This is the fifth full week since arriving home from Southampton on 27th March. Until last Tuesday, April had become the driest since records began. The skies were “continental blue” and eventually, we, in Buxton, managed to lose that cold wind which would keep the temperatures down to begin with.
I am very fortunate in that I am not finding the lockdown too irksome. Although people seem to be moving around rather more now than in recent times, it is still very quiet, and I am sure Mother Earth is still enjoying its break from the ravages of human activity from which it suffers from a partially uncaring society. There were strange occurrences e.g. the short lived period when crude oil had a negative value, as one person quipped, “a roll of toilet paper was more expensive than a barrel of crude oil!”
Each Wednesday, my weekly shopping is delivered, along with the laundry. Last week (while it was dry and bright) I walked on each day except Wednesday, when I just didn’t feel like venturing out. On Thursday, at 8 pm, many of us on the Lane applauded the Carers and N.H.S. personnel for two minutes. Tonight, I thought I was going to be alone. I stood outside my front door, and at 8 o’clock, I was alone. From the Avenue below, a round of applause, and instantly those on the Lane appeared and joined in the now weekly tribute, either clapping, banging saucepans cheering and sounding various “horns.” Atop a former quarry which overlooks our estate, four or five people, one waiving a blue N.H.S. flag, I presume joined in the weekly tribute. The noise soon died down after two or three minutes. Shortly afterwards, I could hear a joyous gathering in the distance. For some reason, this seemed to remind me how alone I had become. I then locked my front door, determined to go for a short walk, but I felt cold and a little “out of it.” I retreated back home and to my front room.
I do have very good reason to express my thanks to the N.H.S. I shall be forever grateful for that life saving open heart procedure three years ago. It wasn’t at all pleasant, but the stamina, skill and expertise of the doctors surgeons and nurses were beyond any words of adequate praise and admiration I could think of. Those of you who either know me, or have been following my blog over the years will already know all of this.
My admiration continues for Captain, now Honorary Colonel, Tom Moore who on the approach to his 100th birthday, which was today, set out, originally, to raise £1,000 for N.H.S. Charities. This was to be a quiet exercise, pacing his garden 100 times and generating sponsorship over the internet. On his birthday, today, vintage planes flew over his house, 140,000 birthday cards were displayed at a local school hall, he was “promoted to Hon. Colonel, a G.W.R train, as well as a freight locomotive was named after him, and the total raised so far reached in excess of £32,000,000! He received personal greetings from both the Queen and the prime minister. All this inspired a lady, also 100 years old, to walk a section of her garden one hundred times as well. What a lady! She raised a still impressive £17,000.
Having watched “Question Time” and other media comments on the current virus situation, I don’t feel any the wiser. But I am enjoying the Lent-like tranquillity. (Occasionally, I would give up watching T.V. during Lent, the house taking on a very tranquil ambience during this time).
Time again…to “hit the hay.” I shall write again, probably next week. Thanks for reading, David, 00.29 May 1st…Already!
David's Cruise 