Sunday August 21st, Taj Mahal Restaurant, Buxton.
You couldn’t make it up. Next Saturday, I am scheduled to travel to London for the first time since December 2019 when few had heard of the coronavirus. And the following Saturday, I travel to Southampton in readiness for boarding Queen Mary 2 as she continues her three week voyage from New York to Norway. So yesterday, I ventured into Buxton to make train enquiries for both next Saturday and the Saturday after. There was room at the station to park comfortably. The ticket office was locked, and a young lady waiting for her father reminded me that there was a strike, and went on to complain bitterly about Train Drivers. Actually, it wasn’t the Train Drivers who were on strike; seemingly it was more or less everybody else! I kept “schtum” about my previous career! But I did concede that I sided with striking Starbucks workers at a rally in Seattle!
I had little else to do in town, but I remembered that there was a major event taking place in the nearby Pavilion Gardens. I thought I might venture to where the sound was coming from, a bit like I did in Chicago. Continued Monay 22nd August 13.00hrs outside Buxton Station. “Of course!” I remembered. “Eat in The Park” an event now in its second year was taking place over the weekend. With all sorts of cleverly erected railings, it was hard to access, a bit like the festival in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Perhaps as far a size is concerned, Buxton cannot compete. Also, Chicago’s festival spans around three months with hot summer nights more or less guaranteed. But the atmosphere and organisation at Buxton was hard to beat – anywhere. Although I paid for two days, I just spent one full afternoon and part of an evening soaking up the atmosphere and coming across people who recognised me from my D.J-ing days of the early 1980s. All of a sudden, I felt as if I was back in my early thirties…that is until I stood up to walk anywhere. My right knee reminded me of my late 40s date of birth!
Second time lucky at the Station?
The trains are running normally today, but, the ticket office is closed, thankfully only for the duration of a lunchtime break. That provides opportunity to continue my blog. It wasn’t long before the office was manned and I was able to make enquiries for both my journeys to London and Southampton. It seems covid-19 and industrial unrest has had an effect “on the trains.” Strangely, Macclesfield retains its hourly service to London. That’s the good news. Now, the bad news. Next Saturday, the journey to London starts with a bus ride to Stoke-on-Trent, then a heavily diverted service to Euston…4 to 5 hours. Thankfully, Chesterfield, 25 miles away offers two trains per hour without diversions for track maintenance. So, I should be able to get London next Saturday with little problem. The following Saturday, travelling from Buxton to Manchester Piccadilly e.g. on the 09.59 gets me to Manchester Piccadilly in good time for the train to Southampton. Being a weekend, there is no point in booking a First Class seat as upgrading from Standard Class at the weekend comes in at £20.00. As I still enjoy limited complimentary Standard Class rail travel as a retiree from the Industry, I don’t begrudge this upgrade. I am now looking forward to a week on Saturday! But I dread coming home on Sunday after a week of scenic relaxation in the Norwegian fjords. There are no direct services from Southampton. Coming back via Newport in Wales takes 8 hours to Buxton, returning via London is three hours less, but involves crossing London, which perhaps Mr. Uber might handle quite nicely. Now, I’ve only just this minute thought of this; I could descend on my sister-in-law and families on the Isle of Wight. Yep, I could book my favourite room (26 if I remember rightly) at Yelf’s Hotel and then come home during the following week. There’s nothing quite like Great Uncle David landing, almost unexpectedly, like a pterodactyl on the tranquil routines of contented family life on the Isle of Wight! Actually, such a visit is long overdue. I’ll give it some thought. And with tongue mischievously lodged in cheek, I close today’s blog, and as ever, offer my thanks for reading.
David, 15.00hrs Hargreaves’ Tea Rooms, Buxton, where for some reason, background music on a jumping CD is mandatory! Otherwise this remains an excellent establishment with lots of Buxton memorabilia to enjoy, displayed in Edwardian glass cabinets.
David's Cruise 