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Chatsworth - A trip to the market

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 We woke up to a clear, dry day. Yay! After less pfaffing than yesterday I made porridge for breakfast. I wanted to get to the showers before they closed for cleaning at 10.30. Lovely day through Dame Shirley’s window Porridge and toast After a nice hot shower (not push button) we discussed what to do with the day. Ian wanted a run and I wanted the Christmas market. Well, we could do both. While I washed up and tidied, Ian set off to run to Baslow and back, twice. A run When he returned he had mud all up his legs. He could not come into Dame Shirley like that, so I banished him to an outside chair while he had a cup of tea. Out in the unexpected sunshine He tootled off for a shower then we headed through the secret gate and on up to the market. We had our eye on a few things that we had spotted yesterday. First up, beef brisket on potatoes covered in raclette cheese and pickle. We shared a portion between us and it was very nice. Brisket Time for a wander and a few purchases. Then ...
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Chatsworth - Fairies and Lights

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 It rained overnight. Oh boy did it rain! York was flooded once again we heard but, despite being by the river, Chatsworth is OK. Ian slept fitfully as he kept hearing things dropping on the roof. I slept like a log. We awoke around 8 with the rain still battering us, and I made coffee. No point in getting up so we pfaffed a lot. Then I made a lovely full English, with beans! Cafe quality Full English All the while the rain was beating down. From the window we could see people is sou’westers and dogs in raincoats braving the torrent. ‘Do you fancy a walk into Baslow and some lunch?’ Ian asked. Normally I love a little walk to get some air, but not today. Thankfully Ian’s mums heating and water weren’t working! He spent an age on the phone to various people to arrange an emergency plumber who mended it very quickly (thanks to Chris for rushing down to let him in when he should have been working) . Then Chris had a query that necessitated the full laptop/ipad spread on the table. The...
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Chatsworth - A late arrival

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 Last year, just like York , I booked a few days at the insanely popular Chatsworth site. Unlike York, there was no flooding (yay) and we were able to go. The site itself is always popular as it is on the Chatsworth estate, but at Christmas it gets ramped up to 11 due to the Christmas Market and the House decorations. Ian had run the Donny 10k on the morning of our departure, doing a respectable time, and getting a nice medal.  Ian and running pals After he escaped the busy car park, got home, showered, and had lunch, it was 2.30pm. We jumped into a preloaded Dame Shirley , got Sir Georgie Kelly fired up, and departed for our final sojourn of the year. As we approached Baslow there were cars parked all down one side of the busy A road, presumably all trying to avoid the extortionate parking fees. It made it tricky for Ian to get through, especially with a bus coming the other way. Nevertheless we arrived at Chatsworth CMC site around 3.30. I had booked a serviced pitch ...
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Lickpenny - Homeward bound and a first

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 Ian woke up around 2am to find the heating had gone off completely and the cab was 12 degrees. We haven’t quite got the hang of the timer! I didn’t stir as I was toasty under the covers, until an early 7am departure crunched off. What is it with these people who can be up and off for seven? If we are out for midday it’s a bonus!  I got up around 8 to make the coffee and looked out of the window.  Snow! A tiny bit of snow had fallen overnight. The first ever snowfall while we have been away in Dame Shirley. The timer had done its job this morning and cranked up the heat so we were lovely and warm inside.  Sadly, we were heading home today, unless there was a blizzard of course. I prepared porridge for breakfast and we sat looking out as a few further flurries swirled around. I noticed MI5 next door had lowered the satellite. No spying to be done in a snowstorm I suppose.  Ian had been doing his back exercises outside but the cold and damp drove him in to do them...
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Lickpenny - A walk into Matlock

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 I was awoken around 5am by Sally, the bedroom TV, flashing red and blue. I fumbled about for the control and pushed a few buttons to stop the rave. I drifted back off before being awoken again. One of our neighbours was going for the early 7am departure. Lots of crunching of tyres on gravel and a barking dog. Next time I woke up it was 8.30 and Ian was preparing the coffee.  We did some lazing around as the weather had taken a turn for the worse and rain was pounding on Dame Shirls roof. Then it was time for a nice Full English. Full English We had planned a walk into Matlock but I wasn’t looking forward to it in the rain and the cold, but by the time we were ready the rain had petered out and there was a weak sun peaking through the clouds.  The path into Matlock started along the usual motorway before heading onto a quiet bit of uphill road. After that it was three miles downhill. There were a few short showers but mostly the weather was kind and I really enjoyed it. A...
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Lickpenny - A walk and a pub

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 It is a truth universally acknowledged that if Ian decides to drag the binoculars round on a walk, no birds or wildlife will be seen.  We awoke to a bright but chilly day and debated what to do. We settled on a walk we had seen in the information room, with a pub half way. Lunchtime food meant porridge for breakfast to leave some room for later. “I think I’ll take the binoculars”, Ian said before we departed. I turned away before he could see me roll my eyes and smirk. Looking at the OS map, the walk appeared to be downhill all the way there, and uphill all the way back. Never mind. Leaving Dame Shirl for the day The first half mile or so was along the motorway we went along yesterday, before we turned off onto a quiet lane. The sky was so clear and blue I had to put my sunglasses on. Soon we left the road and crossed a field. We proceeded to go downhill over several undog friendly styles. Ian would have had to lift any of our dogs over. Good job we didn’t take them. Eventual...
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