This week started with Bible Sunday, as mentioned in my last blog. Waking up on Monday, I noticed a King James Bible which Mother had given to my father presumably for his birthday in April 1942. My parents would read from the Bible every night, without fail. I was encouraged, as a child, to say prayers before going to bed. And to this day, I sometimes employ the same “framework” which Mum and Dad suggested, but hardly ever these days, at night. I picked up the copy from which I presume my parents read from each night, and so far, I have read the first thirteen chapters of Genesis. I never thought that I would ever say this, but it did make compelling reading. The account of the Creation and the embryonic colonisation of the Earth, while very familiar, still makes for exciting if somewhat far-fetched reading. People seemed to live far longer then also, centuries rather than decades!
Friday 30th October
I thought that my walking days were just about finished for this year; cold northerly winds cut like an executioner’s axe with an abundance of relentless rain playing at being stair-rods. But, today, Friday, the breeze which came from more therapeutic climes, was much less strong, and the heavens failed to open from its leadened skies. And the grey, punctuated with autumnal gold, created a beauty only this time of year can offer. It was good to be out again, overly wrapped up for the unusually mild weather today had to offer.
The day before, I resolved to get something done. I had prepared lunch in the morning; and when ready for my midday meal, I would turn the gas on, steam the vegetables and poach the salmon simultaneously…a top class lunch in around twenty minutes. After lunch, I went upstairs to retrieve a file of rare items I was listing. Halfway up the stairs, a “clunk” from the front door suggested the post had arrived; it was my monthly copy of Heritage Railway. I was buried in my magazine for four hours and the cataloging never got a “look-in”.
Filthy weather is promised for tomorrow, Saturday, as a lacklustre October draws to a close. There’s food in the house and plenty to be getting on with. Tomorrow, Buxton is promoted to Tier 2 of the Covid pandemic precautions. I don’t think these extra restrictions will make a lot of difference to me. But for the majority, life has become increasingly difficult.
“Tomorrow” arrived with its promised high winds and heavy rain. I finished watching the Netflix series “Bodygard” which thankfully didn’t span sixty episodes. It was a very well crafted thriller, superbly filmed and full of unpredictability.
No sooner had Buxton and High Peak been put into Tier 2 covid restrictions, our revered Prime Minister chose at long last, to put England back into lock-down. I suspect that he might have come under considerable pressure maybe from somebody with interests in Barnard Castle! Things are even less clear than the previous lockdown I came home to from holiday back in March. I might have missed it; are hotels closing as well as pubs and restaurants? We are advised to stay at home. Are we allowed to travel? I know we are advised not to. Already, deja-vue is setting in! I heard nothing about places of worship. Lockdown- 2 doesn’t start until Guy Fawkes Day, just the time to forbid folk from going out! I’m sure I will ok until 2nd December when it is intended we can return to our respective tier levels.
Tomorrow is All Saints Day. I shall remember my Mother who departed this life in October 2002, attending two services, 9.30 at Christ Church, Burbage, as well as the now weekly service at St. John’s.
Thanks for reading,
David 22.21hrs the last day of October.
David's Cruise 