Chatsworth - A late arrival

-

 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 so by the time Ian had set up the gas, electric, water, and manhandled his botched together waste pipe into place, it was getting dark. We were on pitch 22, next door to the one we had last year.


Lovely pitch 22


Due to the dark we battened down the hatches and watched Chelsea v Arsenal. I then rustled up a Sunday dinner from nowhere.


Nice Sunday dinner and Rioja


Afterwards we did the Sunday pub quiz then had a go at a few questions from The Cryptic pub quiz book. We struggled to be honest, but did manage to get this dingbat.


Anybody know this sport?


From this book

Then it was time for a bit of Sweary Emma Thompson before we retired for the night. 

Notable Events

As it was a bit chilly I tried out my rechargeable hot water bottle that Vicky got me last Christmas. It’s brilliant! 

I have decided that I will try and watch a Christmas film every day in December. Not sure how well it will go.

It was Alex’s birthday. Not sure if he managed to retrieve our gift from two doors down where British Mail left it. 

Comments

  1. Vicky1 December 2025 at 05:23

    For the cryptic, I’ve never seen those two people in my life so not sure. Alex did safely get his present (a nice dog was looking after it) and card.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous1 December 2025 at 07:50

    I don’t get the cryptic sport. Unless it’s Art Garfunkel/Cherrie Blair!

    ReplyDelete

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