It’s been a relatively good week. We’ve had some lovely, clear bright and sunny days but it has been a bit on the “fresh” side to say the least. It’s supposed to be getting warmer this week so let’s keep our fingers crossed.
On one of the sunnier and drier days I extracted my road bike from its hibernation in the garage and gave it a good clean and service, ready for some roadside excursions one day soon. The bike is now primed and ready to go but it’s going to have to warm up a bit before I’ll be going out!
And, speaking of which, I have thus far very generously shielded you from the tedious documentation of my virtual cycle ride along the Underground Railroad route from Mobile, Alabama to Owen Sound, Ontario. For which, I’ve no doubt, many of you are very grateful.
However, I’m coming up to 80 percent through the ride (less than 400 miles to go) so thought it was time for an update. I’m just coming to the end of the stage from Burton, Ohio to Ashtabula, Ohio. Although Ohio was a Free State, the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 required residents to co-operate with slave catchers and return any runaway slaves. Runaways could not consider themselves to be truly safe until they reached Canada. Runaway slaves would therefore seek sanctuary in safe houses along the shore of Lake Erie until they were able to escape on a safe boat to Canada. In Ashtabula, one such safe house was the Hubbard House very near the shore of Lake Erie.
Ashtabula was also the site of the Ashtabula River Railroad Tragedy. On December 29, 1876 a Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway train, the Pacific Express, passed over a bridge across the Ashtabula River as it collapsed. All but the lead locomotive plunged into the river. The train’s oil lanterns and coal-fired heating stoves set the wooden cars alight and many who survived the crash burned to death in the wreckage. The accident killed approximately 92 of the 160 people aboard and it was the worst railroad disaster in the US in the 19th century.
On Thursday night we had the last of this season’s Moreton Pinkney Film Night – A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks, which comes highly recommended and did not disappoint. Tom Hanks plays Otto, a curmudgedy, pernickety old man in a small housing development with an autistic fixation on rules but with a large heart.
Penelope and I have both read and thoroughly enjoyed the novel on which the film was based and we had both seen the original Swedish version, A Man Called Ove. I think we both came away thinking the original version was the slightly better of the two but either version is very satisfying.
While reading the book I remember initially thinking that Ove was just a jerk, an arsehole, and it took me a while to invest in it. But the narrative develops beautifully and it’s a heartwarming and moving story with a message for all of us.
Yesterday we attended the 90th birthday celebration of a neighbouring Moreton Pinkneyian. When we received the invitation Penny and I were astonished – we know the birthday boy well but had no idea he was coming up to 90 years old. He could easily be my (very) slightly older brother.
At one point during the festivities an announcement was made that there was a very special birthday gift about to be presented to the birthday boy. As everyone quieted down, one of the catering staff proceeded to stride towards him only to accidentally drop the parcel she was carrying to the loud sound of breaking glass. After a momentary blushful silence, she burst into song and she and one of the “waiters” serenaded the gathering with snippets from various operas and well-known musicals. And man, could they belt it out! Amazing and powerful voices – a real treat which took everyone by surprise.
This weekend also saw the closing date for the first of this year’s Moreton Pinkney Garden Club competitions – our Spring Garden photography competition on the theme of Buds and Blooms. Entry was by photograph and both Penelope and I submitted our least-bad photo. In my email I did suggest that the young woman judging the competition need look no further, that my submission was clearly the best she was likely to receive. I’ll let you know when the announcement comes.
We’re off at the end of this week on another campervan expedition. As well as getting in some practice before our trip to France in the summer, this trip is also designed to escape the nonsense that will be the Coronation of King Charles III. I have to confess, I am finding it really difficult to get my head around the concept of a large portion of the population getting very excited about an old, privileged white man dressing up in silly costume and going through some bizarre, outdated ritual. At a cost to the taxpayer of some £100 million. Money well spent? I doubt it. So, we’re off to the south coast and hope to avoid most of it which might mean that you get nothing soiling your inbox next Sunday. You’re welcome.
Don’t imagine that we’re not celebrating the coronation, however. I was delighted to receive our Coronation Mugs during the week designed by the magnificent Steve Bell.
Meanwhile, keep happy, keep smiling, be careful, wear a f**king facemask in crowded places and keep your distance. And keep safe. And be gentle to wasps and bees.
Lots of love to you all,
Greg