'On Strike!' - {A Sheffield Sketch}

 

A suited commuter and a railway worker are standing outside Sheffield railway station. A miserably grey Monday and the start of another working week. 

The railway workers are on strike, and a suited commuter is frustrated and struggling to get to the office;

Commuter - Cancelled. Again.

Railway Worker - What is?

Commuter- My train is!?

Railway Worker - Whys that?

Commuter-  On strike. Again!

Railway Worker - Who is?

Commuter- Trains!

Railway Worker - trains are on strike?

Commuter- No

Railway Worker - Who is then? 

Commuter- Railway workers,... I think 

Railway Worker - Are they?

Commuter- I think so

Railway Worker - Why’s that then?

Commuter-  You should know

Railway Worker - Should I?

Commuter- Well, that's why you're standing here?

Railway Worker - Am I?

Commuter- Yeah, your lot - with your placards and banners. All the same!

Railway Worker - Ah We?

Commuter- Yes! 

Railway Worker - Whys that? 

Commuter- Greedy! - I can't get to work cos a your lot!

Railway Worker - Can’t ya?

Commuter- I’ll lose my bonus now

Railway Worker - Good job, is it?

Commuter- Yeah

Railway Worker - Good hours, is it? 

Commuter- Yeah

Railway Worker - Good pay, is it? 

Commuter-Yeah 

Railway Worker - Nice house, have ya?

Commuter -Yeah

Railway Worker - Garage?

Commuter- Yeah 

Railway Worker - Garden?

Commuter- Yeah 

Railway Worker - Mortgage?

Commuter - Yeah 

Railway Worker - Can work from home then, can ya? 

Commuter- Yeah - laptop, internet, wifi, skype, even got a smart screen TV that I can read my emails on

Railway Worker - I cant!

Commuter- Can you not?

Railway Worker - No. 

The suited commuter and the railway worker look at each other before leaving the outside of Sheffield railway station. One goes left, the other goes right. 

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On Strike! a Sheffield sketch by Ryan B Oxley Written in July 2022 © @rybazoxo 

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(Once again) I have used Sheffield train station as the setting for my writing. If you liked this you may like 'Late night, Sheaf Street' which is also on this website  © @rybazoxo

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com 

Sunshine and Graveyards: Sheffield Beauchief Abbey

 

Sunshine and Graveyards - it's what Fridays are made for, right? 

It is if you have a Friday off of work, and with a Sheffield heatwave on the horizon, Friday 16th of July 2022 was just the day for me. As local temperatures soared to 23 degrees C, I decided to go on a local nature walk and take a few photographs. Inspired by the BBC Springwatch and the fact I already own a bird book and a pair of binoculars, I stayed local to do a second exploration of the Abbeydale district of the city, and in particular, the stunning 12th-century Beauchief Abbey. 

Here I share a few pictures from my day of adventure; 

A lot of the 12th Century part of the church has long disappeared by a few 19th-century gravestones still exist. Some have collapsed with age which gives it a rather macabre atmosphere even on a sunny day.

A walk through a 19th-century graveyard on a sunny day is rather nice. However, I doubt I'd like it in the dark. You can sense the history, it's evident in the air that surrounds these historic buildings and monuments. 

By the end of my trip and the return journey home, I'd spotted a few Squirrels, chaffinches, and a starling or three. Abbeydale is home to a rather large golf course, so I guess I saw more lost golf balls than anything. I did enjoy walking the surrounding woodlands which were drenched in glorious sunshine

I found a little path surrounding Beauchief allotments that was walkable. Spotting a pair of Heron, which I assumed were nesting, was a pure delight. I drank some cheap pop that went predictably warm, but I did get a chance to use my late Grandad-In-Law's beloved binoculars. A great day out for Mindfulness, walking, exercise, and enjoying the great outdoors of urban Sheffield. I would recommend it. 

As June becomes July (to paraphrase a song by my fave band Ocean Colour Scene) I'd hope to share more photos and such ramblings, mumbling, & grumblings on this very blog! 

You can find out all about Beauchief Abbey HERE 

Words and Photos by @rybazoxo 

Website - https://ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com/