Stoke-on-Trent has an image of being a bit "post-industrial". Residents have even been known to compare areas of the city, such as Middleport, with Beirut. But the reality is that Stoke has lots of things going for it and, ok, whilst it's not very scenic in certain spots, it is located right next to some beautiful areas. And that has to count for something, right? Stoke-on-Trent is also home to the Trent and Mersey canal system, which provides some pleasant walking routes right through the heart of the city, as well as one or two spots where a mugger might be lurking, but the least said about that the better. Whilst Stoke is clearly a terrific destination for tourists, there are some unique problems that only "Stokies" will understand (and it's OK to say "Stokie"). For example, due to the unfathomable road system, the neighbouring Newcastle-under-Lyme feels like it's on a different planet despite only being a couple of miles away. Here are 15 even more vexing problems that only those people lucky enough to live in Stoke-on-Trent will understand.
Mike has lived in the UK, Japan and the USA. Currently, he is based in Iowa with his wife and 2 young children. After working for many years as a writer and editor for a large corporation, he is now a freelancer. He has been fortunate enough to contribute to many books on Doctor Who over the last 20 years and is now concentrating on original sci-fi & fantasy short stories, with recent sales including Flame Tree, Uffda, and The Martian Wave. Also, look for his contribution on Blake's 7 to "You and Who Else", a charity anthology to be released later this year.
You can find him on Tumblr at https://www.tumblr.com/blog/culttvmike
