Originally, my writings were merely intended to be a travel blog, charting various trips and voyages to other parts of the world, as well as travels within the U.K., and the occasional commemorative or farewell railtour.
Then, in March 2020, I returned from a South American cruise to a Britain in lockdown. The first global pandemic since 1918/9 had been declared, and chances of contracting the life threatening covid-19 felt like a certainty. So much so that I washed a punnet of strawberries in soap and water, rinsed them thoroughly, and put on a little Elmlee cream. Boy! did they taste lousy!
I wrote at least weekly, about the pandemic until January this year when I felt confident to resume travelling. Ye Gods! Did I make up for lost time….and caught covid-19 in the process! If I have done the maths correctly, I figure that, this year, without flying, I covered around 60,000 miles, including no less than six transatlantic crossings, and setting foot in maybe 12 countries. My calculations suggest that while travelling abroad, including four departures from Southampton, I walked probably over 528 miles in 131 days, upto July 14th. All this has been detailed in blogs upto Blog 837, including a “quickie” on QM2 to Norway at the beginning of this month, not included in these mentioned figures.
For a second time, on 11th September, (incidentally the 21st anniversary of 9-11) we would dock in Southampton at a significantly sad but noteworthy time. Why, at the very ripe old age of 96, I was taken by absolute surprise at the passing of The Queen, I shall never know, except that, with the little I knew about her fragile health, I thought she might not make it to the New Year. For very very many, me included, the unthinkable had happened and it wasn’t long before the souvenir coin companies were cashing in; I don’t think they were on their own. Newspapers of the day are on eBay, available from sellers who have e.g. 10 available, i.e., they bought in bulk, for the benefit of people like me, a collector, stuck in Norway!
But, I was in the right place. I had rejoiced in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee back in June, on board Queen Elizabeth (appropriately), also in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations on board QM2 during a three-Cunard ship gathering in Southampton in 2012, when it thrashed it down with rain all day, and also, latterly on board QM2 last week when I joined in God Save our Gracious King, for the first time at a superbly arranged-at-the-last-minute Service of Remembrance, an event whose “plans were, maybe, on the back-burner for a number of years. That was where I wanted to be, but never expected to be.
Many years ago, probably when I was in my teens, I attended a concert in Manchester with Mum and Dad. If I remember rightly, we were seated in the side-circle of the now non existent Free Trade Hall, almost above a full Halle Orchestra and Chorus. They gave a rousing powerful performance of Handel’s Coronation Anthem, Zadoc the Priest. This was the first time I gleaned that my father might have had little regard for royalty. He remarked after Handel’s loud and glorious Long Live the King, God Save the King, May the King Live Forever… “it makes one want to be a royalist!” My poor father must have had the patience of Job, because as an 11 year-old, I wanted to see the Queen pass by on horse-back on the Mall at the 1960 Trooping the Colour. Without any hint of disapproval, he agreed, and complained not, at the length of time we waited for the Queen, on horseback, to ride by, the whole thing lasting but a few seconds. My Brownie 620 camera captured the moment, but although congratulated by my parents, the picture would win no awards! I found the official programme for this event, reminding me of how kind and patient my father must have been. As a small boy, I enjoyed the processions and what is now referred to, questionably, as pomp and circumstance. I prefer “ceremony” to “circumstance.”
This is Day 3 of the Lying-in-State and probably a million people have seen fit to spend perhaps 12 hours or more in a queue around four miles long, to pay their respects, and, be a part of history. I do wonder, if in time, I will regret not doing the same. Probably not, because I now know my limitations! On Friday and today, I resumed walking.
Below are pictures taken from, and of, two different sections of the former Cromford and High Peak Railway.
I had thus chosen to remind myself of the fabulous countryside close to where I live. Yesterday, I revisited the abandoned railway which I can see from my back garden. Without driving, I can enjoy far reaching views of and beyond the Georgian Spa Town of Buxton, where the Dome and Palace Hotel can be picked out like Matchbox toys. And today, I walked from Hurdlow to Newhaven Tunnel and back. Walking in a southerly direction, the cool north wind was of little consequence. Walking two and a bit miles in the other direction to the car is a little more challenging. Despite the cool wind from the north, the sun’s warmth remains evident when the grey clouds get out of the way.
There is something telling me that I am slightly disappointed not to be in London this weekend. But I did enjoy revisiting the High Peak Trail yesterday and today in an attempt to imagine the days when all this was working railway, And tomorrow, I can’t be in two places at once. St. John’s in Buxton is marking the Passing of H.M.Queen Elizabeth II with a Service of Thanksgiving at 3.00 pm. The regular 11 am Sung Eucharist will take place as usual. So no going to London then.
On Monday, I shall continue to pay my respects quietly at home, watching the funeral on TV., after which I shall resume walking. You see, I have my annual diabetic check mid October!
19/9/22 Blog checked for typos and clumsy grammar and posted far later than planned, after The Funeral of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II Many thanks for reading. David.
David's Cruise 