It’s around three weeks since my last blog, which was merely a “correction” of the blog I wrote earlier that day. Reading that blog today (10th October), I stumbled across yet another glaring spelling mistake which I have just corrected. Albeit three weeks since I last wrote, “technology” reassures me that my blog site is accessed on a daily basis. By whom, I know not. But thank you anyway.
Little of interest has happened since 20th September, and even in that blog, I dwelt very much in the past.
I am, of course, preparing for the grand finale of my fundraising efforts in support of Christian Aid Week 2022 which included sponsored walking in (I think) twelve different countries as well as on board ship. This is in the form of an illustrated talk on said travels between January and July, an itinerary of around 54,000 miles with no flying. The idea of giving a talk came to me while reading the autobiography of Captain “Bob” Arnott whose phenomenal sea-going career culminated in his becoming master of the former Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2. He described a regular world cruise passenger who each year would give a slide show and talk in a packed village hall. I don’t go on world cruises every year, and if the truth be known, I have never actually been around the world in one “go.” In “bits” over a two year period after retirement, I did just manage to “join the dots” and can now say that I have circumnavigated the world by land and sea with no flying. That could be the subject of another talk, if this one is successful.
To hopefully eliminate the risk of technical failure in front of a huge audience in the Church Centre, I have invested in a PowerPoint projector which I ordered on Saturday and which arrived before lunchtime yesterday (Monday). My neighbour over the road has a suitable screen which is used regularly at his Church, and between now and November 8th, I have four weeks to put together a fluent and entertaining presentation.
My annual subscription to the Buxton Musical Society became due, and I decided, after my annual diabetic check-up, to walk from Buxton Medical Practice, along Broadwalk to the NatWest Bank on Spring Gardens, a nice stroll of around a quarter of a mile. There, I would renew my membership of Buxton Musical Society on a monthly basis. On entering, I discovered that the Buxton Branch is to close on February 14th next year, making the ever so helpful and highly professional personnel redundant. This is a disgrace! Now, if I want to do some complicated business, I will have to drive 20 minutes to Bakewell, until that Branch also closes for good. I have been with my Bank since around 1968 when it was Williams Deacon’s Bank. I am “quietly unimpressed.”
Although the house has felt cold inside, outside, it has been quite pleasant this week. Sadly, I attended the funeral of a Friends of Buxton Festival colleague whose company I, along with very many others, enjoyed greatly. The Church was full, and as is the case at funerals, I learned a great deal about the full and extraordinary life he led. Despite the huge size of the congregation, I knew just three people. But that was enough to dispell any feeling that I was intruding. I didn’t take much persuasion to attend the reception afterwards, although I had it in mind merely to go straight home.
I started this blog on Monday. Now, it is the very early hours of Friday morning.
Many thanks for reading, David, 0025, 14/10/22.
David's Cruise 