There were lots people around, especially as we got into Dobcross village, where they were having an “open gardens” day, inviting complete strangers to wander into your garden and ooh and aah at how nice your garden is. They were raising money for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice. Oddly enough, the garden I most admire, half way down the hill, did not appear to be in the scheme.
My daughter and I did a trip to IKEA yesterday. She wanted some plates for her class to paint with ceramic paints on “Mediterranean Day”, something her school is organising. I wanted lampshades for my kitchen. To fit in with her timing I arranged to meet her at her little daughter’s school at the end of the afternoon session. So Inset off for the bus stop with the plan to stop off at the local Tesco and walk down the main road to the school.
At the bus stop I got into conversation with the driver who was about to take charge of the 356 bus, a service that goes through several villages on its route to Ashton. It started off as a commuter service, running from Denshaw to Greenfield and aiming to coincide with the train service from Manchester to Greenfield. At so e point during lockdown it morphed into a service running from Ashton bus station to Oldham bus station. There was already a service in operation, the 350 bus, doing just that. But the new 356 visited more villages en route, not to mention a number of out of the way housing estates. The driver told me it takes over an hour and half to complete the run!
For a few weeks now the road from Delph to Dobcross has been closed for work of some kind and buses have been diverted. I have noticed the 356 unusually passing our house and wondered where it went. So yesterday, having plenty of time and the faster 350 bus service not having shown its face, I decided to hop on the 356. At the crossroads it turned left, indeed going past my house and travelling some distance - it felt as it we were half way to Marsden - before doing a sharp right turn and making its way to Diggle. Once in Diggle it did not resume its normal route but headed in the direction of Uppermill. Perhaps they’re just missing Diggle and Dobcross out altogether, I reflected. But no! Before reaching Uppermill it took another right turn, went past the garden centre and eventually turned right once more and up the hill to Dobcross. Now it was back on track, doubling back on itself to go through Diggle and finally through Uppermill and into Greenfield, where I alighted at Tesco.
Phew! What a marathon! But it was a lovely scenic route on a beautiful day!
I did my bit of supermarket shopping and scuttled down the road to meet my daughter and her smallest offspring. Perfect timing!
Next stop, a visit to her oldest daughter’s house to deliver late birthday presents and have the small people admire the various animals she shares her home with: dog, cat, fancy rats, tortoise, bearded dragon to name but a few! We also sampled the cakes Number One Granddaughter has been baking. We tore ourselves away finally and continued on our way to IKEA. Despite stops for the small people to set up house in the various “rooms” arranged to display IKEA furniture and other products, we did manage to find most of the stuff we were looking for.
I got home eventually in the earlyish evening. Now I need to organise us to put up the new lampshades.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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