Just as I predicted, those wonderful morning snow scenes which I posted earlier today were very short-lived. Small patches did survive to the afternoon but I suspect it is likely that we may have to wait until next year for further falls of “the white stuff”.
I attended church this morning and completely forgot about my desire to sit alone in the gallery to make sure of being able to maintain social distancing. Actually, it felt slightly strange up there last week, and there were far fewer there this week. I didn’t feel at all uncomfortable. The death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was marked very poignantly and with great elegance, Bishop Jack preaching a superbly crafted sermon, moving, but appropriately amusing at the end. I don’t attend church to enjoy myself, but I did come away today feeling that I had “got something” from the service. When all was finished, I walked part-way home with a friend from the congregation who was very supportive and encouraging, during the period I was battling a theology course.
It was my turn to prepare lunch, at which my neighbour over the road joined me. The meal turned out well with the meat not burned to a cinder and the vegetables to pulp. The dreadful weather forecast for today didn’t really materialise; the breeze from the north was manageable and thus, we set off on another exploration of the local countryside, probably covering just over three miles. This week, we walked away from Hoffman’s Quarry past where new houses were being constructed near, but not too close to the A515 Ashbourne road. These houses are rather nice, I suspect also, rather expensive. They are set well back from the main road. However, I wouldn’t recommend anyone living there to get a cat! We continued across the A515, along Staden Lane, over the railway bridge under which a small section of the Buxton Ashbourne railway remains open for freight workings only. On rare occasions, special passenger trains do venture to Hindlow and Briggs sidings, where the line terminates.
On many occasions, I have walked along Dukes Drive which connects the A515 to Ashbourne with the A6 to Bakewell. Dukes Drive passes under a magnificent L.N.W.R. viaduct, a testament to 19th century civil engineering.
The rest of the walk home was along Harpur Hill Road, via Amberly Drive, part of the 1970s Barrett Estate which now blend in quite nicely.
The advancing of the hour at the end of March certainly makes for lighter evenings. Nevertheless, although I have been around over 72 years, I am still taken by surprise. I have enjoyed my day immensely despite its being cold for this time of year.
Many thanks for reading, David 20.01hrs.
David's Cruise 