Chatsworth - The House and Market

-

 Despite the cold and rain we had a lovely nights sleep. Dame Shirley really is toastie in winter. A full English for breakfast was of course the first thing on the list for today. While I was cooking it Ian noticed that a pair of ipods had been ‘following’ him. Thinking they were his own he pressed the play sound button. Nothing. He tried again, and again. Nothing. Then it dawned they must be someone else’s, probably the Germans! Oh how we laughed at the thought of them sat in their giant van hearing mad tinging. 


Full English

After breakfast we had a visit from the resident gang of ducks. I told them we had nothing for them but they were quite threatening.


The Duck Mafia

After breakfast we chilled for a bit before wrapping up and heading through the secret door and heading for the Christmas Market. It’s always fun to see the surprise of people walking past on the other side.


Secret Door

Before leaving I had checked my watch. No rain for three days it said. Great! But as we walked up to the house it started chucking it down. Driving rain that soaks you through. Luckily, the people who had paid for parking got a free tractor ride up to the market and we thankfully hopped on that. 

We had a lovely wander around the many hat and cheese stalls, with a couple of others thrown in. It was all very Christmassy with a nice oompah band playing. We didn’t buy anything as we were going in the house but I have my eye on some things for tomorrow. Eventually we stopped for a toastie (Ian) and luxury hot chocolate (both). As Ian queued for his toastie a lady asked if she could have tuna with mayo but no cheese because her friend had just had a throat op so needed mayo, but was allergic to cheese. The server explained that the cheese was everywhere on the grill etc. No problem, she’s not that allergic. Toasted!? No problem, her throats not that bad. 


Luxury

After that it was our time to go in the house and see their Christmas decs. They must have chopped down a whole forest as there was at least one tree, usually more, in every room. They were all themed differently though and the baubles were amazing. There were also wreaths and garlands everywhere. As we entered a lady behind asked if she could just go in and take a look at the decorations as she ‘can’t do stairs’. Well that’s why we paid the big bucks lass! We are not sure if she was allowed or not.



Some lovely trees


Garlands


Table

After we exited we had a quick spin around the gardens and admired the house and fountain from afar



House and fountain

Back at the market we had some mulled wine and bought some nice pies for tea from the pieman.


Mulled wine


Lovely local pie

Back at Dame Shirley we batoned down the hatches after tea and watched the usual Monday night quizzes. We had had a lovely day but sadly found no wishing wells. There’s always tomorrow. 

Neighbour watch

No sign of the Germans whatsoever. I don’t think there is anyone in the massive truck. In fact I have barely seen another soul despite the site being chocka. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Carsington Water - Saint Monty

-
Image
 If you recall, we closed the door on Monty’s confused face and went off to bed. I opened my eyes and looked at the clock soon after and it was 8am! I had heard nothing during the night or early morning. No children, no birds, no Ian going to the loo, and most importantly no Monty. Ian got up to make coffee, and there he was, his lovely confused face looking back at us. Ian fed him and took him out while I made coffee and battened down the hatches in the bedroom. I had fetched a big blankie to cover the bed so he could jump up. But sadly (happily in Ian’s eyes) he cannot manoeuvre enough to leap up. So there he lay at the bottom of the bed just being good. After a lovely long pfaff I made the first day Full English, Monty didn’t even get under my feet (much). Full English We then pfaffed a bit more before setting off on another walk, this time to the visitor centre down the other end of the lake. The weather was a bit cool for the hot spell, so I dithered about what to wear, finall...
Read more

Baltic Wharf - The Run

-
Image
 No more car alarms in the night but I did manage to knock over my water. Only my magazine got wet though. My turn for Misty so I fed her and put the kettle on before we walked over to the dog postage stamp. As it’s near the gate I was able to see that there were already stewards and cones I place. The run will go right past the site on the opposite side to the wharf. No exit or entry here till 3pm. Chris and Ian were in full race mode from moment one. All stretching and porridge. Tape, bandages, gel and sun cream were all applied with vigour. There was more stretching and lots of trips to the loo, until about 10am they were ready to depart.  Good luck boys They would be meeting Vicky at the start, if she is real and not mythical. Chris,  being quick, would be in the first wave. Vicky and Ian, being slow, in the last. This has been a real bone of contention as Ian feels he must have put down the wrong expected time and should be in wave one too! Not that Chris has been ma...
Read more

Abbey Wood - A New year in Dame Shirl

-
Image
 Sadly for us, it was early April before Dame Shirley saw her first outing. Happily for us, the reason was our Ruby wedding cruise. Over the winter Ian had prepared a new shelf to go by the sink. It looks very nice. The heating had  broken, but Ian was able to mend it with the help of Olaf on utube. And Chris had got me a lovely new light for Christmas. Gorgeous new shelf The reason for the trip to London was that Ian was running the London Landmarks Half Marathon in aid of Alzheimer’s Research, and also to check out The Caravan and Motorhome Club Abbey Wood site. This is the nearest site to central London and very popular. Ready to run Although we were all locked and loaded, our plan to leave around eleven was scuppered because Ian had to take his mum to the doctor. She had a chest infection and, he reported, was in a prickly mood. Still, with her all treated and settled back home, we were able to leave around midday.  It was great to be out on the road again. It was red...
Read more