Sunday, 19th October, 2025
It is 15 years since I left a dark and damp, run-down North of England. It felt a progressive, forward step into the sunlight to be moving to Surrey. It was certainly warmer, drier and sunnier and much more expensive. It was, perhaps a bit less friendly and more impersonal but I didn’t mind that.
Each successive visit back to the North seemed to find it more and more depressed and depressing. The weather seemed to be just as awful but the economy seemed to be visibly depleted. Huddersfield, a town I once really enjoyed, was becoming more and more boarded up in between charity shops, pawn shops and betting shops which offered the unemployed and impoverished citizens a glimpse of what they could win.
And then the Tory party got elected with the promise of Levelling Up. There wasn’t a lot of evidence of it although an improved transport/communication system does take a while to install. In Greater Manchester where the superb Labour mayor, Andy Burnham is in charge, congestion charges and a smart new tram system have really got things moving. House prices are on the up and some seem to think the tide of travelling South just may be turning. Who knows, maybe it is time to reassess my position.
Of course, not everyone agrees. The old and curmudgeonly find the move to gentrification not to their taste. Some still look to the fanatsy Golden Age of yesteryear. On Oldham Road, this sign seems to sum it up although it rather went over my head until I looked it up. I soon realised why I didn’t understand. Sankeys was a well known nightclub. Who has ever been to a nightclub, for goodness sake? I, for one, prefer sourdough. However, there are definitely some things I want to revisit in the North and I will.
As the rain pours down over Manchester today, I would still need a bit of encouragement to build a life back in the area. Actually, it would take a King’s ransome.
Monday, 20th October, 2025
Well, something weird happened. A strange co-incidence and I use that word advisedly. I received an email from my cousin, David. I hadn’t heard from him since last December and here he was asking me if I shopped at Amazon. I replied a bit flippantly by asking if the Pope was Catholic. This morning, I had a second email from David’s email address asking if I could help him by email because he couldn’t talk on the phone. He said he had severe laryngitis. Alarm bells started ringing and that was made worse when my wife received two copies of that same email. This was almost certainly a scam but one which had accessed our address books. I’ve had to block David’s email address. If he’d liketo phone me, we can discuss it.
Hotel Wi-Fi is notoriously dangerous. We all take it for granted these days but it was an additional cost only a short while ago. Then it became a privilege of regular customers and now is ubiquitous. It has always been dangerous. All internet access outside the confines of our home router involves danger. It isn’t too difficult to access users’ data – their emails, banking, passwords, etc., on an open wifi feed. That’s why I use VPN.
Just as I was worrying about cousin, David, and his sore throat, the news broke of a compromise involving Amazon internet warehousing services. The internet is the most fantastic development in the past 200 years. It is also the biggest threat.
Well, I say the biggest threat. My (much) older friend, Kevin, has been sent for cataract removal. I have pointed out that Masturbation causes Blindness. He said that inspite of his eyesight, he could read that. I don’t know if it will help.
Tuesday, 21st October, 2025
It hurt but I left because I am thoughtful and kind. It won’t always be like that. I’ve promised myself this will be the last time. Having said that, driving down to the Tunnel was delightful. It was the most beautiful day for a long drive. Clear Skies, strong, low sunshine and increasingly warm temperatures the further South we went. I have promised myself it is the last time. I am too old to let it go on any longer. Next time I will break eggs.
We were hoping that we could go through the Biometric process for the EES but the frustrated staff said it was delayed again. The next chance will be a month of November in Tenerife.
The traffic down was light and we got over to France early. We checked in to our hotel and went out to shop for our meal. As I drove, I was replaying distant memories in my head while listening to the very current podcasts of The Newsagents. the time sped by.
For mid October, the Tunnel was quiet, deserted and desperate. We got on an early train and were off thirty mins early. While we sat on the train beneath the sea, I watched Boris Johnson stonewalling the Covid Enquiry because their forensic questioning went way over his head. his stock answer was, I don’t remember.
Arriving early and with light traffic, we were soon at out Coquelles hotel. Our suite was ready and we settled in before driving down to Auchan. I bought some particular wine glasses there a few years ago and have subsequently smashed two so I wanted to source replacements. Amazingly, 5 years on they were still for sale. Auchan around here is rather at the level of Aldi in UK. The customers are distinctly down market and impoverished. Even so, the supermarket had a vibrancy and a display of fresh fish and vegetables to grace any UK supermarket.
Wednesday, 22nd October, 2025
Glorious morning for a full, hotel Breakfast and a French hotel at that. Oh god, I’m full!! Had to go out for a long walk to feel better.
Wissant Beach Front is lovely on this gorgeously sunny and warm morning. Shorts and tee shirt in France in late October is great. We walked down to the Wissant School of Painters.
They have a beautiful canvas. All they need is naked ladies and there are quite few of those around here.
It is Half Term here and lots of French kids are here with their Mums to run on the sands. It is also Market Day and there is an incredibly busy crowd of shoppers thronging the stalls.
Amazing how many people are keen to buy locally produced products and to support their region. Small scale farming which cannot be cost effective is supported here in a way it is not in UK. I must admit, I am conflicted over the subject. If we saw a failing car maker go to the wall, would we jump to support them? I don’t think so.
Thursday, 23rd October, 2025
What a difference a day makes. After a beautiful day yesterday, the night brought strong winds and torrential rain. The morning has opened dry and bright but breezy.
Breakfast at 7.30 am. Oh, don’t make me eat any more. My body isn’t accustomed to it. Usually, I have orange juice, tea and fresh coffee. Now, I’m eating croissants the size of mountains.
Travelling back through the tunnel under the sea – a weather free environment – this afternoon. The most gorgeous cockerel was roaming the hotel carpark. Unfortunately, I wasn’t up to catching and plucking it but a younger, hungrier man ….
We were at the Euro Tunnel early and given an earlier crossing. Things were quiet. As we queued to board, the rain began again. I have become blasé about import requirements. Nobody ever checks and I have increasing enlarged my quantities. Today, I brought almost double my wine allowance without concern. I actually feel sorry for the workers standing outside in all weathers.
THe motorways were fantastic and the journey home wonderful. I love driving and I enjoyed the trip. Boxes of wine unloaded, wine racks filled, House returned to services for daily living. Going away for a month at the end of next week so nothing is shelved. Suitcases left out ready for refilling with clean clothes. I don’t know anything about that fortunately. What I do know is that the disruption to the routines of daily life really does me good. I’ve got just 9 days until I sleep in the Sofitel Gatwick Airport for a night so can’t get too comfortable.
Friday, 24th October, 2025
Gorgeous morning. Wonderful sunshine and blue sky. I’d only been away a few days but last night I picked another 1.5kg of cherry tomatoes from outside in the back garden. I continue to marvel at this productivity outside at the end of October.
These plants were self seeded from previous years. They are seeds from seeds I bought and sowed three years ago. They are fruiting so heavily. I have had more than 10 kilos of delicious, cherry tomatoes. They are ripening more slowly now so I finish them off on a kitchen window sill but they are really sweet.
The times they are a changing. The tomatoes must slow down soon. In fact, I will grub them up and clean out the raised beds next weekend prior to going away. Clocks go back on Saturday night and the local Bonfire Jamboree on the Beach is set for tomorrow night. Incredibly fast movement of time. We will soon be 75, Dear Reader. How many Tomato Harvests? How many more Bonfire Nights to go? Makes me shiver to think about it.
Down at the beach, the bonfire wood was being piled high by JCBs and the Funfare was setting up again. The material rhythms of the year may have been marked but the weather was warm and bright. The tide gentle and quiet. The beach empty.
The beach is empty in Greece now. The island is largely bereft of tourists who generally look for sun and warmth although a few hardy walkers remain. The funny thing is that, although there a rainy days, generally the temperature is respectably mild. The Greeks, though, treat it like mid winter and dress accordingly.