Issue 342 27th June 2014

Rising Brook/

Holmcroft/

Baswich/Gnosall

Libraries under

threat.

Ear-marked to become

a ‘Community’

volunteer run

library under

Tory County Council

proposals.

http://www.librarycampaign.com/

http://www.librarycampaign.com/local-

elections-speak-up-for-libraries/

STATISTICS

Since 1st April 2014: 104 static

libraries have been put under

threat of closure/passing to volun-

teers. 2 mobile library to close. 1

new library opened. 3 refurbish-

ments over £50k, 1 library closed, 6

libraries passed to volunteers. 1 en-

tirely new volunteer-run library.

493 libraries (411 buildings and 82

mobiles) are currently reported as ei-

ther likely to be closed or passed to

volunteers or have been closed/left

council control from 1/4/13 to 31/3/14

out of c.4265 in the UK. This figure

will shortly be reviewed and is here as

an indicator only.

The complete list is on "Tally by

Local Authority" page as are other

changes to budgets such as cuts to

hours, bookfund and staffing. CIpfa

have calculated that 74 service points

were lost in 2012/13 and 201 library

service points were lost in 2011/12.

For a list of new and refurbished

buildings see this page,

http://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/

about-public-libraries-news/list-of-uk

-volunteer-run-libraries

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2014/06/10/libraries-in-staffordshire-to-be-run-by-community-groups/

Could local libraries include Internet Cafés,

Meet your MP/Cllr surgeries, Job Clubs, FOOD BANKS

and Credit Unions? CONSULTATION STARTS 7th JULY

2

You haven‘t lived today until you have done something nice for someone who cannot possibly repay you.

A person finds joy in giving an apt reply — and how good is a timely word! How often I have thought of the perfect reply when I‘m back home and the occasion has

passed!

TV dialogue: ―He collapsed basically on the couch‖. Pardon?

Why must it be a battle to keep what amenities we already have?

Salman Rushdie wins PEN Pinter prize http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jun/20/salman-rushdie-wins-2014-pen-pinter-prize

When you're fed up or stressed about stuff, remember, you will be dead and forgotten within a few years, so nothing really matters.

Random words : binge, installation, abysmal, Zeppelin, diet, chasing, cringe Assignment : The lost glasses

http://www.lssf.co.uk/

Only found this on the web last Friday so the info is a bit late ...

Feel free to send in links to events if you find them

on the web ...

Is there anything more inane and totally pointless than people talking about sport on TV or, even worse, on radio? Facebook image ...

www.issuu.com/risingbrookwriters

NEW: 2015 poetry collection

“Defying Gravity” Submissions now open

OUTSIDE TESCO People are weird.

Take the person who dressed up the dog paraded past us last Tuesday. It was a little fluffy white thing, the sort that once earned huge sums by advertising dog food and

Scotch whisky. Nowadays these animals often owe a luxurious lifestyle to their bewitch-ing sweetness but in my opinion they still have a right to dignity. After all, they were bred

as ratters, a very important role in a farming society and no doubt their status then was accordingly high. Nobody would have dared come near one with a frilly frock.

But that‘s what somebody had done last Tuesday. Not only come near but wres-

tled it over the head of the poor beast, forced its front legs through the pink puffed sleeves, fastened the bodice under its belly so the skirt stuck out. ‗It‘s the view of its

backside,‘ said my friend Judy. ‗It looks like the face of a Tudor courtier in a ruff.‘ Which it did, tail shaped nose and all.

But weirder still was its handler. He was ordinariness personified. Of middle age, short back and sides, impeccably clean chinos and crisp cotton shirt over white vest, what on earth was he doing with a dog like that on the end of a lead? He didn‘t look

cruel, and neither did he did he look embarrassed. But how could you blot out that you appeared to all and sundry as an absolute idiot?

My first thoughts turned to romance. Obviously the bloke was having a midlife cri-sis. He had shacked up, or, more likely, was hoping to shack up, with a young leggy

blonde, owner of said animal. Perhaps he had bought it her for Valentine‘s Day – there‘s no end to the daft things mid-cris men will do. Or to the twisting round little fingers that can be applied to them, as the various Website articles on trophy wives show. Some po-

tential trophy wives were apparently having a competition, and in my opinion the one the bloke outside Tesco had his eye on had a fair chance of carrying off the cup.

If not that it must have been a bet. He must be doing this for a bet. You know what men are like in the Rose and Crown as closing time approaches. Totally off their trolleys. After all the ‗I‘ll bet I can get her/them to come over here have failed, we get on

to: ‗I‘ll bet you you haven‘t got the voice to sing Danny Boy.‘ I‘ll bet you, you haven‘t got the legs to jump over that bar stool.‘ ‗I‘ll bet you, you haven‘t got the guts to dress up

the dog and take it for a walk outside Tesco…‘ But he looked too responsible to be taking bets like that. Or to be in the Rose and

Crown at all, much less at closing time. No, he looked ultra respectable – even smug. What then? Why would a… and then I had it. Sponsorship! He was braving scorn and ridicule such as I to my shame have just chronicled, in order to raise money for some

worthy cause to which my selfish heart was not alert. Oh, how valuable are such people to this world of ours, if only to counteract peo-

ple like me. They give of their dignity, their energy – witness John Bishop cycling and rowing and running (yes, I know some people do it for fun but he‘s not one of them,

that‘s the whole point) in aid of Comic Relief. Witness also those who risk life and limb jumping out of aeroplanes. Why do they have to do such things before we cough up? Do we like to see a bit of suffering?

Well, this poor man had suffered enough for me. I took out my purse and marched straight up to him. ‗What are you sponsoring?‘ I asked, for this was not indi-

cated. He looked at me, frowned. ‗What do you mean?‘ he asked.

‗The dog,‘ I said. ‗Why have you dressed her up like that?‘ ‗Because she likes it,‘ he said.

Anne Picken

RBW 2015 poetry collection

“Defying Gravity”

Submissions now open.

FACT: Over 1,000,000

older people in the UK go for over a month without having a

conversation.

FACT: Study, con-ducted at University of Valencia, found that

older people who read on a regular basis are 3 times less likely to

struggle with mental tasks than those who do not read.

6

The Gardening Tips series was produced by well known local gardening expert Mrs. FM Hartley as monthly gardening items which featured on an audio news-tape produced locally for partially sighted people. (Link To Stafford & Stone Talking Newspaper. Link To R.N.I.B.)

As such the articles are meant to be read individu-ally and not as chapters of a book. The articles were written over a period of some 7 years. RBW is absolutely delighted that Mrs Hartley has agreed to some of her words of gardening wisdom gathered over nine decades be-ing reproduced for our benefit by son Alan.

Gardening Tips Week Ending 2nd June 2103.

If, like us, you invested in water tubs before the Winter, you should check they

aren‟t split as you will need them now. If they are, they will of course be empty,

but you may be able to get them replaced under guarantee, as they were obviously

not up to the job. If they have been full over Winter there will probably be lots of

debris in the bottom such as rotting leaves that will need cleaning out. A tight fit-

ting, custom made, lid will stop this, keep the water clean, will prevent midges and

may stop some evaporation if we get any hot weather. If you can get a piece of

wood cut roughly to cover the tank instead, this will help.

Tomatoes should be growing well by now, but if they are producing side

shoots it is better to take these off at this early stage, so that you will have a

stronger plant. If you feel you have room for another plant, the side shoots will of-

ten root and make good plants. (This is what some professional Tomato growers

do to get an early start with plants that they have over Wintered)

Some garden centres still have a lot of Onions left on show and may be re-

ducing them. Even now it is worth getting them planted, although, they will proba-

bly be small, but still worth having. There are also still plenty of packs of young

vegetables on sale out there, that are ready to be planted and it is not too late for

most.

There don‟t seem to be many Bees about, so if you are growing Runner

Beans it might be a good idea to plant a few Nasturtiums, or other heavy pollen

bearing plants, close by to encourage any bees to help pollinate your beans. The

wise gardener also gives the Bean canes a gentle tap occasionally that helps to

manually pollinate the flowers.

Alan and I have been to a well-known garden centre and seen a long bench

full of 6 packs of young chrysanthemum plants. The last couple of years we have

started to be more interested in growing Chrysanthemums for cut flowers for the

house and it is usually difficult to find much of a selection, so it was unusual to see

such a display. Chrysanthemums are very easy to grow and last a long time in wa-

ter if you crush the ends of their stalks before putting them in the vase. They are

not too fussy where they grow and are ideal for filling in gaps in the garden. They

start to flower when most of the bedding plants are looking tired and need their old

flower stems cut down. If you do this, many of them will then produce another

flush of flowers. Another thing we hadn‟t seen before is 6 packs of Potatoes started into growth.

At first the idea seemed ridiculous, but I suppose they are ideal for one person, or someone who

wants to grow a few in a big tub in the greenhouse. A normal pack of seed potatoes would have far

too many in for them.

There are still a lot of packs of Spring and Summer bulbs on sale and if the prices have been

cut they are worth a try as the flowers are already formed in the bulbs and are waiting to burst

forth. It may well be that the bulbs flower a little later than they should, but they will flower at the

normal time next year if you keep them. However, don‟t buy any bulbs that are shrivelled and

look dried up as they may well not grow at all.

Gardening Tips For Week Ending June 8th 2012

The weeks have simply flown by. The planted tubs on the slabbed areas at the front and back of

the house, are filling out nicely. We have some Alliums out in flower now and planted in a group

they certainly make a splash of colour. When they have completely finished flowering the seed

heads can be dried for winter decoration instead of cut flowers.

It should be safe to plant out everything now, but with our mixed up weather you never

know. The old saying was “Ne‟er cast a clout „till May is out,” that means when the Hawthorn is

in flower there will be no more frosts, so keep your fingers crossed and hope that it is correct.

Some of the hedges seem to be covered over with white flowers and a few red Hawthorn trees

dotted that are about look lovely as well.

Trees and shrubs are best planted when they are dormant in the cold months of the year, but

when planting them in the Summer, it is a good idea to stand them in a bucket of water for an hour

or two before planting. Then make your hole ready and add a good amount of water before putting

in your tree or shrub while the ground is still wet. By soaking the deeper soil this way it encour-

ages the roots to go down for water instead of just growing at the surface. After filling in the hole,

especially if it is hot, dry weather, water again and use some home made compost, bark chippings,

or even spent compost, as a mulch to keep the soil damp.

When hot weather comes, a lot of people water their lawns, but established lawns do not

need watering. Even if they go a little brown they will soon recover with the first showers after a

dry spell. The green house is better having a good watering early in the morning, but do remember

to keep the windows open at the top as heat rises and can then escape. Simply splashing a bucket

of water on to the slabbed floor of a greenhouse when it is hot will help to cool it down. Glass

whitening mixtures can be bought everywhere that will provide light shade for the greenhouse and

also reduce the temperature. The whitening should be roughly painted over the roof every few

weeks as it will wash off after a few heavy downpours!

My son has tried to grow some outdoor cucumbers this year, but they do best indoors and

should be planted right away from doors or windows as they don‟t like a draught. A few years be-

fore I started to build the plant nursery, after taking a gardening course, we lived in a house that

had a very large garden. My husband had 3 large greenhouses built in it,

including a melon house. It was ½ underground with the glass top above

the ground and I used to grow some lovely melons and cucumbers that

were about 18 inches long. The melons liked a hot, humid atmosphere and

when it was very hot, I used to throw a bucket of water down on the slabs

that quickly evaporated, we said it would have made a good sauna!

That‟s all for now. Cheerio, Frances Hartley.

Random words: Postage cow polish broken glass noise -abatement sleep sheep

Italian carte-blanche Romanian

Typical! Helen thought. She picked the post card off the doormat. The Italian lakes this time, and Carole hadn‘t even bothered to pay the postage. Lucky the postman hadn‘t asked her to pay! Carole, her classmate. Carole, with her scarlet nail polish and voice like broken glass. Even

the dead didn‘t sleep in peace when Carole was around. Surely, if ever there was one, a case for the Noise Abatement Society. Carole, who‘d married a Romanian millionaire who‘d made his money from sheep dip, of all things! And believe it or not, ironically it had turned out to be a

cash cow and had made him a fortune in Australia, so that now Carole had carte-blanche to spend what she liked on his credit cards. But it didn‘t extend to a stamp!

Assignment : Cast a clout Rows of terraced houses, Fathers down the mine. Mothers pegging out their shirts

And trousers on the line. We boys, we used to tussle. Have fist fights in the street. The girls would skip or play with tops, Or giggle on the seat. He‘s pretty handy with his fists Is my pal Sammy Pierce, He‘s got nothing on his sister though She‘s very much more fierce! In winter we were wrapped up. Brown paper kept out cold, ‗Don‘t cast a clout till May is out‘ Is what we‘re always told. But does this mean the hawthorn, Whose other name is may? Or does it really mean the month, As some other people say? Now me, I have my own idea About what this saying means, And it‘s nowt to do with hawthorn, Nor with jackets, coats and jeans. For my part, this is what I think. Don‘t fight or throw a punch Till Sammy‘s sister, May appears When she‘s finished eating lunch.

8

Random words: compost, back-stabbing, maximum, minimum, ascertain, divine, banana, mindfulness, dragon,

runes, turn, theatre

The world of the amateur allotmenteer can be a cut-throat and back-stabbing place. Indeed, there can be more

drama there than on any theatre stage. Competition is fierce and no holds are barred. A normal, pleasant human being can become a dragon when it comes to the local Flower and Produce Show. The ingredients of compost is a

closely-guarded secret, and if you are considering joining these folk, mindfulness of the extreme rivalry is a wise thing. A maximum and minimum thermometer is useful in helping ascertain the optimum conditions for growing bananas, and some enthusiasts even cast runes and go in for water divining in an attempt to gain an advantage

over their fellow growers. If you are determined to join in, it would be sensible not to appear too cocky, and be happy to take your turn and bide your time when the prizes are handed out.

Assignment : Not proved I never was much good at baking. My sponge turned out heavy and flat. I thought that my spaniel might eat it, But she turned her nose up at that! My pancakes got stuck on the ceiling, My stir fry ended up on the floor. My mother just hated my curry, And she told me it made her mouth sore. I do all Jamie Oliver tells me, And watch all his programmes on telly, But despite this I have to be truthful, That my signature dish is red jelly. The scones I made were too salty, With a handful instead of a pinch. The birds bent their beaks on my rock buns, And my mince pies made Santa Claus flinch. My puff pastry refused to be puffy, And I know that it sounds quite incredible, But my baked beans on toast are the only dish That I make which turns out to be edible. But worst of all by a long way, was my bread, Which though jam-packed with yeast, Always stubbornly refused to grow bigger, And was therefore not proved in the least.

10

http://www.risingbrookwriters.org.uk/DynamicPage.aspx?PageID=84

www.issuu.com/risingbrookwriters And on our Facebook page

Kit Marlowe and Rick Fallon span the centuries on the trail of murder and

mayhem surrounding the mysterious silver chalice which appears

and disappears every 500 years

Need long toe nails to grip on the perch. Dad always said that, "you're only as good as your feet," but

then he was talking bout, horse's cows and bullocks for meat. Anyone who died in the village were said

to have "fell off the perch".

As Old as what you Feel

They always say that you‟re, as old as what you feel,

Only now I like to have nap, after almost every meal,

And in the night get disturbed, got to water me hoss,

So now I think I must be old, me legs I cannot cross.

The old body that I‟ve worked with, all my living years,

Getting tired and old as well, confirming all my fears,

Joints get stiff and muscles ache, cannot move so fast,

Stumble over rough ground, getting all harassed.

I cannot read the paper, until my glasses I must find,

Remember where I put them, must be getting blind,

The misses she has got them on, cannot find her own,

Each of us both as bad, but then we shouldna moan.

Feet I conna reach right now, back won‟t bend so much,

Got to have chiropodist, corns and toe nails to retouch,

Dad always said that, you‟re only as good as your feet,

But then he was talking bout, horse‟s cows and bullocks for meat.

Hair it has all gone grey, and very thin on top,

Need a hat in winter, the freezing cold wind to stop,

No insulation gainst the cold, a wig I got in mind,

But then it‟s two lots of hair to comb, as well as going blind.

Ya mind is getting slower, reactions far too late,

The young ones like to drive, my driving they berate,

A dent or two I don‟t mind, but it frightens them to death,

When they‟re sitting in the back and cannot catch their breath.

So now I try to look relaxed, put me feet up on me chair

Central heating turned up, find me glasses and combed me hair,

Slippers on oh what bliss, the telly‟s far too loud,

Lost the bloody controller now, good job were not too proud.

Portraits of Virginia Woolf: here, the true face of the

modern writer

Article : http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jun/20/virginia-woolf-portraits-in-art-modern-writer#

Further reading : http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp04923/virginia-woolf?search=sas&sText=woolf

Virg

inia W

oo

lf pho

tograp

hed

by G

isèle F

reund, 1

939. P

hoto

grap

h: N

ational P

ortrait G

allery

Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf:

Art, Life

& Vision

National Portrait

Gallery.

Starts 10 July

Until 26 October

SAVING LIBRARIES & FEEDING THE 5000

writes ACW

THE MILLIONS GOING HUNGRY TODAY The mission statement from the church-run Trussell Trust, that

provides about half of the food banks in England, is from the bible: ―For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me...‖ Matthew 25:35-36

The Trussell Trust runs about half the food banks in England. Altogether about 2 million people needed food banks since last year, and about 20 million meals were handed out by various chari-

ties / community projects. Some people sanctioned off benefit, delayed benefit and lost benefit, are finding they are not gaining access to vouchers to a food bank.

Bin-dipping for food is getting harder as skips are being locked to stop homeless sleeping in them and being crushed in rubbish lorries, and food waste covered in bleach. Workfare will be forcing older disabled / chronic sick off benefits as well, bearing in mind the

rise in retirement age up to 70 years of age now, as failure to leave a part-time paid job means lost benefit because did not go on forced labour of Workfare, of unpaid 6 months work. Also women at 60 have lost their free bus pass.

However, for libraries to get permission from councils to collect food bank donations, no mention should be made that the government is the cause of starvation from welfare reform, as

they go ballistic and threaten each and every charity that says it, with closure. Over 150 doctors wrote in The Lancet recently that the number of malnutrition admission cases to hospital had doubled in the last five years. It takes over a month for an adult without

food to need medical assistance not to starve to death. Fatter people and kids less time.

EXAMPLE LOCALLY OF RANGE OF CHARITIES AND OFFICIAL BODIES REFERRING PEOPLE TO FOOD BANKS Example, Uttoxeter, England – Salvation Army Food Bank

The Uttoxeter Salvation Army food bank has had referrals from Trent and Dove Housing, social services in Uttoxeter, Citizen‘s Advice Bureau, Changes in Uttoxeter, the Art and Soul Friendship Group, Staffordshire County Council and from Staffordshire Police. Might Stafford Salvation Army

use libraries as food collection points?

ANOTHER IDEA HOW LIBRARIES COULD HELP THE HUNGRY? This is what is done in Texas, USA libraries: Texas A and M University Libraries have fine amnes-ties for late book returns, if you donate to the local Brazos Valley Food Bank. The Food for Fines

programme asked for non-perishable food, but no glass jars and included asking for plastic jar of peanut butter, tinned fruit, vegetables, chicken, or tuna (especially if not needing cooking).

HOW TO FEED THE HUNGRY AND KEEP LIBRARIES OPEN AND SAVE COUNCIL JOBS Shame that Rising Brook Library, Stafford, like many others around Stafford, might close if they go

voluntary. So what might bring footfall to the Library and its use to loan books, not least to raise literacy and numeracy?

RISING BROOK LIBRARY IS WELL PLACED In an urban regeneration area, Rising Brook Library is behind a large shopping centre with free

parking and surrounded by a large number of housing estates so is convenient for local residents to donate food to library food bank collection point.

WHAT MIGHT BRING MORE FOOTFALL TO RISING BROOK LIBRARY AND OTHERS THREATENED WITH CLOSURE BY OVER-RELICEANCE ON VOLUNTARY SECTOR?

Not For Profit Small Loans: Church-run credit unions - co-ops - might share library space as a com-munity project, if not every day, one or two days a week? Links to find out more: http://www.church-poverty.org.uk/news/creditunions

and the direct church credit unions: http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2014/30-may/news/uk/champions-sought-for-credit-unions-in-battle-of-wonga

Personally, I’m not a cat person ... writes SMS

It annoys me when stray moggies use my garden as their toilet ... That said, I‘m not at all happy about morons who leave out saucers of antifreeze

in their back gardens at night to randomly kill off wandering moggies. It stands to reason moggies would not be the only victims poisoned so would wildlife such as hedgehogs, rabbits etc. The well cared for and much loved cat pictured died a truly horrific death a few weeks ago according to his distraught owner speaking on Radio Stoke and who is now

adding her voice to a campaign for a small change to the law on antifreeze manufac-ture. This campaign has the backing of many vets and animal welfare charities.

Apparently, antifreeze preparations (including screen washes) contain a substance called Ethylene Glycol (EG) that is highly toxic and allegedly kills 10,000s of domestic

pets every year. It is also claimed people have had their food and drink spiked with it with the in-tent of causing death. Drinks in nightclubs have been spiked. There are ‗sick-in-the-

head‘ people who soak food in antifreeze and leave it out to deliberately poison dogs out on walks or cats in gardens. This has also been used to kill foxes and badgers.

Campaigners also report children have died from ingesting antifreeze, although no examples are given. Because it tastes so sweet, it can easily be hidden in food and

drink. Accidental spills do occur, just a teaspoon is enough to kill a cat, a tablespoon will kill a dog. If it didn't taste sweet, animals wouldn't lick from spills. A bittering agent added to all antifreeze preparations could avoid many such

deaths. Propylene Glycol is as toxic as Ethylene Glycol and not suited for all vehicles. Many screen wash labels do not have ingredients on the labels or hazard warnings but

contain Ethylene Glycol and are highly toxic. If antifreeze didn't taste sweet, it couldn't be hidden in food and drink. Such a sim-ple thing as adding a bitter taste could save thousands of animals lives every year and

stop people being deliberately poisoned. Campaigners claim if a pet is poisoned with these substances, owners can expect a

£600+ vet bill and the pet being put down after total kidney failure within three days. Wildlife SOS (TV), RSPCA and many other big animal welfare charities are support-

ing the campaign for bitter taste addition. Is it just me or does it beg the question if manufacturers know this is happening why haven‘t they added a nasty taste to their products already without having to be

forced to do so by having the law changed? What kind of people are they? Will they lose a penny in profit? Will their shareholders die of starvation? Will their company shares

come crashing down? Hardly ... If they were smart they could reformulate their products with a

dash of bitterness and cash in on publicity for being ‗wild animal friendly‘ ... surely they‘d have a PR dept that could dream something catchy up for a TV ad ...

Further reading:

Website for more information www.bluedeath.org.uk and a Facebook support group. When signing this petition, campaigners ask if signatories could please indicate in comments if they have

lost a pet or have been a victim of antifreeze poisoning. http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/uk-eu-parliaments-law-defra-ban-all-antifreeze-preparations-

unless-they-contain-a-bitterant?share_id=viWbJYpfFN&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

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