*warning, blog under construction*

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.

 

This blog will be appearing on Monday – honest! I’m way behind at the moment – so much for nothing to do because of lockdown!

This blog will be appearing on Monday – honest! I’m way behind at the moment – so much for nothing to do because of lockdown!

*warning. Blog under construction. More tomorrow*

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.

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.

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…