Days 272 – 274 Christmas Week

Christmas Eve (Day 274)

This time last year, I was ensconced at the Clarendon Hotel, Blackheath. I had travelled in stages to London, via Carlisle, Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness Edinburgh and Leeds. I had travelled to Edinburgh on scheduled service trains, where after an overnight stay, took my First Class seat on the final run of an H.S.T. Inter City 125 train, restored faithfully in its entirety to 1970s Blue/Grey livery. As this train, now a spectacular museum piece, rolled into Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, it looked brand new both inside and out. This was a fabulous trip, and unknown to me at the time (apart from coming home after Christmas) my last train ride in the U.K., that is, until the pandemic has subsided.

The term “social distancing ” was one I was not familiar with back then. But it is mentioned in an earlier movie “Contagion” the plot-line of which has many parallels to how 2020 would turn out.

The year which comes to a close in eight days was not all bad, but world-wide, it has been unpredictably different, and for very many, not nice at all. I count myself very fortunate, that apart from the irritations of enforced restrictions, new legislation and a continual fear of inadvertently contracting Covid 19, the most major impact has been merely a curtailment of my travel plans. But, I do miss the normality we all took for granted a year ago. However, I did enjoy the unexpected opportunities the various lockdowns and restrictions created. It was good to explore the local countryside which previously, I had only driven through. And we had lots of good weather.

Just as I predicted, it seems that some kind of trade deal has, at long last, been agreed between the U.K. and Europe, “just in the nick of time”. No doubt, our revered prime minister will be hailed a hero for his determination and unwavering efforts. Sorry, I don’t “buy any of this”. But, I am thankful, it seems, that this particular saga is over, even if there maybe plenty more “cliff-hangers” to come in the New Year.

The winter solstice has now passed, Saturn slips away from its “Great Conjunction” with Jupiter. Gradually, the daylight lengthens and before long, we shall be lamenting the passage of the Summer solstice which right now, seems such a long way off. I am optimistic, because I remember my father as somewhat the opposite. It’s cold now, but there will be warm days to come!

I just have to avoid this pandemic like the plague, and may be, just may be, I can enjoy renewed confidence when life returns to a more familiar normality.