I thought I start an"I'm going a little mad thread".....

[greenilex]

Thank you all for the responses. I did find a couple more cartridges at the bottom of my granny’s china bowl...so can continue blotting my copybook as normal.

I wrote a long letter to the Commons and Parks Preservation people and will post it today. They say the Boat Show may go ahead in the autumn. Horrors.

[LMcD]

Sprised you can see to write this, S_A!

In pre Covid times we went for a ride on rented bikes on the Tissington Trail in the Peak District. We stopped for refreshment in the rather nice café in Tissington village. I took off the cycle helmet, thought nothing of it and went in for a nice cuppa and a scone. On exiting and donning (as one now does) the helmet, I realized I didn't have my glasses on. Long story, short:. I found them, crushed, on the ground next to the bikes. They must have come off when I'd "doffed" the helmet before going in.

OG

Mention of the Tissington Trail brings back happy memories of HF walking holidays, including one based, if memory serves, somewhere near Alsop (?)

[Old Grumpy]

Mention of the Tissington Trail brings back happy memories of HF walking holidays, including one based, if memory serves, somewhere near Alsop (?)

The Peveril of the Peak, by any chance? We had a university year reunion there a few years ago - a great place to stay.

OG

[greenilex]

I do hope the Holiday Fellowship are making preparations for our eventual release...I should investigate.

[LMcD]

The Peveril of the Peak, by any chance? We had a university year reunion there a few years ago - a great place to stay.

OG

We weren't based at the Peveril of the Peak for our Dovedale HF holiday - I'll try to discover details of where we stayed*. I see they now also operate from the Long Mynd Hotel in Church Stretton, where we once stayed during a coach holiday.
* UPDATE: We stayed at the New Inns, Alsop-en-le-Dale which was renamed Newton House. It closed in 2012.

[Jonathan]

My ex-wife and I once stayed in the Peveril of the Peak, I'm not sure when but would have been about 18 years ago. I can't remember anything about it though! I also climbed various peaks in Dovedale as an undergrad studying Geology - lots of scree slopes which we skiied down! Probably not allowed to climb them any more...

[Bryn]

My ex-wife and I once stayed in the Peveril of the Peak, I'm not sure when but would have been about 18 years ago. I can't remember anything about it though! I also climbed various peaks in Dovedale as an undergrad studying Geology - lots of scree slopes which we skiied down! Probably not allowed to climb them any more...

More of a Dark Peak person, myself. Never stayed there in a built environment, always tented, mostly 'wild'. A little secluded spot towards the top of Fair Brook, my favourite spot. Just had to keep a 'weather eye' open, ready to quickly strike the tent and scramble up towards the path leading to the Naze.

[peterthekeys]

Do you need to keep strict 'office hours'? I ask because if you could arrange to spend some more time at the allotment - extended lunch hour perhaps? - it might help. Not necessarily to complete any specific task but just to get away from the laptop into fresh air and proximity to what is a glorious time of year, and wildlife making the most of reduced human interference. There might be other people to exchange greetings with - social distancing often happens by default on allotments anyway as plotholders call across to neighbours. Take a notebook and pen in case the writing urge resurfaces?

I'm working from home, and personally I'm keeping as closely as I can to the hours that I was used to work at the office - I just find that it gives the day some kind of structure and link to a vestige of normality. It's the weekends that really get to me O_o

[Jonathan]

Well peterthekeys, that's what I was doing but last Thursday I was informed that I'm being furloughed. That started today so lots of time for reading, writing playing the piano and tidying up my shell collection. Having said that, I'd rather be working.

[Constantbee]

As far as social isolation goes it could be worse We could be sealed up in Cold War style bunkers somewhere. The one in York was acquired by English Heritage recently and now opens to the public. It’s been a great success and I’m looking forward to visiting when this is all over. The local press reported that a couple of local ladies tried isolating themselves inside for a weekend and found it a pretty traumatic experience

[Serial_Apologist]

As far as social isolation goes it could be worse We could be sealed up in Cold War style bunkers somewhere. The one in York was acquired by English Heritage recently and now opens to the public. It’s been a great success and I’m looking forward to visiting when this is all over. The local press reported that a couple of local ladies tried isolating themselves inside for a weekend and found it a pretty traumatic experience

Perhaps they only had each other for company?

[Bryn]

As far as social isolation goes it could be worse We could be sealed up in Cold War style bunkers somewhere. The one in York was acquired by English Heritage recently and now opens to the public. It’s been a great success and I’m looking forward to visiting when this is all over. The local press reported that a couple of local ladies tried isolating themselves inside for a weekend and found it a pretty traumatic experience

Never mind Cold War style, I have just been alerted to newly available downloads from Cafe OTO, one of which was recorded in an old Korean War bomb shelter!

[eighthobstruction]

Perhaps they only had each other for company?

I once helped flood a nuclear bunker while they were on a War Exercise....yeah I know ....I'm just the sort...

[oddoneout]

As far as social isolation goes it could be worse We could be sealed up in Cold War style bunkers somewhere. The one in York was acquired by English Heritage recently and now opens to the public. It’s been a great success and I’m looking forward to visiting when this is all over. The local press reported that a couple of local ladies tried isolating themselves inside for a weekend and found it a pretty traumatic experience

It could indeed

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/apr/27/horrendous-welsh-residents-endure-lockdown-in-flood-hit-homes-coronavirus

[Petrushka]

I retired last December and spent most of the winter indoors due to the persistent heavy rain just emerging to do shopping every now and then and looking forward to the spring and summer when I'd be on my travels, concerts, Proms etc. Turns out that I'm still indoors and still only emerging to do shopping, all plans thrown up in the air. Definitely not the first year of retirement I was expecting!

The isolation doesn't much bother me but last Friday morning a police car partly demolished my front wall so there's never a dull moment. What these idiots were thinking, I just don't know. It was a bright, sunny day, next to no traffic at 11am on a lockdown Friday in a residential area, no other vehicle involved. Details exchanged and photos taken but yet to hear from them. Can see an email to the Chief Constable coming on.

So, yes, I too am going a little mad!