I felt free for the first time for almost two years thanks to Covid restrictions.

I felt I was actually travelling. I had to cross London to reach Euston station. In pre-Covid times it would have been normal, now it felt a challenge. I am partially sighted. I grip my white stick to give me confidence and feel excited. Small things excite me these days.

I am on the train winging northwards, I glimpse the landscape as it speeds by, grey buildings at first and as we progress the greenness appears, trees, fields, cows and sheep grazing, and as we continue the view becomes more open, and in the distance are the dark moors equivalent to the desert where at a moment you could be lost.

I reach a new world as we creep into Carlisle, architecture has changed with the dour red brick buildings of the industrial north.

The train sets off again, and I settle into the rhythm. I am reminded of a poem by RL Stevenson, From a Railway Carriage.

          ‘Faster than fairies, faster than witches,

          Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches,

          And charging along like troops in a battle.

          All the sights of the hill and the plain,

Fast as the threat of driving rain,

And ever again in a wink of an eye,

Painted stations whistle by.

I arrive, and am enveloped in warmth. My grandson holds me in his small arms and I feel a little unworthy. What have I done to deserve his affection?

My son cooks beautiful food, his own sweet smoked salmon, it tastes so delicate that I will always remember the flavour.

Neighbours come round. I probably become embarrassing due to too much red wine. They seem to find me funny.

We go swimming in a traditional pool given by a benefactor probably in the 1920’s and still existing. I loved it, to be in an archetypal building, a good pool where you could actually swim. I tried to dive, but suddenly became terrified. Well, I am now 80! But don’t know how to change my blog title.

We went for a walk on a hazy summer’s evening, and saw a group of baby owls in the lush trees, they looked like fluffy teddy bears, well at least other people saw them and I could join in.

We went to a park and met with others to try and fly a kite and play with a Frisby. I was surprised when I caught it.

I watched my grandson do archery. He looked elegant.

The night before I left, my grandson was so upset at the thought that I was leaving the next day that we held each other and I told him about my granny, who I knew loved me, but I hardly ever saw her, but I knew she was there.

          ‘Granny, I know you are there but you won’t be here,’

I had no answer.

That night he developed a fever. I am now in isolation because he tested positive for Corona virus.