A slow drive across Stockport at rush hour
Yesterday afternoon I needed to go out to pick up some straws. I know it's an odd thing to desperately want on a rainy tuesday afternoon but that's the thing with running craft workshops for kids, you have unusual shopping lists. I was just glad that I wasn't also looking for pipecleaners, fake fur, feathers and pva glue.
Sainsbury's provided me with the straws I needed (49p for a pack of 40) and as I headed back to the car, I was struck by a thought that I didn't really want to go straight home. I didn't have to either. I was a free agent, no meetings or deadlines to worry about for one day. I decided to drive around Stockport. As I drove off, I asked God to show me something.
My autopilot would normally take me onto the motorway but I decided that this journey should be a slow one. That wouldn't be too hard to manage because it was coming up to five o'clock and whichever route I took through the town would be slow and busy.
From Sainsburys at Cheadle Royal, I took a meandering route through Cheadle, Cheadle Heath, Edgeley, Stockport Town centre, Heaton Chapel, Heaton Norris, Reddish, Bredbury and Woodley eventually finding myself driving off out of Stockport altogether and into Tameside.
I guess I'd been hoping that as I drove, I'd see Stockport differently and be inspired by its potential or find some scene of unremarkable beauty. As it was, it just left me cold. Not that it's awful, it just didn't inspire any emotion whatsoever, either good or bad. I was determined to carry on though and as I was now heading out of Stockport I thought I'd better turn round and head back in to drive back across the south side of the town.
As I was looking for somewhere to turn round, I saw a sign for Werneth Low and decided on impulse to follow it. I found myself in a car park near the top of a steep hill. The rain was spotting on the windscreen and the sky looked grey and dark. I did wonder what on earth I was doing up there. Despite not having a coat or suitable footwear (I didn't think I'd need it for popping out to the local shop to buy straws), I left the car and followed the footpath up the hill. The rain eased off and it was chilly but fresh.
I got to the top of the hill and turned round. I could see the whole of Manchester and Stockport laid out before me. I could see aeroplanes tracking across the sky making a beeline for Manchester Airport and I could see the sun breaking through the clouds and lighting up Stockport. Beams of sunlight were piercing the grey and illuminating the green and white towers of Lancashire Hill and the marketplace spire of St Marys. I spent some time on top of the hill, praying for my town. As I walked back down the hill, I knew that I could go home now. I'd seen a glimpse of hope.
Sainsbury's provided me with the straws I needed (49p for a pack of 40) and as I headed back to the car, I was struck by a thought that I didn't really want to go straight home. I didn't have to either. I was a free agent, no meetings or deadlines to worry about for one day. I decided to drive around Stockport. As I drove off, I asked God to show me something.
My autopilot would normally take me onto the motorway but I decided that this journey should be a slow one. That wouldn't be too hard to manage because it was coming up to five o'clock and whichever route I took through the town would be slow and busy.
From Sainsburys at Cheadle Royal, I took a meandering route through Cheadle, Cheadle Heath, Edgeley, Stockport Town centre, Heaton Chapel, Heaton Norris, Reddish, Bredbury and Woodley eventually finding myself driving off out of Stockport altogether and into Tameside.
I guess I'd been hoping that as I drove, I'd see Stockport differently and be inspired by its potential or find some scene of unremarkable beauty. As it was, it just left me cold. Not that it's awful, it just didn't inspire any emotion whatsoever, either good or bad. I was determined to carry on though and as I was now heading out of Stockport I thought I'd better turn round and head back in to drive back across the south side of the town.
As I was looking for somewhere to turn round, I saw a sign for Werneth Low and decided on impulse to follow it. I found myself in a car park near the top of a steep hill. The rain was spotting on the windscreen and the sky looked grey and dark. I did wonder what on earth I was doing up there. Despite not having a coat or suitable footwear (I didn't think I'd need it for popping out to the local shop to buy straws), I left the car and followed the footpath up the hill. The rain eased off and it was chilly but fresh.
I got to the top of the hill and turned round. I could see the whole of Manchester and Stockport laid out before me. I could see aeroplanes tracking across the sky making a beeline for Manchester Airport and I could see the sun breaking through the clouds and lighting up Stockport. Beams of sunlight were piercing the grey and illuminating the green and white towers of Lancashire Hill and the marketplace spire of St Marys. I spent some time on top of the hill, praying for my town. As I walked back down the hill, I knew that I could go home now. I'd seen a glimpse of hope.
posted by Lou Davis at
12:18 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home