After Friday’s shopping expedition our normal weekend routine was altered by another trip out of the valley as we’d arranged to drop shopping off at Dawn’s folks in Huddersfield. There was no rush, and it was the weekend, so I left Dee to have a lie in and crept into the office to set up more old slides to scan. I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll manage to get all of the railway ones done before lockdown ends and my attention has to swing back to commissions. I’m still unsure of how the might work in practice as there’s obvious challenges. Hopefully things will become clearer soon as the public transport gets to grips with the challenges of mass transit and social distancing. In the meantime, I’m ploughing on with scanning and looking forward to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!
After lunch I ended up in a group call with friends from the rail industry which was a fun-filled hour of laughter as gossip was swapped and stories told – none of which are repeatable in a blog like this! For a brief time the physical distance between us disappeared and it was like old times…
As I’d joined the call on my mobile we continued our group chat whilst Dawn drove over to her parents. As we didn’t need to go into the town centre we drove direct across country. It’s a lovely drives that takes in some great scenery and although the roads were busier than they have been they’re still far from normal.
Our most varied day of the week began with the weather promising a fantastic day ahead. We had wall-to-wall sunshine and temperatures that made you feel like summer really was on the way. Our day began around 07:30. Both of us were tempted to lie-in, but there was too much to do – despite me having picked up some of Dee’s parents shopping yesterday.
After a leisurely breakfast and time for me to start uploading the batch of old slides I’d been bust scanning we headed out in the car. Our first stop was planned to be our local supermarket to get the fresh veg I couldn’t get for John and Norah yesterday, but the queue stretched right around the car park so we gave it a miss and headed over to Huddersfield instead. On the way Dawn and I discussed the positives and negatives of where the world is now and what we’ll miss when life returns to normal. The one thing we both agreed that we’d miss was the empty roads and absence of traffic noise and pollution.
Huddersfield wasn’t too bad. The roads were still quiet although there were certainly more cars around than at the start of lockdown, but who knows what they’re doing or where they’re going. Our first stop was Sainsbury’s, where the queue was the longest we’d seen it. Then Dawn twigged what I hadn’t. Tomorrow’s a bank holiday so people are stocking up! To be honest, queuing in a car-park in the sunshine isn’t much of a hardship and it didn’t take that long to get in to begin our shopping. The place wasn’t exactly packed once we were through the doors when we split up. Dawn did her parents shopping and I did ours. Well, most of it. For some unfathomed reason I managed to miss several items off the list, which didn’t go down well with ‘Senior Management’..
Afterwards we called in to the Community Rail Network offices in the old water-tower at Huddersfield station. Whilst Dawn sorted out some work there I went for a wander with the camera. The weather was ideal for getting some rail pictures but with so few services running and big gaps in the timetable I also went for a wander through the town. With so many shops closed it was hardly surprising that it was quiet. That and the fact a lot of outlets had closed already before Covid had arrived. Huddersfield town centre isn’t what it was even when I first came up here 10 years ago. But what did catch my eye was the number of queues outside banks. They were the only places you saw groups of people. But why? I couldn’t work it out. The only time I physically visit a bank branch nowadays is on one of those rare occasions when some Luddite organisation still insists on paying me by cheque. So why were these people there? I’ve no idea, but I was curious. What am I missing?
Shopping and office work done we drove over to Dawn’s folks to drop off the shopping and have a chat. Considering the pair of them have had their social wings severely clipped they’re both doing remarkably well, but then they come from a generation that has a different perspective on the definition of ‘hardship’.
We drove straight home afterwards and unloaded our haul of shopping before ‘taking 5’ to enjoy the lovely weather.
Despite the routine of life at the moment, it still manages to throw you enough curved balls and surprises to make it interesting…
This morning Dawn was first out of bed as I’d had a less than perfect night’s sleep due to our moggie (Jet) deciding that what’s ours is his. He waits until you’re almost asleep then jumps on the bed to wedge himself between us. He’s such an old boy now (eighteen and a half) that most of the time we don’t have the heart to kick him off – but he doesn’t half take up a lot of room. So, despite the fact I’d had a relatively early night I hadn’t had a good one. Dawn bounded out of bed to do her exercise regime in the living room but the most active I got was to make coffee and retreat back to bed with the laptop and catch up with world events before a shower and my ‘commute’ to the office. It was a crying shame to be stuck indoors as the weather was stunning. There may have been a morning chill in the air first thing but that was because there wasn’t a cloud in the sky! Here’s the view from the road above our house (looking across Sowerby Bridge and the Calder Valley) as I walked up the hill to combine getting some of the food shopping for Dawn’s parents and daily exercise.
I’d have loved to have enjoyed a day outdoors, soaking up the sun on such a fabulous day but I had too much to do. I’ve not had chance to edit them and put the results on my website yet but I’ve scanned another forty old slides which include November 1992 to January 1993. It was a period when my life changed completely, so it’s quite strange looking back at them now and remembering.
Part of the reason I’ve not got them edited today was that other things kept side-tracking me – but in a positive way. A picture request from a magazine saw me scurrying through the archives to dig out what they wanted, then I had a Zoom conference call scheduled to talk about the Community Rail Network awards. Oh, the joys of online meetings! Yes, they’re ideal for when needs must but the idea that these will render travel redundant in future is fanciful to say the least. There’s too many distractions or glitches and body language is next to impossible to read. I lost the call for a few minutes as we suffered a power cut – the second time that’s happened in a week. It was back in an instant but it took several for the internet to reboot.
Finally, I got chance to break away from staring at a screen and retreated into the garden with a good old paper copy of RAIL magazine to catch up on the latest industry news in the sun! The ‘dead tree’ media still has some advantages. You need no batteries or sockets, you don’t need to worry about flare on a screen and you don’t have to fret about a wifi connection. Oh, and you can also use the mag as a sunshade!
The clear skies and sunshine lasted right through to the bitter end when they were overtaken by planet’s rotation and replaced by a glorious dark night and a full moon. If I hadn’t so many things to do I’d have been tempted to set up my camera on a tripod up on the promenade and try some long-exposure shots. Sadly, with the length of exposure that I’d need for what I have in mind the local constabulary may be less than sympathetic in these coronavirus times.
Instead of star-gazing, here’s a look back at the past and the archive pictures I’ve been scanning today. This is Tilbury Riverside station in Essex, just a few days before it closed on the 30th November 1992. Oddly, despite the fact I’d lived in London since 1986, this was the only time I ever visited. I don’t know why, other than it obviously wasn’t a priority at the time, despite the fact I lived just a stones throw from the London, Tilbury & Southend railway in East London. Now, how I wish I had as Tilbury Riverside would have made a fascinating picture study.
This is how I remember much of the railways from my youth. Decrepit and decaying. Forget the rose-tinted spectacles, the one thing money wasn’t spent on was stations. How many were stripped back to bare platforms and had decent facilities demolished and replaced by bus shelters to save a few quid on maintenance and wages?
Tilbury Riverside is no more but the site is still rail connected as it’s now used by freight trains from the docks. When I’ve had chance to edit the other pictures I’ll add a couple more. Right now it’s time for bed as we’ve a busy shopping day ahead of us…
Can we have all that fabulous sunshine back please? Yes, I know we desperately needed the rain and it’s done the gardens and woods a power of good, but it’s cold – and I miss sitting out in the garden!
The day dawned in gloomy fashion, with heavy grey clouds and mist obscuring the far side of the valley, which was a shame as Thursday is our big day out and one the pair of us rather look forward to as we get to do something different outside the confines of the Calder Valley. Admittedly, this week we’ve had a couple of bites of the cherry as we’ve been doing large shops for Dawn’s parents. Yesterday was the farm shop. Today was somewhere neither of us had been before – a fish wholesaler in Huddersfield. Before we left we managed to get a few chores done and have breakfast, only to find that Jet (our cat) had decided to usurp the bed and have a ‘duvet day’. As he’s an old boy now we don’t have the heart to kick him off. Problem is – the little bugger knows it now and often takes advantage!
Feeling ever so slightly naughty for using the car two days in a row we drove over to Huddersfield up over Ainley Top and under the M62. There’s a slight increase in traffic but there’s still no danger of getting caught in the long queues you’d normally find on a weekday morning as you climb to the roundabout that forms the junction with the motorway. The road into town was equally clear, as was the Leeds Road which took us from the town centre towards Deighton, where we found Sailbrand, which is where John and Norah normally stock up on fresh fish. It’s a little difficult to find as it’s tucked away off the main road on a rather unglamorous industrial estate but both Dawn and I were impressed by their range of fish and the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. As well as fulfilling John and Norah’s order we stocked up on some gorgeous Hake fillets, Monkfish and some amazing Tuna steaks -and all at very good prices. We’ll certainly be using them again. Heading back into town our next port of call was Sainsburys where we split up. Dawn did her parents shopping whilst I picked up some necessities for us. Luckily the weather had picked up, so queuing in the car-park waiting to be allowed in wasn’t as bad as we feared it might have been. Even so, the cumulative effect of queuing at different places certainly eats up into your day. Having done the ‘big’ shop we called in at Dawn’s work offices at the station for a couple of minutes (just to check on the building) then headed up to John and Norah’s to drop off all the shopping. We didn’t stay long as chatting over the garden gate isn’t as much fun when the wind’s blowing a gale!
On the way home we stopped for a brief few minutes so that I could get a couple of pictures as the views across the Colne valley are rather photogenic and we’d timed it just right for a couple of Trans-Pennine rail services to pass.
A TPE Class 802 crosses the viaduct at Linthwaite, to the West of Huddersfield. I was relieved to see that these five-car trains can be framed rather neatly by the viaducts surrounds. As you can see by the trees – Spring’s arrived.
A picture taken from the same location, but this time looking West along the Colne valley with the town of Slaithwaite in the foreground and the moors high above. I’ve only just discovered this shot but I’m planning to be back soon…
OK, that’s all for tonight, I’ll add more (with many more pictures) in the morning…
Today was a day that wasn’t my most varied as it saw me very much desk-bound and cerebral, not that I’m complaining about that as sifting through my archive pictures and researching old articles, books and the internet before writing a 3000 word article for a magazine is an interesting challenge in its own right. It’s simply something that leaves you less mobile! Next month is the 10th anniversary of the full re-opening of the East London line which is now part of the London Overground. It’s a route I’ve known for many years as I used to live in the East End of London back in 1986-96. The piece I’ve written will be published in a copy of RAIL magazine soon. I do enjoy writing. Hopefully people enjoy my scribblings – especially when I’m paid it. Well, they must do as magazines keep asking me back!
Monday wasn’t a bad day to be desk bound either as the fantastic spell of good weather we’ve had here since lockdown is finally on the turn. The sky was full of funny fluffy white things that we’ve really not seen much of recently. Oh yes – clouds – I remember them now!
Having fulfilled my latest RAIL commission I’m looking forward to getting back to scanning more old rail slides which is something I’ve neglected recently due to a shortage of time and the fact my main computer’s up the spout at right now. Sorting out both of these should keep me busy this week, along with being on call to help Dawn with some DIY. Dee’s on holiday this week and she’s determined to tackle some decorating jobs around the house as a combination of exercise, aesthetics and lockdown therapy! We might not be going anywhere but it doesn’t mean we’ve turned into couch potatoes! Far from it in fact as when we’re not busy with work we’re occupied with DIY, gardening, decluttering or cooking. We both spend enogh of our days staring at screens as part of our jobs without wanting to have evening after evening doing the same.
Day 33? really? I’m beginning to lose all sense of days now after so long. Before beginning to write today’s epistle I had to say to Dawn “remind me, what the hell did we do yesterday?” – and no – it’s nothing to do with my age! I’ve decided that I need to keep a notebook with me to write down the salient points I want to blog about each day as I’ll be damned if I can remember many of them by the time I sit down in front of blank screen to begin typing.
OK, Day 33 was Saturday which (surprise surprise) was very much like any other day in that we’d nowhere to go and pretty much nothing to do out of the ordinary. Despite it being the weekend – which really doesn’t mean anything anymore. We didn’t have a lie-in as both of us had things we wanted to do. Dawn was up exercising whilst I was getting an article together for RAIL magazine that required a lot of research plus extensive trawling through my picture archive, which kept me busy for several hours.
What was different was breakfast as (for a change) we’d bought some lovely English Asparagus to have with poached eggs and a toasted bagel. I’d show you a picture, only I scoffed it before I thought of taking one!
As the weather was still stunning we were determined to get out for our daily constitutional as the forecast suggests the brilliant run of sunshine that we’ve had is about to come to an end. It took a few hours to complete the chores that form a large part of the mundanity of modern life. Daft one’s that beg questions like “if there’s only the two of us – how the hell do we manage to go through so much cutlery in a day that I spend so much time washing it”?
Finally, we went for our stroll, sticking to what’s now a well-worn path up through Scarr woods to the Promenade, only today took an awful lot longer as it was so sociable because we bumped into several friends. First off was Sally and Simon who live in a house on the Prom. They were out in their garden so we had a typically English chat over the garden gate. Whilst we were thus engaged we met another couple of friends in passing who were also indulging in exercise. We ended up in a small group taking up an awful lot of room thanks to the delights of social distancing!
Returning from our constitutional we plonked ourselves in the front garden to soak up the sun and indulge in a group chat with friends via Messenger. Old friends came together from London, Par, Warrington and Halifax to keep in touch via modern technology. Does this mean this will be the future? Bugger off – we’d all have much preferred being in a real pub rather than a virtual one! Even so – it was lovely to be able to swap tales for an hour and know that we’re all managing to get through this in our different ways. I feel for one of my friends as he lives in an apartment block in South London where his nearest green space is Clapham Common. It makes me feel very lucky living where I am now as 25 years ago that would have been me. Well, in East London not South, and not with two teenage children either…
If nothing else the lockdown should teach people to appreciate their lives and what they have.
The day of rest, not least for the Sunshine we’d been having these past few days that’s made this the best Easter bank-holiday for a while. This morning the weather was overcast and cooler but still pleasant for the time of year. The pair of us enjoyed a relaxed breakfast before planning the day ahead which was going to be another break from the usual routine. Dawn’s folks had run out of the Gluten free bread her dad relies on as he’s coeliac but we’d managed to pick some up on our last shop so we made a ‘mercy mission’ over to Huddersfield to deliver a few supplies. It felt really naughty using the car for the second time in a week, but when needs must…
We drove across to Huddersfield on roads even quieter than usual. Partly because as it was a bank holiday Sunday there really was nowhere for people to go to as all the supermarkets were shut and any of the few other businesses that will still be open were closed for the holiday. Instead, we passed lots of people out walking, either singly, as couples of family groups. All were obeying the social distancing rules. The police were out too but there seemed little for them to do – thankfully. All told, I have to say that I’ve been impressed at how stoically people have reacted to the massive social and economic disruption that the pandemic has caused. Yes, of course there’s a few idiots who ignore the guidelines, or do their best to push the boundary’s, but the fact so many people are co-operating gives me grounds for optimism. Plus, If I had my cynical hat on – I could say that the ones who are ignoring the rules are practicing a form of social Darwinism and won’t actually be missed by the majority of the population. Or the gene pool…
Having dropped off the shopping at John and Norah’s and stayed long enough for a distanced chat we drove back to Halifax, crossing the M62 on the way. I’ve never seen the motorway so quiet when it’s still open. For once, you could actually hear background noises rather then the constant roar of traffic. The air quality was far better too! If I’m honest, this is how I’d like to see motorways all of the time as we move into a low-carbon future.
Back at chez Bigland we relaxed for a while and took our ease in the garden as the weather was better in the Calder than it was in the Colne valley. I’ve lived here for a decade now but I’m still intrigued by how the weather can be so different in two valleys which are only a few miles apart as the crow flies.
Back home we nipped out for our daily walk and completed our usual circuit which certainly gets the blood pumping and exercises the muscles but it is getting a bit predictable. We’re both looking forward to the post lockdown days when we can walk to an actual destination once more – like a pub with beer – and food!
Once we’d completed the circuit we plonked ourselves in the garden for a quick drink to enjoy the evening sunshine and fresh air before having to retreat indoors. Our garden’s really springing to life now. The monstrous variegated Hosta that I split a few weeks ago has survived its operation. It’s now bust throwing up shoots in both the front garden and the back flowerbed. The Acer I planted is also emerging from its winter slumbers. If there’s one consolation of lockdown it’s having more time to spend enjoying the garden. I’m just thankful that we have that simple pleasure.
Our night in lockdown was spent with me managing to do a bit of work setting up more old slides for scanning whilst Dawn was busy in the kitchen preparing a lovely meal for us to savour. As it’s Easter we had lamb done in a slow cooker with a Tagine sauce I’d made that we’d had stashed in the freezer. Dee than added her home-made Yorkshire puddings and plenty of freshly steamed veg which we consumed whilst watching ‘Spectre’ – the James Bond film. As evenings in front of the TV go – you really can’t complain!
What a stunning day! Just like on Tuesday, the weather was almost wall to wall sunshine with temperatures that crept up to be the highest of the year so far.
I tried sticking to my plan and routine by working in my office, sorting through paperwork, emails and scanning old slides, then decided to break the routine whilst still sticking to the Government guidelines. I’ve mentioned before that we’re fortunate to be on the edge of some great countryside, which means it’s easy to socially isolate when getting out for the daily exercise. I’ve really been missing walking as I’ve been sticking to my minimum daily target, which is half of what would be my norm – and I’m starting to feel it physically, even though I’m using weights at home. Today I decided to go solo, extend my walk, tackle some more challenging terrain and take the camera.
Starting from home I walked down to the valley floor, across the canal, under the railway, over the River Calder and clambered up through the woods and the steep paths to the ridge above Copley. As the crow flies it’s little over a mile. I can even look back at the house, but on a hot day it’s cracking exercise. Here’s the view looking across the Copley viaduct on the railway between Halifax and Sowerby Bridge with the Wainhouse Tower above.
The path I’m on at this point runs along a cliff that’s actually a geological fault line. Not that you’d know that it’s there as the area’s dense woodland, similar to the opposite side of the valley that you can see in the picture above the viaduct to the right, which is our local Scarr woods.
I’m a long way from any roads here and I only saw a handful of other people out running, or walking. Keeping your distance is easy akthough this being Yorkshire, most people acknowledge each other and say hello when they pass.
For a brief period (in splendid isolation) ot felt like normality had returned. The feel of the sun on my skin and the breeze through the trees was gorgeous. Only two things gave the gane away, the infrequency of the trains and the lack of traffic noise from the (normally) busy road along the valley floor.
Having achieved my aim and even managed a couple of pictures I reluctantly headed home, retracing my steps back to ‘my’ side of the valley. Despite passing two pubs in the way there was no chance of giving into temptation to nip in for a swift one! It’s going to be a long time before that pleasure returns…
Back at the ranch the weather was simply too good to hole up inside scanning slides so I brought a bunch of paperwork downstairs and sat outside on the bench to soak up the sun and top up my vitamin D levels. With not having my usual 1-2 months away in Asia last year or a foreign stint this year I’ve really missed the sun. I don’t think I’ve been this pale-skinned for years!
Our evening was spent much like many others as I tried to keep up with world events via social media and also catch up with a bit of blogging before sloping off to bed for a relatively early night.
We’ve another day tomorrow that breaks up the routine as we’re on our weekly ‘mercy mission’ to shop for Dawn’s parents over in Huddersfield. Funny how you end up looking forward to simple things like that…
If I’m honest, this is how I’d like to see motorways all of the time as we move into a low-carbon future.
Paul Bigland 