Musical Chairs at Middleton

 Musical Chairs at Middleton-by-Wirksworth

National Stone Centre 

24th October 2025

Say no more!

It is the longest time on record between meet ups. Four months!  And, thanks  to Pam's last minute sensible planning, seven of us were able to make it.  Yes, 7  out of 10 is very  good indeed. 

 

As I had arrived a bit early, I started organising the seating.  I just can't help myself, can I? Two tables seemed fine to me, but the management decided we needed three tables and duly arranged them.  

Everyone else arrived in dribs and drabs.  First in were Lynn and Alison. 

Counting out the pennies for the car park fee

Hotly pursued by Maggie, fresh from the gentle uphill walk from home, then Pam with Jo and finally Julia who only had to cross the road really. It was decided, by me, that a medium-longish blog was definitely going to happen even though we were just having a sit down.  Or, were we? 

We settled in for our first drinks with Julia and Jo sharing a pot of tea.  A teasing wave of a t-bag for Julia, and a proper dunking of builders' tea for Jo. But, Pam wasn't satisfied with the table lay out.  She moved one so that we were more cosy and could hear each other. Oops Pam, the management were not happy; you moved the wrong one.  So, just as we had ordered our main meal (not the parsnip soup which had been cooking for at least 3 hours and was still not ready) the management moved it all back to where it was when I first arrived! Now, whose tea was where now? And where was my phone? And did anyone notice the box of Belgian chocs being handed around in secret under the table? How did we choose which two to have? 

Two tables are better than three!

We felt we had had enough exercise for the day, so continued with our various chats. The trouble with a big group is that we split into little groups, so I'm afraid the blog is mostly about what I heard, but I can't remember when! However I do remember at the three table stage, that Jo had had a marvellous time in Snettisham looking at Knot:

No, not this sort...

Jo's Knot had a lovely fly around and then just grouped together and didn't move.  It's what they do;  they do it very well. However, the Greylag geese were definitely on the move.  Hundreds in fact and very noisy they were too; they do it very well.  Meanwhile, back in Derbyshire, the skies are now getting busier with the winter arrivals; look out for skeins (not of wool) but of the Pink-footed goose (pink wink sound, pink feet) and Whooper swans (whoop sound)... easy!!

Whooper, not whopper, although they are big. 

Of course we talked about the news and how we mostly can't bear to listen or watch, unless you are Lynn: she knows everything from Radio 4 about the T man and his mates. We briefly snarled about the rise and fear of fascist ideologies and how we like being 'woke'. A tenuous link, but we are in the National Stone Centre and some tribute must be made to the display

Hmm... from development to break up...equally applicable to the behaviour of ...

We mentioned the climate (and yes, the dread of drill baby, drill).  Maggie had been in Seville, extremely busy in October; yet another Saints' Day.  But, the temperature was not nearly so hot as in August when Seville peaked at 45C, just when the The VM needed a bit of a move around the parish on the 15th.  Wouldn't have wanted to be under that tableau in those temps.  Actually, wouldn't have wanted to be in that temp anywhere.

A room by the cathedral can be a bit noisy when the bells get going as also happened with Alison in Spain (I think) on 23rd December.  Not so noisy as perhaps being in a bell tower on the stroke of midday in Reykjavik: me.  

Listening intently to Maggie

On both sides of the table

Riot Women.  Now there's a series I've not yet watched.  Some have managed to watch it gracefully over a few nights.  Not Pam!  But a binge-watch with a count down to her hip op is perfectly acceptable.  Other programmes and films were mentioned; Jo added them to her trusty notebook. One of which may have been the film 'The Menu' (very dark humour about people who eat posh, like me) which somehow triggered a chat about Buxton eateries:  Lubens and Ithaca (a prettier name than Zorbas or Niko's) for a good Greek restaurant.  All within easy walk of the wonderful Buxton Opera House.

I'm not quite sure how we were transported to travelling to Cornwall down the M5's previous incarnation and wondering how the whole family managed to fit into an old Austin 7,  fry-ups in lay-bys and the need to stay overnight on route.  Cornwall then; favourite childhood beaches, usually the same one.  Cornwall now: Pam's mostly 'go-to' county which is on hold for a bit. Cornwall now: famous for its named chefs.... ahh.. is that the link? 

As we were nearing the car park deadline, a forlorn face appeared at the window: Chris with a rather stylish Lizzie.  London is warmer than than up north so thank goodness she remembered to pack her long coat.  I thanked the long-suffering for coping with us, met with a smiley grunt!. It was around then that we started to depart.  Chris and Maggie were off for a lovely walk.   Julia then did that sort of wave without looking back, down from whence she had come.  

 

Bye Julia!  Oh, she's already gone!

Meanwhile Jo and Pam went on a tour of the wild flowers.

If only we had all been invited!

Lynn met another young man as we soldiered on up the particularly steep slope to the car park. Can't take Lynn anywhere, she'd already chatted to the men in biking lycra at the start of our coffee. Difficult to tell if she actually knew him!

And, just when you thought the blog was all over.  I noticed on the last blog from June that some called Herry from Dubai had made a comment about parking. We're famous! We have a follower or just some random person advertising their services for free on our blog!

And, it is now... all over,  until November? Hopefully with the missing trio busy elsewhere.