I arrived home from my rather dramatic wanderings at around 5.30 last night, and settled in front of the T.V., feeling as if I “deserved” an evening of idleness. I did prepare from scratch, a spaghetti bolognese dish which should cover a further two main meals. Among other things, I watched a couple of episodes of “House of Cards” on Netflix, but thankfully, the desire to “binge-watch” has subsided considerably. And “House of Cards” is hardly “riveting”!
I arrived safely at my pre-warmed house shortly after midnight and made the mistake of watching part of a dreadful BBC quiz show, The Wall. It’s actually quite a good format but spoilt by a presenter with a gangland cockney accent, atrocious English and over-the-top contestants. For whatever reason, I felt compelled to watch to the end…an hour’s sleep I will never get back!
At around 11.15, I figured that I ought to give the red Peugeot a run, merely to keep the battery charged. Wow! The thirteen mile drive was one of the spookiest I had ever embarked on. The simple round-trip took me to an almost deserted Buxton, with premature Christmas lights doing nothing to retard the progress of climate change. A small group of youths were wandering along St. John’s Road, and one or two were on the Market Place, some walking their dogs. I continued to “London Road Lights” where one can choose one of five directions to take. I chose to turn left along a dark and deserted Dale Road, towards the A6 (south). Turning right on to the usually busy A6, I headed into a darkness reminiscent of those creepy drives from Nottingham after D.J-ing at the George Hotel there, most Sunday nights in the 1980s. I dreaded another car coming up behind me, realising the emptiness and blackness I had driven into. Thankfully, the countryside opened up as the turning for Chelmorton on the right came ever closer. Between Buxton and home, I only saw one other vehicle that I recall, but I was glad to be back in front of the telly for a final hour.
This morning, I have an appointment to have a heart monitor machine wired up to my body. This presumably is a check-up following a dizzy spell in August which landed me in Stepping Hill Hospital. I’m sure that I have been alright since, apart from the very occasional momentary wobble, usually when out walking!
I attended the appointment at the Cottage Hospital and was issued with, and had “installed” a device, wired to terminals stuck to my body, the size of a small mobile phone and hung around my neck. This I have to wear for 24 hours and is due to be returned to the hospital at lunchtime tomorrow.
The house keeping team arrived on time this afternoon for the routine fortnightly clean around the house. Also, the shopping had arrived. I left the girls to “do their stuff” while I cleared from under their feet. I drove to Parsley Hay for a second time this week, but with no intention of waiting until darkness fell before driving home. Actually, I am writing this in the car park there as once again, darkness falls. This afternoon, I walked in the opposite direction towards Hurdlow. But, I felt sapped of energy and only walked for about an hour. Here are a few pictures taken today.
There’s little more to say; lovely countryside is all around.
All the best, as Christmas seems to have come even earlier this year with many houses already displaying festive lights.
David 16.53hrs 26th November
David's Cruise 