Yesterday, driving back from Southampton, and taking one last glimpse of QM2 as we headed away from the port, blue clear skies were the order of just that day, and one could forgive its being rather cool outside. Today, it is 50 shades of miserable grey, with periodic lashings of ice cold horizontal rain, turbo charged from leadened skies. The house seemed to pitch and roll as if floating on the north Atlantic. And now, the Royal Oak at Hurdlow seems to be doing the same as the wonderful “youth of today” serve me lunch with pride and enthusiasm. I figured that, with the atrocious weather, there would be plenty of availability…for one! That there was just one parking space outside the restaurant indicated the continuance of a much deserved roaring trade. Representatives of the future of the human race were in abundance as several families enjoyed their weekend treat. Only being home for two full days (Sat/Sun) provided adequate justification for eating out most of the time. I had a kind of beef stroganoff (after carrot and coriander soup). This was delicious, but I still need to go easy on the creamy sauces! Again, and annoyingly, I have to pass on the desserts, many of which are former favourites. They do, however, usually prepare me a fruit salad, and the efficient delivery of fresh cutlery, indicates I am in luck today, also. I can still feel the motion of the ocean!
Cunard tell me that I need to report to Mayflower Terminal at 1.15pm on Tuesday. I assume I will need to have swabs up my nose as covid-19 testing and restrictions continue. My plan is to take an afternoon train directly to Southampton from Macclesfield on Monday, staying overnight to be assured of being in good time the next day. This will be my first U.K. train journey since December 2019 when the coronavirus (not yet) pandemic was but a small and little heard of item in the News. On board Queen Victoria on the way to South America, a little old lady showed me a similar obscurely placed article, she, warning me of dire global consequences. I took minimal notice and carried on anticipating the adventures to come on this phenomenal circumnavigation of a continent I had yet to visit. The rest, they say is history.
There is little more to write about at the moment.
Welcome to all those who have recently come across my blogs. These are almost like a personal diary which I hope you will continue to enjoy.
All the best, and thanks for reading,
David, 15.18hrs, The Royal Oak, Hurdlow.
David's Cruise 