Author: davidscruise

08.24hrs Saturday 18th July – 6 days, including today to getting my HAIRCUT.

The problem with waiting so long to write an account of, for example, and in this case, the last five or six days, is that nowadays, I tend to forget what, if anything, happened, even recently. I recall disappointing weather with bits of rain here and there, and I recall a distinct disinclination to “take to the hills”. I do remember a minor road accident near where I live, which thankfully was of very little consequence. And, joy of joys, I came across a treasured collectors’ item which had been mislaid for almost two years. And, there lesson there, “make haste with that house clearing!” So, no exploring disused railways and scenic forests this week!

On Monday, I thoroughly enjoyed an ill-advised supper of sausage chips and mushy peas, smothered in ketchup! “This is heaven”, I thought to myself, then realising, “carry on this way and you will be there sooner than you think!” No more chips then, for three months.

It’s no wonder people are “addicted” to their ‘phones, these days, regarded as devices. Pay a “small monthly fee” and your device can act as your personal computer, cinema, record player, newspaper and allow you to actually see with whom you are calling on what started out as a portable telephone. Punch in “YouTube”, and you can listen to any piece of music, or watch any video of your choice. Put the headphones on and the sound quality is that of the most cumbersome sound systems of the 1980s. No need now for loudspeakers the size of Roman pillars to clog up your room. All this, of course, has been available for decades. So, I have been enjoying (on my device) the music of Schutz, Johnny Cash, Steeleye Span, Rapalje, Vaughan Williams, and much more. I have seen colour footage of Winston Churchill’s funeral train, and learned a great deal about the Cromford and High Peak Railway, the remains of which I walk along, wishing the whole thing was still in use. But then, I would have to trade in all the things I enjoy now. But, I can be thankful that, back in the day, and even now, there were, and are, historians and photographers who have recorded and published in minute detail everything anybody might wish to learn about this remote and long since abandoned railway, much of it now a cycle route, away from today’s traffic.

So perhaps, last week wasn’t entirely wasted. Covid-19 is still with us, but from what I gather, daily deaths have fallen into double figures. That’s still the equivalent of a major railway disaster every day, but without the outcry such an event would create. Nevertheless, our revered leaders are trying to steer the country towards normality at, I fear, with unrealistic haste. But at least I can get my haircut next Thursday!

Thanks for reading, David, 09.21 hrs 18th July. 2020

I think for many folk during the lock-down which becomes increasingly watered down, the weekend can either feel quite lonely, or reasonably pleasant as more people begin to re-engage with pre-lockdown activities and routines. The virus is still with us, but with inventive measures exercised by the majority, we might one day be completely rid of this threat, and those over seventy years of age who, at the moment, play by the rules, will once again be able live normally without having to interpret the recent incomprehensible and often contradictory legislation from those on high, which is also seen to be disobeyed by “those on high”.  Not so long ago, I considered buying a house in Barnard Castle, a pleasant none-too-big dwelling which was in our family for a while.  It would have been a sound investment; the chief advisor to our revered prime minister also has a place there, set in acres!  Whereas he could drive up there during the height of lockdown, if I had chosen to do exactly the same, I would now have a police record among my treasured possessions!

This morning, I took my sister’s advice and tuned into Radio 4 just before 8.10.  Sure enough, there was a fine act of worship which, this week, came from The Baptist’s College in Cardiff.  Why this programme came under the heading of “Today’s Papers”, I can only guess that “The Establishment”, while having to broadcast such a church service, makes it as inaccessible as possible to deter “listenership”.  And why so early? except that traditionally worship does commence early in the morning.  I remember those early “offices” at Ampleforth where if I remember rightly, the first service was at 06.15hrs. There was no excuse, an almighty great bell would shake one from his/her slumbers up to ten miles away!

In the 1773 words of William Cowper (and others) “God works in a Mysterious Way His Wonders to Perform”.  I am told that he penned this hymn during a period of deep depression during which he decided he had had enough. He hired a horse-drawn cab and requested of the driver, “London Bridge, please”.  The Thames, he thought, was as good a place as any to terminate his mental agony. On the way, a thick fog descended, completely confusing the cab driver. For a long time, they searched for the Bridge, but eventually, the driver had to give up. The fog was what was once would be referred to as a “pea-souper”.  William Cowper descended from his cab, initially, completely lost, and perhaps rather thankful of a divine stay of execution. Who knows?  He crossed the road, only to find himself right outside his front door.  It was this strange coincidence that inspired what would become Hymn 373 in Hymns Ancient and Modern. It was this, which this morning’s R4 church service brought to mind…the theme of this morning’s worship being “The Parable of the Sower”.

One of the first parables I became familiar with was that of The Sower which as a schoolboy was compelled to learn off by heart. At Speech Day, a chosen pupil of good voice and Queen’s English would be selected to recite a written explanation of the excerpt, which I believe is from Matthew chapter 13.  When, in various sermons since, the preacher has delivered a clear, unquestionable and comprehensible interpretation of said parable, I have felt decidedly uncomfortable. I can identify with the seed that fell among the rocks and the thorns, but see little evidence of 5 fold, let alone a hundred!  But I liked the service, and part of me wished that I had been brought up as Baptist…the music is good there, too, as well as at the higher end of the Church of England. 

School days were recalled, along with Mrs. Hamlins discordant attempts at playing the hymns at School Assembly.  I remember the Headmaster’s well intentioned ambition that during Assembly, bible readings would start at Genesis, with a view to eventually, the whole Bible being read over, what one would assume, be many years!   That was in 1960; Mr. Hamlin passed away in 1963; I don’t recall how far the Bible readings had, by that time, reached. Mr. McEvoy (Algebra and English) once lamented, “school days are certainly NOT the best days of your life”.  How very right he was! I didn’t hate school; the were many (among those with whom I struggled), inspirational teachers. My favourite (‘though the feeling wasn’t mutual) was Mr. Norman Bird whose passion for proper English was one I would try to emulate in later life.  Pre-fixing “unique” with an adjective would have resulted in corporal punishment, Saturday detention or both, as would the misuse of the word “iconic”. Complain these days, and you are told, merely, that is how language evolves. 

Yesterday, I lamented, “where has summer gone?”  Today summer has returned and I can sit out in the garden and enjoy the iconic distant vista of Hoffman’s Quarry over to the left and the landscape leading to a very unique Axe Edge further away to the right!

Thanks (again) for reading. David 16.23, 12/7/20.

Where has the summer gone?

The hot weather had become like my three months, at the start of this year, on the far side of the Atlantic, a distant dream. Tonight, Saturday, at the end of a dull week, I am transported back to being 36 years of age, with tons of black hair, watching a documentary on Live Aid. Was that really thirty-five years ago? I’m 71 now, so it must be. Another dream? 

Although not yet visually obvious, I have made progress, this week, decluttering my house, and disposing of more redundant paperwork and junk accumulated over the decades.  I am not as ruthless as I should be, and I still hang on to stuff of limited importance to me and none to anybody else.

I have left the house, once or twice, and on Wednesday, and dropped off a prescription order at the Surgery. I had run out of transparent pockets for my ephemera collection awaiting archiving and cataloguing.  I remain uneasy going into Buxton, and apart from bumping into a former work colleague, once I had bought what I was after, I returned to my vehicle on the Station car park and headed for home.  That evening, I received a ‘phone call to say that my prescription had already been prepared and was ready for collection. I went in the following day, and now I have two months’ worth of medication.

On Thursday, when there was a break in the wet weather, Bryan the gardener arrived with his young assistant, right on schedule. For a third time this year, both front and back are pristine.  While I feel as if I have achieved little this week, certain progress has taken place. Hopefully, the warmth will return soon.

Buxton Festival should have been under way by now.  However, there are events taking place on-line, an initiative I am very impressed with.  In the days of Zoom, WhatsApp and social media, perhaps the momentum of the Festival, now in its fifth decade, can be maintained.

Buxton Festival dates back to 1979; the Opera House being restored throughout and soon being in use most of each year until the advent of Covid 19, forty-one years later.

As the week closed, blue skies made intermittent appearances, particularly in the afternoons of Friday and Saturday. However, I think any notable warmth is reserved for terrain far lower than where we are.

While tidying up this week, and reorganizing my books, I found time to read and dip into numerous works authored by a former colleague and associates.  These are phenomenally researched books from which one can gain an authoritative and comprehensive knowledge of the history of the railways around Buxton and further afield, and over some of which I would make a living.  During my career, I did take a small number of photographs, but not in anything like the detail of my former colleague.

Once again, the early hours of the next morning are but five minutes away.

Best wishes, Stay safe, David. 23.56  11/7!20.

Let’s try again.

All the best, David.

72nd Anniversary of the National Health Service.

Yesterday was designated “Super Saturday”, another irritating gimmick like the now accepted Father’s Day.  So, what was so super about yesterday? Oh yes, all those establishments that could function while adhering to social distancing etc., could now open. I didn’t venture out during the day, it was wet and windy.  Thus, I couldn’t tell how Super Saturday actually turned out.  Later, I did manage a forty minute walk and observed that the local pub had a goodly number of customers enjoying their first pub visit for over three months.  And I was very much looking forward to Sunday lunch the following day.

“Super Saturday”

This morning, I was up and about much earlier than usual.  I was going to express my annoyance that I could find no church service being broadcast either on T.V. or Radio.  However, my sister did confirm that Radio 4 does relay an act of worship at 08.10 hrs each Sunday.  I just couldn’t find it listed, even on the R.4 listings on my T.V.  Also, if I am so keen, I was also reminded of the regular radio relays of Choral Evensong.

I tried to get further with the tidying up of my house, but made little progress.  Soon, it would be time for my first meal out since being on board the Queen Victoria earlier this year. I was joined by my neighbour who enjoyed his first pint of Guinness, and red meat for the first time since before the lock-down was implemented. The restaurant “did us proud” and the service was astonishingly efficient, and welcoming. I had forgotten the joys of beautifully fluffed mashed potatoes! Although officially there were no starters or sweets, ice cream was available as a dessert, as was a choice of coffees. That “inaugural” lunch was over all too quickly, and excellent as it was, I couldn’t help feeling as if all this was a bit unreal. That, of course, is hardly surprising. Although I have been perfectly comfortable during lockdown, along with absolutely everybody else, the reality of the pandemic remains unnerving and strange. I feel fortunate that at any time I chose, I can drive out to somewhere nice and enjoy wonderful countryside. But I am now missing being able to visit family down south, and being able to jump on trains whenever I feel like it. Strangely, I am not hankering after a lengthy sea voyage right now, but I shall be more than ready for one this time next year.

Here are a few pictures taken in South America.

That’s it for what has now become the early hours of Monday morning. Thanks for reading. Stay safe, David 01.22 hrs

175 years later, the now Carnival owned Cunard Line, celebrated with a Queen Mary 2 re-enactment of that very first scheduled crossing of Cunard’s first ship, “Britannia”, from Liverpool to Halifax and Boston. This was just one of the celebratory events. At the end of May, two months earlier, the entire Cunard fleet assembled in the River Mersey opposite the “Three Graces” and in front of a million people who had turned up for this unique (until it happens again in Liverpool) event, the “Three Queens” performed a kind of formation exercise rotating almost a complete circle, before positioning themselves alongside each other with their prows pointing towards the open sea.

Today is my 100th day since arriving back at a freshly lock-downed United Kingdom on 27th March. Everything was normal when on January 9th. Roger “chauffeured” me in my silver Peugeot 508 to Southampton’s Novotel. This is a much better arrangement than what I used to do previously, travelling by rail from Macclesfield, usually “scrounging” a lift from home, and transferring by taxi from Southampton Station to the port, sometimes, treating a couple of people in the queue to a free ride to the waiting ship. Never, on the numerous occasions that I used the train, were there any problems; the train was always on time. Driving down does entail a necessary overnight stay, which is always a pleasant start to the holiday.

By now, I should have been making preliminary arrangements for another voyage in August. But of course, with almost the entire cruise and travel industry suspended, I shall have to wait until next year, as described in numerous previous blogs. Instead, outside, the wind howls, the skies are colourless, the rain falls, and the inclination to leave the house, non existent.

But, for everybody else, today is also special. Pubs and restaurants are open from today. You can get a haircut. Unfortunately, covid- 19 has not gone away and there is a real danger of a resurgence of the virus. Tomorrow, I go for my first meal out. It will be as interesting as it is pleasurable to see what the new reality of eating out is. Below are a few retrospective photographs.

Thanks for reading, David 10.57hrs 4/7/20.

Below, are photographs taken yesterday afternoon during a walk of just over three miles in and around Macclesfield Forest.  For years, I would drive close by when either travelling to work from Knutsford, where I lived for six years, during the very early days of my career with British Rail at Buxton, or, visiting my parents after having since moved closer to what had become my Home Station.  It would be very much later in life that I would realise that perhaps just fourteen (if that) miles from where I have lived since 1975, there was countryside which could be mistaken for that of British Columbia. No bears ‘though.  Actually, I only saw just one bear in the wild whilst in Canada. And that was from the safety of a train!  A bear hunt in Alaskan woodland revealed merely one woodpecker oblivious to the brightly attired party of homo sapiens from our cruise ship, from whom all wildlife had seemingly chosen to bid a hasty retreat! Safety in numbers methinks.

Just after midnight, Friday 3rd July.  Wednesday was a fairly routine day. I chose not to spend it on the phone arranging travel insurance for next year. However, I did receive a belated acknowledgement of a claim, and am fairly optimistic…

Friday 3rd.  09.45 hrs.                                         It wasn’t a particularly wet day on Wednesday, nor the day before, and really, I should have seized the opportunity for at least, some short walks in the afternoon.  My cleaning company continues to carry out the weekly shopping, offering a prompt, friendly and reliable service, which I appreciate enormously.  She told me, that her family were going to avail themselves of a newly re-opened pub/restaurant for Sunday lunch.  There are two such establishments which are equal favourites. Roger and I are, too, eating out for the first time since Lock-down on 23rd March.  Are these early signs of “normality” a long term reality?  Not for Leicester whose lockdown has been extended as a result of a local spike in coronavirus.  I just hope Buxton can hang on in there at least until after I have had my haircut, the first since early February!  Long hair has never suited me, even in my youth. 

It is still only just after 10am.  Outside, it feels more like a lousy wet day in February. Just the kind of miserable day to squander on the telephone arranging next year’s travel insurance. If it comes off as planned, my journey, which circumnavigates the world, will be tremendous. I am contemplating the most extensive of rail travel in the U.S.A. and hope to spend decent periods in some of the places visited. Many nights will be spent on trains. We then venture to Alaska, and then onto Japan and South Korea.

21.20hrs.

I chose not to chase after travel insurance today. My company would not let me transfer insurance for my holiday to next year as it was so far in advance. They agreed a refund of a little over £600 towards insurance for next year in the form of a voucher valid for three years. My travels this summer were cancelled for “obvious reasons”.

I did embarrassingly little today. The fish man came this morning and I stocked up with healthy food for a couple of weeks. My day was leisurely as rain, turbo charged from leaden skies crashed down, and cold winds blew. You Tube provided several offerings to keep me entertained, as did day-time T.V. and previous recordings. I enjoyed my day!

As late as ever, a meal of salmon, new potatoes and various vegetables…I had the soup course over two hours ago!

Thanks for reading, David, 21.35 hrs 3/7/20.

23 Days to my HAIRCUT!

I mustn’t allow myself to become complacent. There’s that dangerous impression that the pandemic is on its way out. Already, most “non-essential” shops and businesses are open, subject to new rules relating to covid-19. Annoyingly, that doesn’t include hairdressers!

As last week’s glorious weather drew to a close, it would seem the world put two fingers up to social distancing, flocking to Britain’s beaches or to various protest rallies. Boris (our much revered prime minister) is determined to put his name to a rapid return to reviving the economy, thus taking the credit for everybody else’s endeavours. One of his ministers, a fellow called (inappropriately) Cleverly, at a January edition of BBC’s “Question Time” which came from Buxton, took credit for the introduction of new trains on Northern Rail months after they were already in service. My meagre intelligence was insulted! I had watched this edition of Q.T. on You Tube while exploring its repertoire not so long ago.

Today marks 100 days of U.K. lock-down. Ideally, this should have been marked around two weeks ago, but it easy to criticise. I rang one of my clergy friends to ascertain when the church services may resume. Churches can open again, but not before the laborious procedures of risk assessments have been carried out.

I usually have a bit of a rant about BBC’s Sunday Worship. This Sunday was different, there was no Sunday Worship broadcast this weekend; only Songs of Praise. However, for some reason, I am receiving relays from St. Patrick’s in New York.

Over the weekend, I received a promotional e-mail from my travel insurance company offering a 15% discount on any new plan. Having not received an acknowledgement for any correspondence relating to a modest claim for slight curtailment of my last holiday mainly due to coronavirus, I ignored this communication. My company followed up with a repeat of Saturday’s promotion. So, I attempted to apply for insurance on line, as instructed. This on-line application kept stalling even ‘though I had completed the form. Last night, I managed, after around 15 minutes to get to speak to somebody. I would be contacted this morning at 10 am. The call came through at 09.25. I was interrogated about my current state of health, to the extent that I was required to seek, on my other ‘phone, clarification from my local surgery, details I was unable to answer. Even so, I was to obtain further explanation, but when I contacted the medical Centre a second time, my nurse, who has all my medical details, was not available. My travel insurance company promised to ring me back for the required information which I was able ascertain in the afternoon. Said promised ‘phone call from my travel insurance company did not materialise, and I had thus squandered an afternoon at home awaiting the call. I then remembered why I had decided to make this next “world tour” my last. Travel insurance is a necessary annoyance. Their glossy promotional material gives a kind of “feel-good sense of assurance”, as do their periodic T.V. commercials. Their after-sales service is far less impressive.

I have found time to make further progress with tidying up my house and disposing of stuff no longer required and of no value. And still, I am enjoying these early days of retirement. On Thursday, weather permitting, I shall be exploring the unspoiled countryside of Macclesfield Forest. Hopefully, I will be able to share some nice pictures.

Thanks for reading, David, 00.24hrs, 1st July.

Yesterday saw the end of the heatwave, but, I hope it’s not too long before we can bask in the sun. However, today was not not unpleasant. It did rain, and the wind blow, and continues to do so. But between the showers, a none too cool breeze was most welcome.

I stayed at home all day, occupying myself with housework, fairly long sessions on the telephone, watching TV and preparing myself a half decent meal.

I shall write more next week. In the meantime, thanks for reading.

David, 00 09hrs Sunday 28th June.

The hot weather this week has been magnificent. Yesterday, I did very little; I didn’t feel it wise to go walking alone in this glorious but very hot weather. Thunderstorms were promised for today, the day arranged for a walk to a scenic “somewhere new”. As the crow flies, where we ventured to is slightly over two miles from where I live. A great pity then that that the spectacular peaks of Park House Hill and Chrome hill cannot be reached by direct footpaths. It never occurred to me that in fact, the Staffordshire border could be similarly close.

I was introduced to this part of the world shortly after I moved into my first (and so far, only) home in August 1975. I will soon have been here forty-five years. “Where has it all gone?” It was Mr. Thirkell whose house I considered buying, who befriended me, and showed me around Buxton and its surroundings at the start of my life here. I remember being astounded by how attractive and dramatic the surrounding countryside is. Today, I have a walking companion whose knowledge of the surrounding countryside is wide. It’s one thing cruising around by open-top car; it’s another to park up somewhere and follow interesting footpaths, sometimes easy and fairly level, at other times steep and (for me) challenging. I understand that where we are now was, 550 million years ago, the sea bed of the Indian Ocean and that there is much evidence of the very first life-forms on Earth, just two miles from Harpur Hill!

Thunderstorms and heavy rain were forecast for this afternoon. A few heavy drops did fall, but then stopped, and any rain clouds dispersed, leaving yet another idyllic warm day. Two storm chasers complete with photo gear and tripods had come out here to “capture” the forecast storms, which didn’t actually materialise.

I shall research further the geological background to this area. Thanks for reading,

David. 00.19 hrs Saturday 27th June 2020.