Author: davidscruise

Wednesday 14th April.

Although predominantly cool, outside, the weather is dry, bright, and with little threat of a downpour.  Yesterday I chose to walk to Pavilion Gardens for a “coffee appointment”.  And although confined to taking refreshment outside, when the sun was not obscured, it did feel pleasantly warm.  My attempt to walk home was more successful than the previous day and after a small lunch, for the first time this year, I had the roof of my car down; it wasn’t unpleasant driving out to Hurdlow for a further (but very brief) walk along the High Peak Trail.

Today was a “red-letter” day; my much needed haircut happened this morning, and this afternoon, despite turning up 40 minutes late (I had got the times mixed up) I received my second Covid inoculation. That’s a relief, but once again, I couldn’t face the long up-hill walk home, and availed myself of a taxi. I may well take a nocturnal stroll through a rapidly expanding Harpur Hill.

Thursday 15th April

I did go on that evening stroll last night, but today, after taking all morning to get up, I had no inclination to go out, although I did venture beyond the front door to summon up some enthusiasm for yet more fresh air. Although bright outside, it felt cold and I decided that it might be the mild effect of a second Covid inoculation which created the lethargy I was experiencing.

Thus today, apart from a little housework and cooking, I haven’t achieved a great deal today. Tomorrow, I do have a walk scheduled for after lunch. It’s now five minutes into Friday 16th. I will write more during the weekend.

Many thanks for reading, David, 16th April, 00.06hrs.

I walked into Buxton today to see what the first day of opening of non-essential shops and stores would be like. I saw little to write home about. Shops were open and there were plenty of people, but not much evidence of the excitement all the T.V. channels heralded as their main news item. Perhaps it was just me that didn’t feel the sense of occasion. Although bright, I was cold and really wanted to go inside somewhere for a designer coffee. Eventually, I started to walk home, the way I had come, through the Pavilion Gardens which make up the first three pictures in this blog. By the time I was may-be a third of the way home, I was more than ready for a bus or taxi to take me back up the hill. A taxi showed up near the Blazing Rag pub on London Road. I had covered 11,300 steps, and 19,300 yesterday, and could thus justify a ride the rest of the way home. I was soon revived in a nice warm car! I shall be going into Buxton again tomorrow, for an al fresco coffee with friends at the Pavilion Gardens.

Many thanks for reading, David, 00.06hrs 13/4/21.

Just as I predicted, those wonderful morning snow scenes which I posted earlier today were very short-lived. Small patches did survive to the afternoon but I suspect it is likely that we may have to wait until next year for further falls of “the white stuff”.

I attended church this morning and completely forgot about my desire to sit alone in the gallery to make sure of being able to maintain social distancing. Actually, it felt slightly strange up there last week, and there were far fewer there this week. I didn’t feel at all uncomfortable. The death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was marked very poignantly and with great elegance, Bishop Jack preaching a superbly crafted sermon, moving, but appropriately amusing at the end. I don’t attend church to enjoy myself, but I did come away today feeling that I had “got something” from the service. When all was finished, I walked part-way home with a friend from the congregation who was very supportive and encouraging, during the period I was battling a theology course.

It was my turn to prepare lunch, at which my neighbour over the road joined me. The meal turned out well with the meat not burned to a cinder and the vegetables to pulp. The dreadful weather forecast for today didn’t really materialise; the breeze from the north was manageable and thus, we set off on another exploration of the local countryside, probably covering just over three miles. This week, we walked away from Hoffman’s Quarry past where new houses were being constructed near, but not too close to the A515 Ashbourne road. These houses are rather nice, I suspect also, rather expensive. They are set well back from the main road. However, I wouldn’t recommend anyone living there to get a cat! We continued across the A515, along Staden Lane, over the railway bridge under which a small section of the Buxton Ashbourne railway remains open for freight workings only. On rare occasions, special passenger trains do venture to Hindlow and Briggs sidings, where the line terminates.

On many occasions, I have walked along Dukes Drive which connects the A515 to Ashbourne with the A6 to Bakewell. Dukes Drive passes under a magnificent L.N.W.R. viaduct, a testament to 19th century civil engineering.

The rest of the walk home was along Harpur Hill Road, via Amberly Drive, part of the 1970s Barrett Estate which now blend in quite nicely.

The advancing of the hour at the end of March certainly makes for lighter evenings. Nevertheless, although I have been around over 72 years, I am still taken by surprise. I have enjoyed my day immensely despite its being cold for this time of year.

Many thanks for reading, David 20.01hrs.

Just a few pictures taken from where I live, of my garden and distant views. Perhaps you will agree that the images taken at around 08.30hrs on Sunday 11th April 2021 are worth sharing.

Many thanks for looking. David 11/4/21 08.55hrs

Friday 9th April

It seems as if Winter is reluctant to let a warm Spring take over. There was a glorious hint of Summer for just a couple of days in the middle of last week, but the Almighty deemed that the Jet Stream was too far north and that the U.K. should be bathed in ice cold currents from the Arctic. Hill walking was thus not an attractive prospect, but opportunities to continue recording the “collection” and decluttering presented themselves. The main bedroom which for years had become a store room which could not even be walked across could now be used for its original purpose, either a bedroom or “upstairs lounge”. In fact, with the far reaching view of Axe Edge, it’s now a very nice place to enjoy a coffee. The week has thus not been squandered.

Saturday 10th April 2021, 23.13hrs

The plan was to go “over the road” for lunch yesterday and go for walk in the afternoon. As I mentioned earlier, although not bitingly cold, neither of us felt too much like traipsing across local countryside. A phone call from my garage confirmed that my red car was ready for collection after replacement power steering equipment. It was nice to have the convertible back even if lowering the roof would have been foolhardy. Driving back, I turned on the car radio, in the middle of a news report that somebody important had died. It did not take long to comprehend that it was The Duke of Edinburgh who had passed away at Windsor Castle in the morning. He was just weeks away from his 100th birthday on 10th June. Remembering how frail he appeared to be when discharged from hospital, I was not overly surprised, but still taken aback at the unexpected suddenness. All main T.V. channels and radio stations suspended their schedules and by the end of last night, I had learned much about Prince Philip than I ever knew previously. Although I saw him only very occasionally, and at some distance, I do feel a sense of bereavement.

Today, I feel slightly numb, and intentions to press on with cataloging and decluttering were not carried out. I did make a rather nice lunch which I split into an afternoon and evening meal.

Already the day is over; the week is over, having seemingly flown by in record time. On Monday, the shops open, and more lockdown restrictions are lifted. Hopefully, the return of Winter will be short-lived and that coffee at the Pavilion Gardens (outside) on Tuesday will be in the warmth of late Spring.

Many thanks for reading, David 23.42hrs.

A few pictures taken at home, after the skies cleared but before the snow had vanished completely.

Bank Holiday Monday April 5th, 2021, 09.19hrs

I hope that you all enjoyed the Easter Weekend and, anticipating, perhaps with some pleasure, the prospect of long periods of warm sunshine, in the not too distant future. I know that I am, and I did enjoy those two bonus “summer” days last week, presumably the result of currents from warmer climes, possibly the Azores!  The trouble is that, at this time of year, warm air always draws the cooler air from the north, and such idyllic periods of “shorts and t-shirts” weather is thus short lived.  Today, the much forecast miserable weather has triumphed and is set to remain victorious for days, if not weeks, to come.  The snow promised over the several days has manifested itself in the form of a slight splattering, enough to declare a “white bank holiday Monday”! 

On Good Friday, having maintained my schedule of recommend readings throughout Lent, I attended The Last Hour at St. John’s Church.

Although well attended, I wasn’t “phased” by the number present in the same way that I was on Palm Sunday.  After the service, I walked part of the way home with one of the congregation, before exploring the Pavilion Gardens on a beautiful bright but increasingly cool afternoon.

I then returned to pick up my car from the church car park and continued home.  In the morning, I had enjoyed coffee and hot cross buns “over the road”.

The weather remained bright on Easter Saturday, but, for most of the day, I didn’t feel like venturing out. However, towards evening, I did “pull myself together” and went on a fairly decent walk of about forty minutes. Thus, the rest of the evening was rather pleasant and relaxed. 

At long last (after several years) I have managed to clear out the main bedroom of copious accumulations of “junk” which had piled up on the floor, chairs and bed-settee, which is now restored to its original purpose.  It’s like having an extra room, and with far-reaching views across to Axe Edge where, last year, I struggled to walk over! 

On Easter Sunday, I had booked to attend the Eucharist at St. John’s. Last week, I asked if I could use the gallery, so as not to feel vulnerable with the number people attending. (Covid 19 and “all that”)  Much to my amazement and delight on Easter Sunday, the churchwarden asked me if I would like to go upstairs. I had this massive space to myself.  Looking at the proceedings below, I did feel a little strange, as if experiencing an out of body event.  I smiled as I pondered that any feelings of discomfort were entirely of my own doing!  I assume I shall be confident in/with small gatherings in the not too distant future; I have just received the brochure for a full Buxton Festival.

The signs of a return to normality following the pandemic are more than welcome.

Yesterday afternoon, after an excellent vegetarian lunch over the road, Roger and I availed ourselves of the final nice day before the eventual return of a miserable cold snap. In fact, although there was a strong wind from the north, it was not bitingly cold. We set off from home, along Grinlow Road, and then across fields almost to the site of a Victorian reservoir which was never successful owing to its being located in an area of porous limestone. We continued through noteworthy countryside and forests towards the track bed of the much talked about Cromford and High Peak Railway. This must have been an incredibly scenic railway during its brief existence over the original route.

I really should have taken more pictures. We covered just over 4.5 miles.

Today, Monday, is one of contented idleness! However, there remains a ton of decluttering to get on with.

Many thanks for reading, David, 10.35hrs.

Maundy Thursday April 1st 2020, 12.45hrs

The week leading up to Good Friday and the Easter Weekend is always one of serious contemplation, particularly so in these days of retirement or when not on holiday, and distractions are not so numerous. Monday was cold and bright with the hint of warm weather to come, which it did on Tuesday. Late in the afternoon, I revisited my “favourite walk” which is around three and a half miles long and takes in now familiar sections of the old Cromford and High Peak track-bed.

Lockdown restrictions were eased slightly on Monday. If I wish, I can now visit anywhere “within reason” and be one of a socially distanced group, outside, of no more than six people. Tuesday was like a summer’s day and during my walk, I saw legal gatherings of neighbours enjoying tea and “other” drinks at impromptu get-togethers. All very joyous! Later in the walk, I was “surveying” the impact of new housing, some already occupied, much still under construction, both at street level and from the elevated position of the former railway.

Yesterday was the second of two summer-like days when the temperatures had been the hottest in March since the same month in 1968, an unbelievable fifty-three years ago, when, at 19, I was lamenting the the last months of steam traction on British Rail. None of this feels like over half a century ago…but it is!

Also yesterday, I received a text inviting me to apply for me second covid-19 inoculation. April 14th is the date chosen, the same day as my first haircut since early December.

Today, little remains of the brief gift of summer, and the country will be reminded of winter as the weekend progresses with snow on the cards for Easter Monday. These days, I don’t bother swapping the snow tyres!

Now to prepare lunch! Many thanks for reading, David 13.40hrs 1/4/21.

For the first time since January 3rd, St.John’s Church opened its doors for a celebration of Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week. I have been “very careful” throughout this inescapable global pandemic and was generally fairly comfortable when the churches were opened between various lockdowns last year. Apart from the modern English of present day Common Worship which I will never get along with, but which is used universally, despite regulations governing the size of the church choir, the service was meaningful, dignified and inspiring. I had looked forward to returning to church since the resumption of regular worship was announced a few weeks ago. Today, it looked as if all socially distanced seats were occupied.

Suddenly, perhaps after around fifteen minutes, I became anxious as the thought crossed my mind that the Covid virus could possibly be among the fifty or so congregation. All of a sudden, I did not want to be there, especially having kept the lowest of profiles for over a year. I have watched in horror as T.V. images of crowds gathering at various places were broadcast. I won’t even go on a socially distanced rail-tour or cruise at the moment. But, I will return to church next week and hope that I can regain the confidence which I did not realise I had lost.

Roger, my “support bubble buddy”, joined me for lunch this afternoon. Strong cold winds dampened any enthusiasm for an afternoon walk into the local countryside. And tonight, as the wind howls like a hurricane, I suspect my carport will have sprung a leak and I will need to make an appointment with the roof man to further seal where the rain is coming in.

I was rather pleased that British Summer Time heralded the acceleration of last night, and that the morning came rather more quickly as the clocks were advanced an hour. I had gone to bed a little earlier to compensate.

Looking to January next year, I am due to travel to Australia via the Suez Canal. I assume it won’t still be blocked!

Many thanks for reading, David, Palm Sunday 2021, 21.32hrs.

Monday and Tuesday were ordinary routine days as far as I can remember. I wrote a little about Tuesday on Wednesday evening.

Wednesday 24th March, 18.15 hrs.

Yesterday saw the first anniversary of “day one” of the “inaugural” lockdown. This was marked extensively on the T.V. with a two minutes’ silence at midday.  Last night, in remembrance of over 126,300 who had died with Covid-19, people stood outside their homes holding candles or with their mobile phones lit up.

Thursday 25th March 10.48 hrs

This time last year, my voyage to South America was coming to a slightly premature end, owing to the rapid spread of the pandemic which we all have been coming to terms with ever since.  I am sure most on board Cunard’s Queen Victoria shared the same misgivings I was feeling; none of us had ever experienced this kind of lockdown before, nor had anyone else, anywhere.  Two days later the coach from Southampton would be heading north along strangely clear highways, calling at a couple of deserted service stations as “comfort stops”. 

Friday 26th March 2021, 11.05 hrs.

Until this morning, the weather had been quite agreeable with perhaps a bit of a cold ‘sting in the tail”. This morning, the wind howled outside, but quite unexpectedly, the skies cleared and for the first time, it was possible to enjoy lunch in the “conservatory” converted from being a carport some years ago.

21.10hrs. This time last year, our ship, Queen Victoria had arrived at Southampton two days ahead of schedule, having sailed directly from Fort Lauderdale without calling, as scheduled, at Ponte Delgada (The Azores). By now, just about every cruise destination was refusing passengers from cruise ships because of the alarming spread of Covid-19. The late afternoon sailing along the Solent towards Southampton was beautiful and strange simultaneously, knowing that by now, the familiar land masses each side were deserted; and Red Funnel ferries to Cowes, although maintaining an established timetable, appeared bereft of travellers. What nightmare were we sailing towards, we dreaded to think. We docked at teatime; it was still light. P & O’s Britannia had already arrived by the time we docked, and the first of the passengers disembarked. Most chose to stay on board till the next day, as I myself did. Just a few stayed until Saturday, the original disembarkation day. Cunard had provided optional coach travel to the North of England, which I chose to take advantage of, as far as Knutsford, where a Buxton taxi was waiting to bring me home.

I remember fine weather as we sailed along the South Coast and on the following day, travelling north on almost deserted roads. This year, it has been similarly bright, but much cooler with occasional “wintery” showers. Nevertheless, I did manage to get some walking done, even after dark when Harpur Hill is incredibly quiet.

Note: Today should be Day 365. Somewhere in these blogs, I missed a couple of days. March 27th 2020 was Day 1. None of this really matters. Usually, I write blogs about my travels and unusual events. The Pandemic, I felt, was one which I wanted to document from my perspective. There is much that I have not written about, some of it intentionally, some, I wish I had included. For many, I think there are now some reasons to be optimistic. I may or may not try out one of those mystery voyages in the summer. I shall continue to write until we eventually come out of lockdown. If nothing else, the weather should warm up soon.

Thanks for reading, David, 22.31hrs 26/3/27, Day 365!