David's Cruise

It is nine minutes to midnight on Day 28, Thursday 23rd April. If I remember rightly, it is St. George’s Day and it had only just occurred to me as I bring this blog up to date.

I decided to contact my travel agent this morning, to discuss paying for my forthcoming holiday, and inquiring about going on one of Cunard’s first sailings when the ships come back into service on May 16th. (The only place I can get a much needed haircut!) Lucy, who has taken care of my holiday arrangements for a number of years now, answered the phone. As we spoke, news came through that the Alaska season had been cancelled for this year. I would learn that my 38 night voyage from Vancouver to Alaska and Japan was in fact running again in late August next year. But QM2’s nearest transatlantic crossing was going to leave in excess of three weeks in which to cross the USA by rail to Vancouver. “Is there a Deck 3 single cabin available on the crossing to New York?” “Just 3006 replied Lucy.” I confirmed the reservation. I also confirmed the transfer of my Vancouver to Japan booking in a balcony cabin on Deck 7 of Queen Elizabeth to 2021. I am greatly relieved that it was possible to move my deposits to next year without penalty. In fact, as an incentive, I will receive a future cruise credit of 10% above the QM2 deposit and 25% above the QE deposit. I am very tempted to extend the rail aspect in the USA to take in New Orleans and Los Angeles. That way, I get to ride Amtrak’s “Crescent,” “Sunset Ltd (?)” “Super Chief” “Empire Buider” and “Cascade.” Or, I could relax for a week in some nice countryside. Either way, I am now not going away this year. 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of my second trip to North America in May/June 1971. I saw QE2 for the first time, from the Empire State Building, which I have been up several times since.

Back to reality, it looks as if the lockdown precautions are here for several weeks, and I read of the possibility of food shortages. Next year’s trip might be curtailed also. But at least I shall enjoy looking forward to it.

I didn’t get to do walking yesterday, but I managed to walk 2.535 miles, according to the health app on my ‘phone. There was little wind today, and the weather was warm and pleasant.

00.39 hrs Friday 24th April

Yesterday was William Shakespeare’s Birthday. It’s a bit late to wish him “all the best!”

But it’s goodnight from me, David, 0041 hrs 24th April.

Although still on the chilly side, there was hardly a cloud in the sky. I got up at my usual leisurely pace, had porridge and banana for breakfast, watched a few minutes of “Homes Under the Hammer,” and hardly riveted to a magazine programme about property development, I set off walking once again. Like yesterday, I headed off up the hill to the end of the cul-de-sac, turned around, and made for the main road. This time, I would walk towards Buxton as far as the end of the green railings, before retracing my steps as far as Grin Low Road, from where I would take the steep walk up to the old railway track bed. I decided to explore further, walking in the direction of the abattoir, as if towards Ashbourne. Eventually, down below, I could see where the railway from the Hindlow branch (still in use, and over which I once worked), used to connect with the former railway I was walking along. I see all this from the road far below, almost all of the time. But now, I was looking down across to where I live for the first time in about thirty five years. I did a little “exploring” when I first moved up here in 1975. I was 26 then; I am 71 now! I just wish my photographs would upload. My phone app tells me I covered 4.4 miles today.

Back in the “real world,” a further 800 plus have died of covid 19 in the last twenty-fourhours. Doctors and hospital staff are struggling with inadequate but vital supplies of personal protective equipment. Were not preparations for such an event already in place?

I finished writing and amending this blog today (Day 27) at just after 11 am. Thankfully, my weight seems to have settled at 15 stones 7.5 lbs. Perhaps another 4 mile walk is the order of the day. Again, it dry, bright, and I suspect slightly less cooler than yesterday.

Thanks for reading, David. 11.17 hrs 22/4/20.

I stood on the bathroom scales this morning, after being fairly pleased with a non-weight gain reading of 15 stone 6 lbs last week. Thus, I was horrified when those same scales proclaimed 15 stone 12 lbs just a week later! A good walk, therefore, took priority over all else this morning, and I covered a little under three miles. And today started out bright, clear and sunny with that irritating east wind cooling down what would otherwise might have been a warm day.

I remain reasonably content despite the encompassing coronavirus crisis. The clear skies were inviting this morning and I was thus determined to go on that much needed walk, before anything else (except breakfast!) I ventured to the end of an adjacent cul-de-sac, overlooked in the distance by abandoned quarries and the remains of industry. Next to where I was walking, the former High Peak College, demolished not all that long ago, had started life as R.A.F. Harpur Hill. Indeed, where I live is on a former R.A.F estate, at one time, most extensive. The College is flattened, and already, the roads of a new housing development provide a hint of how this derelict land may turn out. Although it’s broad daylight, there’s a spooky feeling, obviously brought on by the nationwide lock down. Any road traffic and the occasional person you may come across feels like ghosts. It’s been like that since leaving the terminal at Southampton; in fact, it felt like that sailing along the Solent on Wednesday 25th March. There’s this unrelenting eerie ambiance absolutely everywhere. In the very unlikely event of my travels in August actually taking place, I can see myself in lockdown, on board Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited, and Empire Builder, in my metal walled compartment isolated from the rest of humanity, picking my way through a cardboard boxed tray meal. Normally, I love this sort of thing, but it is nice to meet fellow travellers. That in itself would provide a unique aspect of this journey which could never be repeated once the virus crisis is over. This idea is beginning to appeal to me!

As I walked along the Lane, a neighbour I became engaged in conversation with, suggested “when this is all over, we should have a street party….” Brilliant idea,” I enthused. What a pity I sold the disco all those years ago. As I walked along the familiar roads, up the hill and to the end of that cul-de-sac, I toyed with the notion of contacting the person who bought all my disco equipment and CDs. Who knows!

I walked back the way I came, continued past the end of my Lane and on to the main road. Normally, it’s like the M1. One lorry went past, a keep-fit fanatic cyclist and two or three cars. A young father with small boy in tow came up from behind, I was walking slowly. A former railway line, now a developed walking and cycling route skirts the foot of the cliffs behind, the former Hoffman’s Quarry. There was consternation perhaps twenty or thirty years ago when a firm whose offices were not on the mainland wanted to open up these old quarries. We needn’t have worried. I suspect what they wanted to do up there was not really viable. I revisited the railway and saw where I live from completely different angle.

I returned home and relaxed a little after a lunch of breaded cod and vegetables. For some reason, I wasn’t able to finish what I had prepared for lunch.

Still, far too many people are succumbing to this dreadful disease. But thankfully, the casualty numbers in hospitals appear to be falling. Nevertheless, 449 in the last twenty-four hours remains a huge number. All the NHS personnel, carers, and other helpers and volunteers deserve their nationwide applause every Thursday, even after all this is over.

And the day is drawing to a close, like every other day, ever so rapidly. Good night, all! David 22.26 hrs 20th April 2020.

The lock down continues. Quite sensibly, in my unqualified opinion, it was announced last Thursday that there would be very little change in the current lock down regulations which would be reviewed in another three weeks. There would be a very slight relaxing of the rules relating to people visiting relatives at hospital, in their final hours, with carefully worked out restrictions.

Major Tom Moore of Keighley continues his laps of the garden as the millions in donations for the N.H.S. continue to pour in, seemingly daily. And I am delighted that an on-line petition for him to be knighted is gaining equal success. What started out as modest fund raiser has generated global goodwill and the equivalent of several decent lottery wins for our National Health Service. He will be 100 years young in just 11 days.

I have just tried to add an illustration to this blog. Still no luck. Either the internet has deteriorated around here, or I am doing something wrong, except that, when I came back three weeks ago, I had no problem inserting photographs. It is suggested that around here, the internet is being used heavily and the system is “stretched.”

Outside, it looks as if it’s going to be a decent day. Yesterday was typically miserable with tantrums of rain from time to time. However, annoying as cool and wet weather is, it must have been a godsend for the gardeners and growers.

I remain at a loss regarding what to do about my forthcoming fabulous journey to the USA, Canada, Alaska, and Japan. No sector of this four part trip has yet been cancelled; if I cancel, I stand to lose a substantial amount in deposits, although most can be transferred to alternative arrangements next year, or even early in 2022. My real misgiving is embarking on this wonderful holiday in the fear of contracting Covid 19 when, I have exercised great care self isolating at home. (10.12 hrs, Sunday 19th April.)

Had my father still been around, he would have been 104 years old today. In the meantime, I wish my old school pal, Stephen H. Nicholson, 71 years old today, a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We have been friends since our first year at Urban Road County Primary School in Sale….long since demolished! (11.30 hrs approximately) – I called Steve up today to wish him “Happy Birthday.” He tells me that has kept a diary, every day since leaving secondary school. This will make very fascinating reading. I have made several starts at keeping a diary, but my efforts always fizzled out pretty quickly. Only now do I write most days….for anybody who wishes to, read on several days each week. At first, this was to document a World Voyage just over two years ago. It should be possible to scroll back to my first writings if anybody wishes to.

The day is still ahead of me; it’s high time that I went for a decent walk! I shall finish a late breakfast, then set off.

Many thanks for reading, David : 11.46 hrs, Sunday 19th March 2020.

Thursday was bright and sunny, but still with a cool edge masking what would have felt like a summer’s day. The same, yesterday. Today, the sky is “North of England Grey,” with occasional lashings of rain creating an incentive not to go out. Two days ago, my laundry was collected from my front door, and my grocery order delivered, along with a bag of newly washed clothing and bed linen. Thanks to numerous other people, I am getting by rather well, I think.

Yesterday marked three weeks since arriving home from my 77 night holiday. (It should have been 78 nights!) Self isolation might be irksome, but it does open up some opportunities. There is always plenty to do around the house, but more often than not, the inclination isn’t always there. Most evenings are taken up preparing something acceptable to eat, clearing up, and watching T.V. A biscuit and a decaffeinated milky coffee insures that I don’t wake up feeling hungry during the night.

Fairly late on Thursday evening, a phone call prompted me to search through the family archive for a photograph of the back garden of the home of my paternal grandparents. This home is still “in the family” and the people living there now wish to attempt to restore the garden in a similar way to how it was landscaped by its first owners in 1927. Trawling through previously unexplored files, I did come across a snapshot taken of part of the garden in 1929. It does help a little bit. However, I have come across all sorts of other important memorabilia chronicling much of our family history. That in itself should keep me occupied for months. That big photograph remains elusive.

There seems to be no end in sight of the Coronavirus situation, and I remain undecided what to do about the travel I have booked between August and October. I suspect that I shall transfer monies already paid in deposits, to future voyages and train journeys. I just cannot see the present situation being resolved completely in August.

Captain Tom Moore from Keighley in Yorkshire celebrates his 100th birthday on 30th April. What prompted him, I am not sure. However, he decided to raise £1,000 for the N.H.S. by walking 100 laps of his garden before reaching his 100th birthday. This was an on-line fundraiser which “went viral.” (That’s unfortunate terminology right now!) The last I heard, funds raised were in excess of 18 million pounds! He has vowed to keep walking as long as the money keeps coming in. What an astonishing, phenomenal, and unsurpassable achievement. Quite rightly, he has achieved global admiration, and should be awarded the highest available honour(s).

On that joyous note, I thank you all for reading and wish you the best for the rest of the weekend, and the days to come. David 25.42 hrs. Saturday 18/4/20

The warm weather has moved on, leaving still dry and bright, but much cooler days.

I have made a modest start de-cluttering my house. Hopefully my efforts will gain momentum as these days of lock down continue. But the situation we all find ourselves in could have been far less catastrophic had the virus threat been addressed far earlier, perhaps at the time Italy went into lockdown. Right at the beginning of my cruise to South America, I was unaware, completely, of Covid 19 which apparently came into being in mid December.

I have just watched the movie “Contagion” which seemed to mirror what is happening right now. Except, according to the T.V. synopsis, this was made in 2011. There were, in the movie, phrases which I had not heard until now, e.g. “social distancing.” And in the film, the virus was traced back to far eastern food preparation practices, just like now.

Yesterday, I was delighted with the number of people who telephoned, e-mailed or texted me. I was kept busy most of the day.

YouTube has a lot to answer for. I seem to spend hours watching the videos and other items they seem to have collated especially for me. All of a sudden, there are Peter Paul and Mary concerts, some filmed in the mid 1960s. There are numerous ship and train videos, and films documenting England in the “good old days.” This is all very remarkable, and rarely do I find myself bored. I’m not a fan of the digital age, but all this is somewhat remarkable. Even being able to write this blog is a miracle of modern times. I just wish I could upload photographs; that used to be no problem.

I am thoroughly enjoying the I.T.V. drama “Quiz.”  Michael Sheen plays a very convincing Chris Tarrant.

I may as well include today in this blog. It is gorgeous outside and although discouraged from leaving the house, not going out for a walk is a greater “sin.” I was surprised and delighted to hear from one of my colleagues at church, whom I remember as a regular member of the clergy. We have both received plenteous offers of assistance e.g. with shopping. He has maintained his independence very much better than I have!

Wednesday 15th April. 14.50 hrs.

This brings my writings almost up to date. I think it’s time for that stroll. Thanks for reading, David, 15/4/20, 15.05 hrs.

Christ is Risen. He is Risen Indeed, Alleluya!

I tried to rise to the occasion today. I was rejuvenated after a fairly decent sleep, and I was up and about at just before 10 o’clock. At 11 o’clock, I would, for the first time, participate in a “do it yourself” service, the liturgy and form of which had been put together by our Parish, the idea being that each Sunday and Wednesday at 11 am, church members and/or anybody who so wished could worship simultaneously. Of course, I live my myself and as I recited a slightly modified Lord’s Prayer, I did wonder if I was being joined in this spiritual endeavour. The recommended hymn which we could say, or sing to ourselves was and is Amazing Grace (two verses). I went through the service slowly, thoughtfully and carefully. On the TV, the Pope was delivering his Easter Message. Having Sky- Plus, I can hold the programme until I am ready. I was thus also able to catch a service from Bangor, North Wales. The hymns were taken from episodes of Songs of Praise. Those singing look ridiculous, like fish gasping for air. At a recording of Songs of Praise, I remember being instructed to sing with exaggerated mouth gestures, so that deaf people can perceive the hymn’s libretto, when watching on T.V. Really!

I was pleased to have so many Easter greetings from various people, both from Church and friends from elsewhere. But the significance of this most important day in the Christian year faded as the new routine of self isolation impacted as the day progressed. I don’t recall such uncertainty. The government had instructed everybody to stay at home this weekend. They were quite clear, until, of course, they continued, “you can exercise as long as you wish to, but not far from where you live.” There are still grey areas. Not wanting to contract covid 19, I did as I was told, and stayed in, apart from posting some cruise pictures I want scanning, through a neighbour’s letter box.

I have finished unpacking from my long trip away. Souvenirs, postcards and leaflets were perused, and I spent an hour or so, oblivious to our present situation.

Tonight, I watched an episode of Blue Bloods, and The Antiques Road Show.

I sign off for now with thanks to those who are still following my almost daily blog. Once again, I am having difficulty including pictures. I shall keep trying.

Thanks for reading HAPPY EASTER, David 00.15hrs 13/4/20.

Easter seems to be passing me by this year. This is more than likely due to the fact that we are being instructed not to leave our homes over the Easter (and presumably any other) weekend. Good weather is forecast and probably the temptation to venture away from our places may be too great.

Yesterday, Good Friday, despite not leaving the house, even for a short walk, I didn’t catch any acts of worship on the T.V. or radio. That doesn’t mean to say there weren’t any.

I had a groceries and fresh fish delivery yesterday morning; a good job because the milkman didn’t call, and there was plenty on board the delivery van. Of course, being Good Friday, that must still be being observed as a National Holiday; the same for Easter Monday.

I did embark on the long job of illustrating the picture-less blogs I wrote during my recent travels. No chance! The chosen images will just not upload. I haven’t given up yet! Good Friday was thus a quiet and relaxing day.

I plan to walk today and take in the now familiar sights of my surroundings which one misses when driving. Although I have been home for two weeks, there remains much to do about the house.

Thanks for reading, David. 08.55hrs Easter Saturday 2020.

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Perhaps I was a little “out of sorts” yesterday after walking a couple of miles the day before. Once again, my highly expensive designer prescription dark glasses had decided to play hide and seek, leaving me annoyed and wishing I had never bought them in the first place.

Also annoying me is the fact that I have paid a hefty deposit for a fantastic world tour which I just cannot see taking place, although the travel companies (including the Carnival Corporation), which I am dealing with will not, or cannot say whether they are going ahead with all or part of the holiday. I, and everybody else feels it would be most unwise to go on this journey (USA, Canada, Alaska, South Korea and Japan) so soon after the start of the Covid 19 crisis.

Maundy Thursday.

At the moment, I am becoming accustomed to the self isolating regime as advised by the government. I do experience small bouts of “cabin fever” but thankfully, all my general needs are being brought to my front door, and I can take a walk in the country without using the car. I understand going for a leisure drive is now against the law.

Tonight, I got to meet my neighbours over the road whom I had not come across since they moved in two years ago. A family with four young children, aged from a few weeks to twelve. The two young girls, 8 and 11 years old were chalking their support for the N.H.S. and carers, all over the front drive with chalk of all colours. It was wonderful to see.

Earlier this afternoon, I walked up to the track bed of a railway I can see from my bedroom. Had I moved to where I live just five years previously, I may well have been able to see British Rail freight workings from the back of my house. During my very early years on the railway, I remember the lines which had only recently been closed, still intact branching off towards Harpur Hill from what is now the Hindlow (freight only) branch which remains very much in use today. The Buxton to Hindlow branch was originally a part of the line to Ashbourne which closed to regular passenger traffic in the early 1950s. Ramblers’ special trains and occasional other special trains would continue to use the line up to the early 1960s, the whole thing shutting down completely completely in 1967. Artefacts from the Buxton to Ashbourne line are, for some reason, very highly sought after.

Tonight, Thursday, I joined my neighbours in saluting the N.H.S. personnel and carers. Throughout the land, at 8.00 pm, each Thursday, people leave their front doors to applaud loudly in support of all those in whatever caring occupation they are engaged with. This is very poignant. I think there is a determination to beat this crisis. I don’t quite appreciate the ramifications of almost everything shutting down across the globe; but there is not a lot of point worrying about what might come of all this.

Tomorrow is Good Friday. This will be the first time I have not attended church. It is the one time I wish I was much better with computers; I could worship on line.

Maundy Thursday is drawing to a close. It’s quiet; only the gentle raw of tinnitus interrupts the tranquillity, but it’s not too loud and doesn’t keep me awake. I think I shall watch some T.V.

Thanks for reading, David 21.22 hrs Maundy Thursday.

Wednesday 8th April, looking back to yesterday.

I am beginning to become accustomed to “the new normal” whereby I am allowed out of my house for an hour’s exercise (plenty!) and can talk to whomever I like, provided we are no closer than 6ft 6 inches apart. In an emergency, I can shop for groceries, essentials, and medical supplies, keeping at least two meters away from my fellow human beings. Strangely, buses maintain what appears to be a reasonably frequent service between where I live and Buxton; presumably, elsewhere as well. And according to a former colleague who lives on the same lane as me, trains maintain an hourly schedule between Buxton and Manchester.

Since settling at home after my South American adventures, I have been far less active than when we cruising through those wonderful equatorial climes. Also, I did less walking around the deck in the last eight days of the voyage owing our being re-routed north of our original course via the Azores, a much warmer way home. Back in Buxton, the weather, generally, has been pleasant albeit on the cool side. Anywhere south of here, seems to have enjoyed almost summer-like warmth especially on the south coast.

I was determined to try to slow down the weight gain resulting from self isolation, and resolved to revisit the places I would walk to from home while recovering from my heart-op in May 2017. I had rarely left the house previously, except for an occasional stroll along the lane. The circuit is two miles, as measured when I drove along that same route. Yesterday, I walked there once again, taking in some wondrous sights so easily missed when driving. And in the evening, I saw the super moon….I don’t remember supermoons as a kid! According to an article I read while perusing Google (as you do!) the moon was, early on, going to a shade of pink. (I checked that it wasn’t April 1st!) When I got to see it at around 8.30 last night, while a full moon, it looked pretty ordinary to me, perhaps very slightly larger than normal. Pink? Perhaps the salmon colour of the clouds of a fast disappearing sunset might have tinted the moon an hour earlier, who knows.

Everybody says the same, “I’ve never known anything like this, ever.” Each morning, I wake up, usually quite refreshed from a reasonable night’s sleep where dreams and nightmares hark back to being at work, church, or in a strange land. More often than not, I am trying to talk myself out of an impossible situation; then I wake up to a reality which is taking some getting used to. “But,” I keep telling myself, “it could be far worse….,” And it is for so very many. I am not usually a fan of the cliche “count your blessings.” However, for the moment, that is really what I should be doing. Today lies ahead. David, 09.46 hrs, 8/4/20.

All these pictures taken yesterday.