It wasn't supposed to have ended like this

The end of the pandemic was meant to be so very different, as pundits writing whilst the virus was still raging were at pains to point out. They based their predictions on what would happen, once Covid-19 was just a bad memory, on the events that followed the previous global pandemic. This was the Spanish flu, and there was nothing particularly Spanish about it. Instead, over 6 million people lost their lives across the globe, and coming as it did, hot on the heels of the First World War, this was the last thing the world needed or indeed wanted. Once the flu had fizzled out and things started getting back to normal, an era of unbridled prosperity followed, which led to the decade becoming known as the “roaring 20s.”

The good times didn’t last long, as the 1929 Wall Street Crash soon put paid to that, but for whatever reason - I’m guessing lazy thinking, modern day pundits started peddling out the same story. Things didn’t happen that way, of course, war-criminal and petty gangster Vladimir Putin, put paid to that with his criminal invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. The war saw energy bills sky rocketing, and the rate of inflation hit double figures. The country’s longest serving monarch passed away, whilst her government descended into total chaos, proving beyond doubt that the pundits were wrong in virtually every respect.

You could say then that the chaos of the past few years, coupled with the continuing train-wreck that is Brexit, have not been good for those seeking peace, harmony, and calm affecting many of us in ways that are both testing and trying. As we continue our journey into the month of November, I felt a real sense of melancholia creeping in, a feeling not helped by all the bad stuff happening in the world, and one made worse by the miserable and every damp weather we've been experiencing over the past few weeks. The only bonus has been the unseasonably warm temperatures, which at least has meant minimal use of the central heating.

Accompanying this malaise has been a general feeling of listlessness and of lacking in direction, which I put down to the time of the year and life in general. Whatever the cause, it goes to reinforce my belief that November really is the worst month of the year. It's not all bad though, as today dawned bright and largely free of rain, and there have been some positive things happening at work, as well.

On a personal front, and as a good way of brightening up the month and giving us, something to look forward to in the run up towards Christmas, Mrs PBT’s and I have booked a short cruise, for the end of November. It’s a voyage to Amsterdam and back, and we’ll be onboard ship for just four nights. It will be my third visit to the Dutch capital, and Eileen’s first, so having seen many, but not all of the city’s sights, I’m content to take a back seat and go with the flow, as long as we manage to visit one or two of Amsterdam’s traditional backstreet pubs or "brown cafes" as they are sometimes called.

The area where visiting cruise liners dock, is really close to the city centre, in fact it is just behind the central station. Having been to the station several times I've never really noticed its proximity to the open sea, but it's a handy location especially as central Amsterdam is fairly compact and easy to get around in on foot. On my last visit to the city, back in 2016, I visited the well-known De Wildeman beer café, where I enjoyed a good selection of local Dutch beers and had an interesting chat with bar manager, Simon.

We will be sailing on the Queen Victoria, another of Cunard's famous "Queen ships," and this will complete, for us, the current line up off Elizabeth, Mary and now Victoria. In 2024 Cunard’s 4^th, and latest ship in the series, named after British queens, comes into service, when the Queen Anne sets sail on her maiden voyage. It is possible we will be on that voyage although more likely we will leave a cruise on the Queen Anne, until later that year.

The only downside is the cruise clashes with the British Guild of Beer Writers Christmas meal, which like last year, takes place in the ornate surroundings of One George St, close to the Houses of Parliament. Last year’s dinner was most enjoyable, with some excellent food and equally good beers to match. The only trouble was my inability to resist the temptation to overindulge, although I regretted it the following morning. The amount of beer I consumed, also limited my alcohol intake at my firm’s Christmas party, which took place the following afternoon.

This year’s party returns once again to the Little Brown Jug pub in Chiddingstone Causeway, scene of many previous and rather boozy Christmas meals. The beer offering sometimes is "safe" but steady, but the food is always plentiful well cooked and well presented. After another challenging year it will be good to socialise and relax with work colleagues, and to enjoy their company, over some good food and some pleasant drink.

I've also been looking at replacing my car. I've had my current Skoda Octavia since 2015, and it has served me really well, but with just under 100,000 miles on the clock, it probably is time to trade it in for a newer model, although that high mileage is fine for diesel. Diesel cars are obviously much more economical in terms of miles per gallon, but they are much better for longer journeys than for the short trips to and from work that make up the bulk of my driving, as I found out to my cost when I had to replace a coked-up EGR valve. Diesels continue to receive a bad press, but irrespective of this, I will probably revert back to petrol, now that it is considerably cheaper, in terms of price per litre.

I've had a look at the model and the spec of car that I want, and my local Skoda dealer will notifying me when a suitable vehicle comes into the showroom. This is because whilst I want a nearly new vehicle, I do not want a brand new one. There is a waiting list for the latter anyway, but there is the other issue of new cars losing their value as soon as they are driven off the showroom forecourt. I'm in no real hurry to upgrade.

That’s November mapped out then, and apart from recording that I had an excellent pint of Dogbolter, from Gadd’s, at the Nelson, early yesterday evening, it’s time to sign off. (The last two photos, were taken at De Wildeman beer café, seven years ago - to help set the scene for Amsterdam).