I am a little disappointed, but not “gutted” that England did not bring home the European Cup on Sunday. Somebody had to lose. That right to the very end, the result was so very close, is cause for deserved celebration.
Today is day 5 of the Buxton Festival, and so far, I have attended two splendid productions at the Opera House, a phenomenal piano recital at St. John’s, and a thought provoking discussion at the Pavilion Arts Centre roughly about “who owns England.” Psychologically, the return of Buxton Festival in what feels like its usual format, has been and is still, hugely beneficial. However, I must not “let my guard down” too much. What has now been dubbed The Johnson Variant is still out there, thinking “it must be Christmas” considering the crowd gathering events encouraged all around us.
Wednesday 14th July
From Monday 19th July, mere days away, the responsibility for pandemic restrictions transfers to the public from Government. As such, while highly advisable to socially distance and wear masks as before, this becomes the choice of the general public, meaning, when another wave of the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the Nation, responsibility falls not to our revered leaders, but to us. I will be reluctant to attend church or the theatre, just because the virus hasn’t gone away. And it probably won’t do for a while. As far as it is concerned, every day is “Christmas.”
I do welcome not being in fear of criminal prosecution for failing to comply with some ambiguous legislation.
The Festival, and a “half-decent” summer has lifted the ambience of the town to a vibrant holiday atmosphere. As one person who I greeted and met at Macclesfield station remarked “it always rains when I’m in Buxton.” Perhaps it is this holiday atmosphere which sort of prompted me to book two nights at the Crescent Hotel where much of the Buxton Festival Weekend takes place in October. This will have to be a rare luxury now that this new hotel is established and its tariff more “confident.” There is no doubt that this is a destination hotel and staying there is an extravagant treat, considering home is just two miles away! At least breakfast is included in the cost, which back in the 1950s might have bought me a small house! (The joys of being over 70!)
Talking to a couple attending last night’s opera, I was reminded of the music luminaries of my childhood. When the “household-name” Sir Thomas Beecham (who I do remember) was asked his opinion of the avant-garde composer Stockhausen, he merely grunted that he knew not of his music, except that he stepped in it once! Vaughan Williams was less acerbic, but his music haunts me to this day. Conductor, Sir Malcolm Sargent survived to my late teens. In 1963, I attended the Proms at which Sir William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast was performed with “unlimited artistic licence.” Sixty eight years later, that music still rings in my grateful ears…even ‘though I have heard the work many times since. Such memories are probably valuable to me only. I do not regret that memories are all they are, but instead, derive enormous pleasure from looking back, just occasionally.
But, I am in the fortunate situation where I am looking forward to more exciting events, pandemic permitting. My misgivings about circumnavigating the world eastbound are subsiding as I contemplate my first (and probably only) visit to Japan next year. This morphs into several days returning to the gorgeous Inside Passage of Alaska, down from Anchorage to Vancouver, back up again, (but not as far as Anchorage), and returning to Vancouver. I travel, then, independently to New York, losing an hour with each time zone crossed. Seemingly, U.S. long distance trains are undergoing a complete refurbishment in all classes. Surely just one of the trains I plan on riding will have refurbished stock in its consist. Amtrak celebrates 50 years (1/5/71). Ye gods! I was riding U.S. trains (as a 22 year-old) in May 1971. That was a 16 day tour; next year, I have 24 days to wander across North America any way I choose, before returning to the U.K., by ocean liner, as on numerous other memorable occasions…pandemic permitting!
Many thanks for reading; I do hope my memories are not too tedious! David, 16.12 hrs, The Parks Inn, Harpur Hill, where I enjoyed a Cajun Chicken dish.
David's Cruise 