Lockdown day #76

Another lovely hot lazy day. 

I met up with Alan and we went for a walk in Moston Vale - which was a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning.  Well it was, except I had an encounter with a rodent ... which was not so nice.

I was sent links to the 2005 development works in Moston Vale, to make it what is to today.  Apparently Moston Brook is culverted and runs 30ft below ground.  There is a path with blue colouring on it - and this follows the course of Moston Brook.  You learn something every day!

I did some research for the book on Midland Red I am putting together, and had my Sunday meal late today - it was too hot to cook earlier (well that is my excuse) - today was pork, corn and scrambled egg & cheese.

I watched a film - another in a theme of films about Christian intolerance ... this time called "Impossible Choice" - a bit of an odd film, but well worth watching.  There is a facebook page for it too.

Lockdown day #75

Another nice sunny day - temperature up to 24 degrees - I had to put sun block on for the first time this year as my legs were cooking nicely.

Today should have been "A Night at the Musicals" at Rochdale Citadel - I gave my apologies since I was going to the "Chairman's Charity Dance" at St Matthews Church Hall in Stretford - both were cancelled due to COVID-19.

The reason for the Charity Dance was because our Chairman is 65 today!  Instead I visited him and had a nice socially distanced natter with some food in his garden (it was where my legs were cooking) ... so the day wasn't totally wasted.

I did some shopping at Asda - as is my wont on a Saturday (to get the meat for Sunday lunch), and didn't have to queue long - Asda actually felt quite empty.  Perhaps people were sitting in their gardens rather than shopping.

When I got home I did some work on a book, and then watched a film called "The Last Year" - telling the tale of Christian [lack of] love at a Bible college in America.  Some of the behaviour of the Dean and his misquoting of the Bible were scandalous - why so many Christians believe in a God of punishment I do not believe .... I believe in a God of love.    The film, however, had a lovely ending.

Lockdown day #74

This morning I started to move the book cases in the flat, ready for the new furniture arriving on Tuesday.  I chose the wrong day to do it, as today we very hot, and it proved to be very tiring work.  Just a few bits to sort out on Monday, and I will be ready for the men on Tuesday.

I then booked Manchester City Council to take away the old bookcase - but the earliest day is 10 June - so I will have over a week with that book case in the way.  It will be a relief when it goes.

I took  myself to the park - it was hot and sunny and several men were walking around with bare chests (including some that shouldn't have been).  I decided to reread a book "The Chronicles of a Harpurhey Lad" and there are some nuggets in there to aid my research. 

I downloaded a report from 1966 about Harpurhey - with the legalistic title of "Development Area 4 Harpurhey Outline Planning Brief" which transformed the area into largely as we know it today - and poured over a map of the north part of the area in 1915 - giving me clues for further digging.

I rounded off the evening with the film about Margaret Thatcher called "The Iron Lady".

Lockdown day #73

What a beautiful day - only wish I had been near the sea, or in the hills, but of course I was stuck in my little corner of the world instead.  Of course, once the lockdown is finally over we shall have a fortnight of rain!

I walked 3km, over very familiar territory, and spent some time on my balcony overlooking an industrial estate.  I did some more historical research and watched a very silly film.

The film, called "Don't Take It to Heart" tells the story of the Earls of Chaunduyt (pronounced "Condit") who have the surname Bucket (pronounced  "bouquet").  I wonder if the producers of "Keeping Up Appearances" had also seen this time, and got the idea from that.  Anyway, it was frivolous nonsense, and perfect for a summer evening.

Later in the evening I watched another classic war film "Night Train to Munich" and downloaded The Australasian Journal of Salvation Army History for March 2019.

Lockdown day #72

This morning I listened to Handel's Messiah, coming from Sydney Opera House in Australia.  The concert was recorded live last December.  There was a small period orchestra, and a large 600 voice choir ... and four soloists (the alto part being sung by a counter-tenor).  It was very nice to listen to, and lovely to see the audience [and the soloists] standing for the Hallelujah Chorus!

I received a new book in the post today entitled "Midland Red West & Midland Red Coaches 1981-1995" which is interesting.  I am not sure I am totally in harmony with its presentation, and it lacks an ISBN number, but an important addition to my Midland Red shelf nonetheless.

I got a phone call, and have been promised some new furniture next week (new to me) which should help me organise my books better.  After my exercise, I did some research into one of my book projects.

Lockdown day #71

I did some work on my philatelic collection, and started my research into Harpurhey.

In the philately field, I researched the stamp issues of Kemp Land.  Where, I hear you ask?  Kemp Land is a slither of land in the Australian Antarctic Territory.  No-one lives there, and any stamps issued are just the product of an Australian philatelist's fantasy.  There were the stamps issued for the 1st Antarctic Ecumenical Conference, in Bonjo Town in 2017, for instance:

I watched a film on YouTube called "Circle of Deception" about plans to mislead the Germans as to the site of the Normandy Landings in the last war - a bit slow to start with, but it got more interesting.  There is, almost inevitably, a romantic theme to it.

I went for a nice early-evening walk in the local park, and came home and completed a Words With Friends game with Ann.

Lockdown day #70

70th day of lockdown - that is more than Noah and his ark ...

Today was Bank Holiday Monday, although the Bank Holidays just seem like any other day at the moment.  I was scheduled to be in Birmingham attending the Midland Red Day at the Midland Bus Museum - but alack, this was another event that has been cancelled.  I "attended" a virtual Midland Red Day on Facebook instead.

I watched a rendition of the song Perky Little Porn Star on YouTube (the picture below is censored) ...

It being a glorious day I went for a walk to the local park and enjoyed the sun.  This evening I watched a film from 1937 called "Forever England".

I wonder what I shall do tomorrow?

Lockdown day #69

The news breaking today is that Dominic Cummings, the Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister, broke the lockdown rules.  Apparently while having symptoms of Covid-19, and his wife having symptoms too, he drove 264 miles to Durham to "self-isolate" with his parents, who are in the high risk category being over 70.  This is contrary to the specific rule from government - do not visit family who are not part of your household.  Not only was his journey unnecessary, but he exposed his parents to risk - what kind of man would deliberately put his own parents at risk of catching Covid-19?  Unbelievable!

The Prime Minister has defended him, and I suspect that is a serious miscalculation of the part of the PM, given to widespread anger at this incident.

After getting up this morning I watched two films of YouTube - one entitled "Buses of the North East during the late 70s and early 80s" (watch a catchy title) and the other entitled "Aloud" being the story of a young boy in an orphanage who joins the choir, but can't sing - his reason for joining the choir is that choir members get adopted.  It was quite a sad film.

Buses of the North East during the late 70s and early 80s

Aloud

 I met up with Alan and we walked round Boggart Hole Clough; the walk was 3.7 miles and it was good fun, even though it was fairly cool.

I watched another short film on YouTube called "The Living Word"

I then did a lockdown quiz in the Midland Red Group on Facebook having people guess the various MAP designs for local bus networks introduced in the 1980s.  It was good fun.

Lockdown day #68

Today would have been Birmingham Pride ... but for obvious reasons it wasn't.  I only went once (in 2014) - the dance group I am in, the Gay Gordons, were booked to give a demonstration on both the Saturday and the Sunday.  We are provided with accommodation in a posh hotel in Birmingham - only they forgot to tell us they were only reserving the accommodation, and we had to pay for it.  This was not what they told us!

I arrived, checked in, and was presented with a bill I could not afford.  I got very emotional, knowing this was beyond my circumstances, and knowing that I could not get another hotel in the city for much less.  After some trying I got through to our dance group leader, and he had a word with the organisers of Pride, who duly paid for the room.  I was so upset I was on the verge of going to New Street station and getting the first train home.

It worked out ok in the end, but I don't think I am planning on going to Birmingham Pride this year or any other year in future. 

Birmingham Pride 2014

Instead I read an e-book on the trolleybuses of Manchester and Ashton-under-Lyne and watched a video of buses in South Staffordshire.

 

I ended the day re-watching the TV series "A Very British Coup", which remains as pertinent as it was when it first aired.

Lockdown day #67

So a better night sleep, woke up with the bird song, and before my alarm went off - although I turned over and went back to sleep for another hour.

Met Dave for a long walk to Heaton Park and back - lovely sunny day, but with a cold wind - and the wind got stronger as the day wove on.  The walk was about 8 miles - perhaps if I stopped eating chocolate I might get rid of my spare tyre.

I had a nice tea of scrambled egg mixed with grated cheese, and sliced ham.  

Later in the evening I watched a film on Amazon Prime - "School Ties" - it is about a Jewish lad from Pennsylvania getting into an exclusive high school in Massachusetts, due to his American Football prowess.  The film also shows just how rife antisemitism is in the upper echelons of US Society - perhaps it is less so now, and I certainly hope that is the case.  Watch it if you are able to.

Oh, and the people who lit that fire last night .... did it again today, and the Fire Brigade came along and put it out ... again.

Lockdown day #66

Had a lazy day today ...

Read a blog "Midland Red West Deregulated", and listened to the Scott Brothers performing a Duo Concert from their home.

Other than that, I chatted to some friends, sent an e-card to people to cheer them up, and watched some videos on YouTube.

There was some excitement this evening.  Someone had started a fire on the industrial estate.  I heard a van speeding towards the fire and watched as the back was opened and more rubbish thrown onto it.  Some of the things exploded, and there was a thick pale of black smoke coming from it.  Then came the cavalry - the fire brigade sent a tender, and quickly put out the fire.

Lockdown day #65

Woke up this morning before my alarm went off - and it is a beautiful warm day, with a twinge of sadness that we are still not free to roam or travel still.

I went for a nice walk around Harpurhey with my friend Alan, but before that had time to read Mark Fitchew's blog "Midland Red North deregulated part 2".

Waiting for me in my e-mail was a report from the Commonwealth Games Federation "Commonwealth Games Vale Framework report" - and in the appendices of the report there were two interesting Final Reports on the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2018 Games in Gold Coast.  All made fascinating reading.

I whiled away the rest of the day enjoying the warmth - which, being Britain, will not last.