The 92b is another unusual Cardiff Bus. It goes from Cardiff Bus Interchange out to Penarth Cemetery. The outward journey takes place just four times in the early morning and the return journey twice in the afternoon. That means if you want to do the whole route on the same day you need to spend six hours in the cemetery. I do enjoy a wander around a cemetery but not for six hours so my 92b experience would have to be spread over a couple of days. The 92b is sporting the new orange and pink livery which reminds me of those little ‘four for a penny’ sweets we used to get in my youth.
The difference between the 92 and the 92b is that the later takes in Bessemer Road which is jam packed full of small industrial units ranging from companies selling windows, paints, radios to embroidery. Many years ago I think I recall there being a market down here. We rejoin Penarth Road and go past the Post Office sorting office and over the River Ely. The presence of the nearby dogs home is evidenced by people out doing some volunteer dog walking.
After travelling through Penarth and out the other side we arrive at the cemetery. I do like the brick chapel and town-hall like clock outside. I am less convinced by the presence of a defibrillator outside the entrance. Someone with a dark sense of humour arranged for that to be put there.
I head down to the cliff top where impressionist artist Alfred Sisley once visited and painted a few pieces. I grabbed a coffee from Willmore’s and luckily found the only bench with some shade on the cliff path under a tree. I read my book ‘Men are from Mars and Women from Venus’ in the hope of understanding why men like catching buses in numerical order and women don’t. It didn’t tell me.
Early on in our marriage we both read a similar book that explained that when a woman offloads she isn’t expecting you to solve the problem more just to listen. That was a complete revelation to me. More recently I’ve been told that my advice can be welcome and appreciated. Now I’m left trying to gauge whether I need to be in listening mode or problem solving mode. Another 30 years of practice and I may get it right.
I head down onto the Esplanade and out onto the pier before walking up through Alexandra Gardens and into Penarth.
There was a strange happening on my return visit to catch the 92b back to Cardiff. At the bus stop outside Penarth Cemetery there was a young woman wearing a black silken mourning outfit, her face half covered in a veil and she was carrying an old fashioned lamp. A photographer turned up to take some pictures. I’ve no idea what was going on there.
Cardiff Capers 