The fine warm(ish) weather of Tuesday which had enabled such a pleasant walk “up hill and down dale”, affording such magnificent panoramic views, just couldn’t last, could it! Yesterday, it rained “les chats et les chiens” as they might say in France. It did clear up later in the afternoon, but any motivation to walk had long since evaporated. Today, Wednesday, looked promising, but stepping out of the front door revealed it was much cooler with a biting wind presumably from the north, or that’s what it felt like.
I visited the Parish Office today, Thursday, purely a social call, and to book my pew at St. Mary’s church for Eucharist a week on Sunday. Social distancing in the office was strictly observed; nevertheless, I was grateful for the warm welcome and cup of my favourite Earl Grey tea! I now discover at St. John’s this morning (Sunday) that next week’s service is at Christ Church, Burbage beginning at 9.30am. Theoretically, I can thus attend two services as St. John’s has resumed weekly worship. A good thing except, I feel that the existing local congregation will be spread too thinly between two churches instead of just the one, rather than increased in size.
Roger suggested lunch for Friday afternoon (Day 209). My trusty walking shoes had started to fall apart at the end of Tuesday’s “expedition” and are now awaiting repair. Thus, no walking after lunch on Friday, this time at the Peak View Tea Rooms, formerly the Dish and Spoon just a little further on from the reopened Cat and Fiddle on the main road from Buxton to Macclesfield. The filthy weather of the fore-noon had been defeated by attractive bright weather, but still with a biting cold wind from the west. The hills of Shropshire were just discernable on the very distant horizon, from the carpark of the Peak View Tea Rooms. We adjourned to my place for further tea. I sought ideas on how I could watch TV without disturbing my neighbours who prefer early nights and early starts to their day. While waiting for a flight from Singapore to Dubai last year, I bought a posh set of headphones at one of the numerous fancy shops at Singapore’s Changi Airport. They served me well on the flight to Dubai, but only on a few occasions since. But now, those same headphones are in daily use, wired up to my television. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this years ago; that particular technology has been around for decades! Now, I can watch T.V. at any time without disturbing even people in the same room!
My plan for Saturday was to continue the onerous task of cataloging my collection, a project which is going to take “years”! I have many files of all kinds of ephemera, each item requiring enough detail for anybody eventually inheriting this stuff to have a good idea what each piece is. Unfortunately, on Saturday, I got hooked onto watching T.V. through my headphones. The surround sound is spectacular but the adverts even more irritating!
Today, Sunday 25th October, I returned to St. John’s Church for the first of what are now weekly services. There was a good congregation, the choir no longer looked like astronauts and today, Bible Sunday was marked appropriately with the Vicar, in his homily pointing out the the “Good Book” is very often overlooked by the weekly attendees of Church. He spoke very well, as did the clergy at St. Martin’s in the Fields on this morning’s Sunday Worship on Radio 4. I am not academic, and have not yet (at 71!) acquired an enjoyment of reading. I have tried on numerous occasions to develop a liking for books, and while I use them for reference, it is very rare that I read anything from cover to cover. However, I used to like hearing David Kossof read from the Old Testament when I was a small boy. I really should make time for more productive study.
British Standard Time resumed at 2am this morning, allowing an extra hour in bed. Again, I was only just in time for today’s Eucharist at St. John’s. Again, I felt slightly uncomfortable, but did enjoy coffee afterwards with one of the congregation, at Cafe Nero’s on Spring Gardens. I did get some cataloging done when I arrived home eventually – after a light lunch at “6, The Square”.
The day has gone quickly, as has the summer! Although time flies, the prospect of a “forever” winter seems daunting. There will be no trundling to the tropics in January 2021.
Thanks for reading, David, 22.30, Sunday 25th October Day 211.
David's Cruise 