Quite a Crowd at Cromford

 Quite a Crowd at Cromford 

November 10th 2022

For the first time in a long time eight of us managed to gather at Cromford Wharf, lots of hugs and even a few very belated birthday gifts were shared…

Pam made a brief appearance and then had to make a dash back home as she had forgotten her purse but we gave her good send off and she did remember to come back.

The café had thoughtfully provided us with a lovely big table and a willing photographer so we settled down for a two hour coffee break. There was a lot to catch up on, lots of travel tales, family news, the odd bit of gossip and the agreement that at a certain age it was better to have a beau than a boyfriend. 

Eventually we decided that we had probably better go for a walk in order to justify our lunch.

We chose not to use this form of transport - although it might have been fun 

Tali had been waiting patiently in Lynn’s car and was very happy to join us for a walk, however…….

………..it wasn’t long before this happened!

We all became quite adept at avoiding the shake and the resulting splattering with stinking canal mud!

The skies remained a bit grey but the rain kept away and the conversations continued as we strolled along the towpath, Christmas plans were discussed and the fact that it seems to arrive before bonfire night was unanimously derided, wild swimming was dismissed by most of us as a ridiculous idea as was the idea of ever returning to a classroom again and it was decided that any one of us could have done a better job as Prime Minister than Liz Truss - if only we had been asked.

Jo sang the praises of the museum at the High Peak Junction and we resolved to visit next time - as long as it’s open.

Tali took several more dips along the way and then decided to roll on the gravel path to try and dry herself!

We walked on to Aqueduct Cottage which is looking wonderful as the renovations progress, keeping an eye open for the ghost of Ton Farnsworth, Jo’s ancestor - possibly.

The woodland garden behind the cottage is also looking beautiful 

The famous Cromford Wave

We headed back following the scent of the soup, bacon butties and the Keralan pasties at the café.

Tali was still contemplating another stinky dip and the thought of catching a swan was also very tempting but she managed to resist temptation.

We all headed off to the café to take up our positions at our nice big table again for lunch and more chat, a very successful day even though no one had been in charge!

Our bird list for the day:

Blackbird 

Black headed gulls

Canada Geese

Crow

Jackdaw

Little grebe

Mallard 

Moorhen

Sparrow hawk

Swan

Wren

2 posh  doves

Flock of tits (could this be our new name?)

Pesky wood pigeons

Super fast black bird pretending to be a bat or it might have been an escaped poo bag blowing in the wind

Spot the delightful dab chick

Slightly out of focus swan giving Tali the evil eye.

Harvest Time

Harvest Time

Star Date: 13/10/2022

 

Helen, Jo and Alison met under blue skies in warm sunshine at the Lime Kiln, Wirksworth at 11.02am ready for a walk in Stoneywood. Helen Mitchell was recovering from a concert with Roxy Music. Lynn is looking after family members after her daughter’s accident (hope your daughter is on the mend). Julia and Maggie away  and Janice in Spain. 

Helen led the way onwards and upwards (despite not knowing which way to go, she declared half way up the steep footpath). We were in search of the raven but no luck. We spotted a soaring kestrel. We arrived at the Stardisc and looked out over the ‘lagoon’ from the past.

 

Conversations included teeth fixing and expensive inserts (did you know you can include teeth inserts on a free holiday to Turkey?), COVID boosters and flu jabs, ailments and holidays 

Although surrounded by beautiful autumnal scenery our minds, I think, were set on Souper Surprise, open today for the first time this Autumn at the Maltings in town between 12 and 1pm. It was a much quicker decent! And so we arrived at the Maltings a little early and there was no queue….

We could hear music coming from St Mary’s Church and decided to investigate and see if Chris Dixon was playing.

We were surprised to find a homeless young man from Greece playing the keyboard. We enjoyed a mini recital of quite haunting tunes. His girlfriend was very proud of him. We were joined by Marie

Back to the Maltings and we were now in the queue…. And many of the tables were full. Helen and Alison managed to get a table and place their order. Jo was deep in conversation in the queue with Mrs Boam – mum of past pupils. Jonathan is a graphic designer …. Twin daughters Amy and  ? (can’tremember), and their grandchildren stories etc etc.

The soups were delicious broccoli and stilton or spicy pumpkin, followed by home-made cake and coffee. 

Pam arrived from ESOL teaching at 12.48 – just in time and enjoyed her soup and cake. An opportunity for Helen to show how organised she is – Pam was given her early birthday present.

 

Conversations and photos shared of babies – Ava, Arlo and Harry, weddings and field mushrooms! Helen and Pam were up for taking a few for a creamy mushroom soup. 

We had such a lovely morning and a good catch. Not mushroom for any more food. So a quick walk in the sunshine, back to the cars to continue with the day elsewhere.

Looking forward to the next meet up – Thursday November 10th 2022

Continuing to Keep Cool ...in Kedleston this time.

 

Keeping Cool in Kedleston

Thursday 11th August 2022

At the start of heatwave number two, we opted for a shady, woodland walk. So, back to Kedleston! 

As Alison and Helen J turned up the drive in convoy,  no less, under the beautiful shade of the trees, we were a little surprised to see rather a lot of cars. We bagged the last remaining shade and waited for Janice who was stuck behind a tractor and then diverted to Derby! 

We walked the reverse route to normal so that we'd be in shade as it hotted up. The river was cool, the birds a bit quiet but the dragonflies and hawkers were brilliant especially in the sparkly sun.

The grass is always greener on the other side, especially if it's a golf course. 

As we tree-shade-hopped, we chatted mostly about real frogs in water features, how the only insects in our gardens are stingers and the stupidity of intelligent wood pigeons. 

Weirdly, Alison's garden isn't big enough for this waterfall! 

We then spent most of woodland walk looking for the nominated Tree of the Year 2022. Here are our findings

Nope... too hollow 

Barking up the wrong tree

And then we saw a familiar face, surely Helen M will know where it is

So we looked to the right of the path.

It's definitely one of these, she said. It's got a little wooden fence round it. Helen M was so convincing, we all believed her. Until...  

We looked on the other side of the path, where there was a distinct possibility it was over there somewhere under the very blue sky. 

A little further down the path, we found it. The angle of the  view of the 'Kedleston layered horse chestnut' might not do it justice, but we have given the tree a gold star for effort. 

Helen J finds perfect shade for lunch and starts the blog (yes, I did!)whilst waiting for everyone else to join a long queue in search of a sandwich. If only they'd read the instructions! And this also gave Pam plenty of time to catch up. 

We shared our lunch with a very inquisitive wasp, trapped it under a cup, accidentally released it, so it interrupted our very long chat. Key elements of which were 'how to save'. Best 'how to save water' is put a bucket in your shower and save the drops for the next person. Best 'how to save fuel ' was a bit more  competitive between the air fryer and an Aldi mini oven 😀 . And 'how to save money on an overnight sleeper' was to share with a bunch of strangers but baggsie the bottom bunk!  

Courtesy of a good summer of sport we reminisced about our own sporting opportunities and one of us does own a gold medal for her football!  (That's comprehensives and youth clubs for you!)

We did think about everyone else abroad in 🇮🇹 or 🇮🇪,  Matlock Farm 🚜, Darley Dale having a siesta😴 and one recovering from a big birthday bash.  

And she doesn't look a day over.... 

Our bird count for the day was, not surprisingly, low

Black headed gull

Black backed gull not sure which one. 

Bullfinch

Buzzard

Canada geese

Crow

Coot

Grey heron (pretending to be a sheep)

Greylag

Hacksaw

Little egret

Mallard

Swans with lots of cygnets.

 

 

 

Keeping Cool in Crich

Keeping Cool in Crich

Thursday 14th July 2022

Inbetween heatwaves, it is important to keep a cool head when planning a trip around Crich. A good, slightly chilly night's sleep? Tick. Park in the shade? Tick. With Alison, Jo and Helen J raring to go, we paused to wait for Julia and exchanged even more belated birthday presents. After a quick 'hi' to Bob and 'adieu' to Julia, we set off up the hill. Shady?  Of course. 

Anyone seen some sheep?  

As life is returning back to a sort of normality, other babes were either on holiday or had other plans. Life just seems very busy and there were even hints that the blog might be late.  

A couple of shady characters

We mostly chatted about the stress of self-updating computers, our inability to keep up and their ability to use up yet more space.  Ilford photos are a definite rose-coloured picture of the past. 

Alison, the nettle basher and gate crasher on a path to... ? 

We arrived early at The Loaf and start with a lovely brunch. Just as Julia arrives, Jo needs to rush home to put the kettle on for Matt who may or may not have escaped from Heathrow.  So swapping one J for another, we start our activity: the Northern Loop of the Crich Heritage Treasure Trail. We wend our way to the old village green and check out the telephone kiosk which handily doubles up as a Defibrillator. 

Pretty, cool  eh?

Crich's open air lido

Having nearly lost the Treasure Trail questionnaire in a bin, Alison took charge! Once a travel and tourism teacher...  

We diligently follow the trail up the hill, admire lots of buildings and find answers to the questions.. 

Where the White Swan was

Where a Chapel once stood 

Until we hear cries for help; the source of which was a vintage gentleman laying on the ground. We kept cool heads, checked he was ok, helped him to his feet, wobbled him to his door and left him in the capable hands of his handyman who, luckily was just finishing a bit of plastering in the shade of the back garden. He's not called a handyman for nothing! Let's also just say that we were thankful that Alison did not need to race back down the hill to that telephone box! We allow ourselves bonus points for services to Crich. 

It's just a cross we have to bear! 

Ignoring  instructions not to stray onto the road, we cross it several times.  We survive and admire all sorts of stonework and end up at the old cattle market. 

Julia's re-enactment of a beast tethered to the rail

We continue to learn about George Stephenson's influence on Crich: the narrow-gauge railway, his love of ale and a grilled chop.

And George's legacy... a playground at the end of the tunnel! 

We head up past the church, admire views of Crich Stand, decide to visit it at a later date,  and give a cheery wave to a lovely lady.

She's at it again! 

We do a bit of tram spotting as it is certainly cheaper than getting on one! And admire the recycled facade of the old Assembly rooms. 

Crich's hidden well. 

We know we are nearly back as we spot the quirky planters from the morning.

Bit too big for our backpacks! 

Albeit a few hours late, Lynn is doing exactly what she said she'd be doing. So we chatted about those sort of books one reads, not for their literary merit but because they are set in our locality.

Set in the Dark Peak then! 

We settle into afternoon tea and cake and compare days before Stag and Hen parties were invented, getting married abroad, honeymoons and cute great-niece baby videos (my payback.. haha!). Holiday costs are also spiralling, but that might be owing to our need to regain our lost entitlement  (so, why not add- a-few- more-days- whilst- we- are-here) and the trouble with arrogant waiters. And what about the continuing effect of Covid? With numbers up again, and even greater numbers of family and friends recovering from it, how on earth are some of us still dodging it?! 

Our time soon comes to an end,, so with further gifting, we then bid goodbye to Lynn and Julia

Might come in useful for dog-catching! 

To finish with a literary mis-quote of a truly accomplished writer : did Alison and Helen J  'cut themselves a new path'* ? Or did they retrace the path Jo found? Our secret's safe between us! 

We spy three helicopters. Can you see them? 

Birds were mostly hiding today but we did see..

Crows

House sparrow 

Swifts

Swallow

Magpie

*Maya Anjelou

Found ewe flocked to a pretty cool place!