I stood on the bathroom scales this morning, after being fairly pleased with a non-weight gain reading of 15 stone 6 lbs last week. Thus, I was horrified when those same scales proclaimed 15 stone 12 lbs just a week later! A good walk, therefore, took priority over all else this morning, and I covered a little under three miles. And today started out bright, clear and sunny with that irritating east wind cooling down what would otherwise might have been a warm day.
I remain reasonably content despite the encompassing coronavirus crisis. The clear skies were inviting this morning and I was thus determined to go on that much needed walk, before anything else (except breakfast!) I ventured to the end of an adjacent cul-de-sac, overlooked in the distance by abandoned quarries and the remains of industry. Next to where I was walking, the former High Peak College, demolished not all that long ago, had started life as R.A.F. Harpur Hill. Indeed, where I live is on a former R.A.F estate, at one time, most extensive. The College is flattened, and already, the roads of a new housing development provide a hint of how this derelict land may turn out. Although it’s broad daylight, there’s a spooky feeling, obviously brought on by the nationwide lock down. Any road traffic and the occasional person you may come across feels like ghosts. It’s been like that since leaving the terminal at Southampton; in fact, it felt like that sailing along the Solent on Wednesday 25th March. There’s this unrelenting eerie ambiance absolutely everywhere. In the very unlikely event of my travels in August actually taking place, I can see myself in lockdown, on board Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited, and Empire Builder, in my metal walled compartment isolated from the rest of humanity, picking my way through a cardboard boxed tray meal. Normally, I love this sort of thing, but it is nice to meet fellow travellers. That in itself would provide a unique aspect of this journey which could never be repeated once the virus crisis is over. This idea is beginning to appeal to me!
As I walked along the Lane, a neighbour I became engaged in conversation with, suggested “when this is all over, we should have a street party….” Brilliant idea,” I enthused. What a pity I sold the disco all those years ago. As I walked along the familiar roads, up the hill and to the end of that cul-de-sac, I toyed with the notion of contacting the person who bought all my disco equipment and CDs. Who knows!
I walked back the way I came, continued past the end of my Lane and on to the main road. Normally, it’s like the M1. One lorry went past, a keep-fit fanatic cyclist and two or three cars. A young father with small boy in tow came up from behind, I was walking slowly. A former railway line, now a developed walking and cycling route skirts the foot of the cliffs behind, the former Hoffman’s Quarry. There was consternation perhaps twenty or thirty years ago when a firm whose offices were not on the mainland wanted to open up these old quarries. We needn’t have worried. I suspect what they wanted to do up there was not really viable. I revisited the railway and saw where I live from completely different angle.
I returned home and relaxed a little after a lunch of breaded cod and vegetables. For some reason, I wasn’t able to finish what I had prepared for lunch.
Still, far too many people are succumbing to this dreadful disease. But thankfully, the casualty numbers in hospitals appear to be falling. Nevertheless, 449 in the last twenty-four hours remains a huge number. All the NHS personnel, carers, and other helpers and volunteers deserve their nationwide applause every Thursday, even after all this is over.
And the day is drawing to a close, like every other day, ever so rapidly. Good night, all! David 22.26 hrs 20th April 2020.
David's Cruise 