Motorhome Madness with the Walters

 Another good nights sleep, another sweet, confused little face waiting for Ian behind the bedroom door. Monty can definitely come again. We had a chill morning with sausage sandwiches for breakfast before packing up dame Shirley in preparation for departure. We had very much enjoyed Carsington Water and vowed to return for a weekend another time.  On the way home we decided to call at Kedelston Hall, a National Trust property near Derby. I had checked the internet and found that there was plenty of room to park a motorhome, but they had to enter through the out gate due to a narrow bridge. Ian was a bit dubious but a sign on the out gate read, ‘No Entry on pain of death, except large vehicles.’ That’s us then. We had to pass a few cars going out, but there were plenty of places to pass, and a nice big car park at the end with loads of room. A pleasant lady told us about the walks we could do, a long or short. We decided on the short which culminated in us crossing a field of ...

 We woke late again, Monty having not stirred, and I opened the door to his confused little face. My turn to feed and walk him so we had a little stroll round part of the dog walk. This section had lovely views of the rolling hills and the morning birds were chirping away.  Back at dame Shirley we had porridge and toast for breakfast, then after some pfaffing Ian went off for a run around the reservoir. Loads of people began departing at this point, taking all the children with them. Nice. Monty and I walked another part of the dog walk then I settled outside, wrapped in my blankie as it was a bit cool, to read and nap. Good times. Ian returned sweaty and puffing. He had run faster than he intended. I would begin to worry if he did not run faster than he intended.  Ian’s fast run After he showered we set off to walk to the pub I had booked for Sunday Lunch. The Red Lion in Hognaston. Apparently Hognaston is an ancient village where the stagecoach from London to Manchester...

 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...

 Our next Dame Shirley outing was to be to Carsington Water, a reservoir only an hour and a half a way. It was to be a special weekend trip, in that Monty would be replacing Misty as Top Dog for the first time.  I had a nice little dentist appointment in the morning to measure me for false teeth, but as soon as I returned we headed off. Ian had arranged a detour to Kiveton Park Steels. They were allowing us to use their weigh bridge to check our weight. Legally, for insurance purposes, Dame Shirley is allowed to be 3500kg fully laden. We came in at just over 3400. Perfect. We arrived at the site around 3.30pm, and were soon all set up on Pitch 41, a nice little number close to the toilets and the entrance to the dog walk. Sadly, also right by a small children’s playground. You win some you lose some. Pitch 41 All set up Monty was confused. He was confused when we arrived. Confused when I walked him down to reception to get the gate fob. Confused when Ian was setting up the awn...