Bank Holiday Monday April 5th, 2021, 09.19hrs
I hope that you all enjoyed the Easter Weekend and, anticipating, perhaps with some pleasure, the prospect of long periods of warm sunshine, in the not too distant future. I know that I am, and I did enjoy those two bonus “summer” days last week, presumably the result of currents from warmer climes, possibly the Azores! The trouble is that, at this time of year, warm air always draws the cooler air from the north, and such idyllic periods of “shorts and t-shirts” weather is thus short lived. Today, the much forecast miserable weather has triumphed and is set to remain victorious for days, if not weeks, to come. The snow promised over the several days has manifested itself in the form of a slight splattering, enough to declare a “white bank holiday Monday”!
On Good Friday, having maintained my schedule of recommend readings throughout Lent, I attended The Last Hour at St. John’s Church.
Although well attended, I wasn’t “phased” by the number present in the same way that I was on Palm Sunday. After the service, I walked part of the way home with one of the congregation, before exploring the Pavilion Gardens on a beautiful bright but increasingly cool afternoon.
I then returned to pick up my car from the church car park and continued home. In the morning, I had enjoyed coffee and hot cross buns “over the road”.
The weather remained bright on Easter Saturday, but, for most of the day, I didn’t feel like venturing out. However, towards evening, I did “pull myself together” and went on a fairly decent walk of about forty minutes. Thus, the rest of the evening was rather pleasant and relaxed.
At long last (after several years) I have managed to clear out the main bedroom of copious accumulations of “junk” which had piled up on the floor, chairs and bed-settee, which is now restored to its original purpose. It’s like having an extra room, and with far-reaching views across to Axe Edge where, last year, I struggled to walk over!
On Easter Sunday, I had booked to attend the Eucharist at St. John’s. Last week, I asked if I could use the gallery, so as not to feel vulnerable with the number people attending. (Covid 19 and “all that”) Much to my amazement and delight on Easter Sunday, the churchwarden asked me if I would like to go upstairs. I had this massive space to myself. Looking at the proceedings below, I did feel a little strange, as if experiencing an out of body event. I smiled as I pondered that any feelings of discomfort were entirely of my own doing! I assume I shall be confident in/with small gatherings in the not too distant future; I have just received the brochure for a full Buxton Festival.
The signs of a return to normality following the pandemic are more than welcome.
Yesterday afternoon, after an excellent vegetarian lunch over the road, Roger and I availed ourselves of the final nice day before the eventual return of a miserable cold snap. In fact, although there was a strong wind from the north, it was not bitingly cold. We set off from home, along Grinlow Road, and then across fields almost to the site of a Victorian reservoir which was never successful owing to its being located in an area of porous limestone. We continued through noteworthy countryside and forests towards the track bed of the much talked about Cromford and High Peak Railway. This must have been an incredibly scenic railway during its brief existence over the original route.
I really should have taken more pictures. We covered just over 4.5 miles.
Today, Monday, is one of contented idleness! However, there remains a ton of decluttering to get on with.
Many thanks for reading, David, 10.35hrs.
David's Cruise 