Gelly Babes: Wirksworth and Kedleston

Wirksworth Welcome and Kedleston ...

9th May and 12th May 2022

In a stylish Wirksworth apartment, fittingly our stylish friend returns. Sporting half a scarf(!) but the biggest smile ever, we hugged and laughed... a lot.

With most Babes reading the instructions properly, we thankfully had enough mugs for refreshments. Tupperware revealed enough homemade cake to feed the whole town but disappointingly not a slice of kitchen roll was to be found in any of the cupboards!

Now, hoowzaboout a selfie? With Charlotte's rickety phone camera and Jane's long arm, we somehow manage a group selfie.

Pam throwing herself into the frame.

Perfect!

We harked back to times when we 'took action' and swapped our lunchtime duties for trips to the pub, our IT skills ( somewhat varied!) which led to THAT calendar featuring our male colleagues in various guises.: balloons, carrots, goggles, santa ... how did you persuade them Jane?!

Yew look good Jane, but a bit boxed in😉

Meanwhile Maggie, is looking forward to some soggy weather in the Lakes. Practising looking out from within at the

Tebay Services on the M6.

If only she had waited a day, she might have found a drier spot and another babe.

Jo on her way to support Dave get stoned.

Meanwhile Alison is receiving birthday wishes on the wrong day, and then the correct day.

A few days later five go walkies in Kedleston.

Think we might have cracked the group selfie thanks to Janice’s expertise!

After coffee and a good old catch up under a spreading chestnut tree we set off through the gardens and up through the woods, once again Helen J had organised some good weather, a bit breezy but dry and sunny.

Much talk of the perils of no mow May, rewilding, the joys of honesty plants, ponds in washing up bowls and being mistakenly thought of as clueless old ladies!

A band of merry women (slightly out of focus thanks to Betty wanting to join in) - not quite the Major Oak but still impressive and no sign of Robin Hood.

Stopping to admire the view is compulsory at this point - Alport Heights in the distance

Sheep shall safely graze, despite Betty’s best efforts to try and play with the lambs

Wild garlic and much talk of foraging and here’s the recipe for wild garlic soup:

25g butter
2 (roughly 275g) medium potatoes, cut into 1cm cubes
1 (about 150g) medium onion, chopped
1 litre vegetable stock
4 big handfuls (about 200g) of wild garlic leaves, chopped
100ml double cream
Heat the butter in a large saucepan over a medium heat. When foaming, add the potatoes and onion, then toss until well coated. Season. Reduce the heat, cover and cook for about 10 minutes until the vegetables are soft.Add the stock, bring to the boil, then add the wild garlic and cook for 2 minutes until wilted. Immediately liquidise the soup with a hand-held stick blender, then return to the pan, stir in the cream, taste and season. Serve hot with crusty bread.

The garlic mustard also created some interest and here’s a link to some interesting stuff about it:

https://www.foragersfolly.co.uk/garlic-mustard/

Betty was very excited to be back with her chums and showed her joy by rolling in every type of poo she could find, badger and goose being her poos of choice

A paddle in the mud at the edge of the river - she’s hoping that will mean she won’t have to have a bath when she gets home.

The walk ended in the now traditional lunch on the lawn outside the hall with more catching up, talk of upcoming holiday plans, various ailments etc etc… Pam headed of for her Ukrainian meal and Helen M headed off to bath a smelly Betty.

Helen J, Alison and Janice went off to explore the hall in the hope of finding the dressing up box

The reception hall for visiting aristocrats. Visiting months were May to September so perfect timing. 40 rooms to stay in. Stay until you felt you had overstayed and then move on to another posh place such as Chatsworth! Go home in September.