As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way.
Mary Anne Radmacher
On my recent visit to Quarry Bank Mill I was reminded of a post from ‘Books Rock My World’ about bookmarks
The Books Rock My World post focused on what people use as bookmarks other than a purpose made bookmark.
Quarry Bank Mill had a display in their second hand bookshop showing bookmarks found within the covers of donated books. In the display is a page from ‘The Windsor Castle Times’ that features Quarry Bank Mill.
5 Comments CherryPie on Sep 26th 2025
If you can’t admire a cow in a field, you’re missing something fundamental about life.
Alan Moore
4 Comments CherryPie on Sep 21st 2025
Week 25 – Walk With Purpose
This chapter discusses the benefits of walking with purpose as opposed to walking for leisure. Studies have found that when walking for a purpose people tend to walk faster. Some of the studies concluded this led to better health and wellbeing.
I don’t know about the conclusions to the studies I can only say how I feel after ‘walking with purpose’.
I walk faster when I have a destination in mind, I don’t want to be late. Having a goal boosts my mental state and feeling of wellbeing. I often set off later than I intend which means I have to walk faster to get to my destination on time.
During term time I have a weekly purposeful walk to a local school. I volunteer as a school reader providing one-to-one reading support for children helping them improve their reading skills and boost their confidence.
Returning home after a recent visit to the school I found that one of my favourite benches to ’sit and rest a while’ had been replaced over the summer holidays. Of course I chose to ’sit and rest a while’ and enjoy the view before returning home.
2 Comments CherryPie on Sep 20th 2025
Aethelflaed, also known as Lady of the Mercians, was the eldest daughter of King Alfred the Great. Justifiably thought of as England’s forgotten Queen; she was a formidable leader in a shadowy history of the dark ages. She only one child, a daughter, AElfwynn, and when her husband Aethelred died in 911, she ruled Mercia alone. *
Spending much of her time in Tamworth, she raised her nephew Aethelstan here. He would go on to become the first King of all England. On 12 June, 918 Aethelflaed died in Tamworth and a few days later was finally laid to rest in St Oswald’s Priory, Gloucester, beside her husband.*
*Information from a signboard near Aethelflaed’s statue in front of Tamworth Castle
3 Comments CherryPie on Sep 18th 2025
In addition to displaying items from the Staffordshire hoard Tamworth Castle also has on display the Glascote Torc.
The Glascote Torc is an Iron Age, gold, silver and copper ally torc, probably dating from the 5th-4th century BC. The Torc was found in 1943 by Mr S. G. bates and Mr G. E. Croshaw whilst digging a drainage ditch in Glascote boat yard next to the Coventry Canal between Glascote and Amington.
In 1970 when Mrs G Bates read an article on ancient torcs she realised the significance of the gold band the family had in a box in their attic.
During our visit to Tamworth castle a descendent of the family told us personal family anecdotes about the the Torc before they family, after reading the newspaper article, realised it had historical significance.
Following this discovery the Torc was held and displayed in The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. After many years of campaigning, in 2025 the Torc has returned home, on loan to Tamworth Castle. It is displayed in a gallery next to the Staffordshire Hoard.
No photography is allowed of the Staffordshire Hoard or the Torc. The picture above shows the replica of the Torc made in 2007.
7 Comments CherryPie on Sep 17th 2025
