cat toy for a few minutes, then came over to be petted by both of us and purred loudly. I’m glad he’s ‘playing nicely’ he’s twice the size of my other cats. I want no squabbles. So I’ll stay up till he wants out again, just to ensure my other two are OK.

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Visiting