Writing on a very hot day, at the Royal Oak at Hurdlow. 13.55hrs.
As ever, The Royal Oak is busy, but also, as ever, I was accommodated immediately on unannounced arrival. My wonderful house keepers had arrived half an hour early this afternoon, prompting exile either to Roger’s, or somewhere to eat.
Weather-wise, we are enjoying almost equatorial climes with outdoor conditions not dissimilar to those of Singapore. Temperatures are nudging the 30s Centigrade with humidity around 70%.
For the first time today, it’s not a problem if I leave my mask at home (which I did, not for the first time). My Carnival shares are at their lowest level, continuing an unexpected decline since sometime in June when I was rather delighted with my investment of last year. One suggestion for this is the world-wide proliferation of the highly contagious Johnson (sorry, Delta) variant of the coronavirus virus. Things therefore do not bode well for my fanciful travel plans for May – July next year. The up-side of yet further international travel disruption is the possibility that I could make the Tokyo, Alaska and New York itinerary, sometime later, westbound which is, by far, preferable. And, I would not miss the first week of the 2022 Buxton International Festival.
That brings me very nicely to yesterday!
The heat of the previous day (Saturday) showed no signs of abating, with record temperatures predicted. However, unlike Saturday, it was not too hot to walk, both to Church in the morning, and for a stroll in wildest Chelmorton after a suitable lunch at the relocated eatery, “53 Degrees”. Once on the uncomfortably steep Hall Bank, the restaurant now occupies larger and more suitable premises with attractive views of the rear of The Crescent, just moments from the Opera House.
The Eucharist, yesterday, was set to the music of Mozart, again with minimal musicians and singers. However, this was so well performed that more players and a larger choir was not necessarily needed. Michael Williams continues, despite lockdowns and pandemic related restrictions, to produce wonderful and worthwhile music. As usual, I enjoyed coffee with a church colleague as is the case most weeks. Lunch with Roger normally follows, and then an afternoon exploration of the never-endingly gorgeous local countryside. Despite temperatures in the high twenties, I did feel like walking after lunch, having already walked to Church. Once again, Roger had located an almost invisible path to explore, through neck-high undergrowth! I was prompted to photograph bales of hay in an adjacent field. This old fashioned method of baling hay is rarely seen these days, as now, single use plastic is used to gather the hay in large cylindrical bundles.
In the evening, I had a ticket for Handel’s Acis and Galatea at the Buxton Festival. My seat was in the Upper Gallery (the gods) and was remarkably good. Despite social distancing, I was seated behind a couple, he being the size I was once was and necessitating my having to strain to obtain the clear view I would normally have enjoyed. Although nothing was said, I suspect he was equally irritated by how close I was seated behind. In the second half, I moved further along my row to a seat, which although offered that uninterrupted view, was in need of repair, and I had to remain remarkably still! That actually was no problem. However, it was almost impossible to focus on the now distant side titles, which changed and faded far too frequently to be able to follow.
Whether I was fatigued from the day’s walking, or something else, I was not overly impressed with the opera. Even now, producers think it clever to set operas written centuries ago to within living memory. According to what resembled a Power Point screen on stage, at the back, the opera takes place in 1962! Yes, I should have read the notes in the Programme Book, and been like everybody else and watched the discussion of the Opera on Zoom. I probably would have still attended albeit with more jaundiced expectations. I didn’t begrudge the £25 ticket price; it seemed like pretty good value considering the full view of the stage, even from so high up. But, I would have been annoyed at shelling out £78 for a seat in the Dress Circle! I came out at the end, having seen yet another Handel opera “teleported” to almost the present day. I drove home with the roof down, too weary to view what would have been a stunning sunset from opposite The Cat and Fiddle, five miles away.
So, that was the last day of “governmental lockdown.” Today feels no different. I live in hopes that our new-found freedom is at no real expense; but I take after my father, the eternal pessimist! (He was good fun for very much of the time).
Many thanks for reading; this brings the curtain down on 478 days of covid restrictions. The best is yet to come!
David 15.36, The Royal Oak, Hurdlow, 19/7/21.
David's Cruise 