A stroll in Dovedale.

As the forecast for today was so good (and it was really the only day we could get away) Keith and I drove the 70 odd miles up to the Derbyshire Peak District to take a walk in Dovedale.

We left a bit later than we intended and after putting some diesel in my car, we had a quick breakfast at a Little Chef on the A14. This set us up for the day and we had a fairly good run, slowing down only in the lovely town of Ashbourne, where we were caught up in the Saturday shopping traffic.

There's a large, very muddy, car park at the start of the walk so we changed into our walking boots and set off along the river Dove. The whole area is beautiful - the gurgling, rushing river and the surrounding hills are gorgeous and there were loads of people out walking, most of them with their dogs.

The walk starts off on the level and the river was so full it was spilling out onto the path. After a few minutes we came to the famous stepping stones which have to be negotiated very carefully!

Some people carried their pooches over the stepping stones!

There were lots of people out walking and near the stepping stones a few ducks were hanging out, on the look out for crumbs. They were joined by a trio of crows who were also eyeing our pockets in case we had any grub...not this time!

After a while we came to a flight of wide stone steps that took us away from the fast-flowing river. It was quite a climb!

Once at the top of the steps we spotted a path leading up the side of one of the hills. We decided to set off and see where it led to, but after about twenty minutes we decided to turn back as it just kept going up and up and we weren't really prepared for such a steep climb!

The muddy, stony path. Quite slippery in places!

We turned back and walked the way we'd come. By now we could tell that the light was beginning to fade and the valley is so sheltered there was no sun at all. We didn't fancy the stepping stones in the dark! On the way back we played "pooh sticks" which made us both laugh as the little sticks stayed with us for quite a long way along the river, only coming to grief in one of the fast weirs.

A lot of people were heading back to the start of the walk and we watched a trio of huge Newfoundland dogs playing in the shallow parts and retrieving sticks for their owner. They were drenched and I can only imagine what the owner's car looked like after they finished their walk!

Back at the car park I enjoyed a hot chocolate and then we changed out of our muddy boots to drive home. We skirted Derby this time and had a very good journey home where the children were pleased to see us. I think they missed our company today!

As we'd been out all day we decided to have a Chinese takeway from the van in the village but they weren't there this evening! Typical! We ordered one to be delivered from Brixworth and went to The Royal Oak for a drink anyway. It was packed with people eating and drinking and made for a very relaxing end to an enjoyable day!

Winding down...

So, Christmas is over for another year, but it was very enjoyable!

Today Sophie and I drove over to Meerkat Harborough as she is going to a school Winter Ball next week and she needed to get a dress to wear. We had lunch in Costa Coffee first and then had a good search through the sales in New Look. I bought a case for my new Kindle and when I re-joined my daughter she had an armful of clothes! It doesn't take her long!

We didn't stay in the town long as it was starting to get busy and when we got home I popped around to see Sue and to take her plates back (she'd given us some cheese from her drinks party last Saturday). Her dog Bailey was a bit unsure of me at first but I was soon stroking his tummy and he showed me all the toys he'd received at Christmas...he had more than Sue and Paul! We do have some pampered pooches around here!

We had a cup of tea and a good chat and then I returned home, collected Sophie and we went off to the gym for a much-needed swim. It felt like ages since we'd been and it was much quieter than normal. Luckily we had the Slow Lane to ourselves so we swam for half an hour and then relaxed in the spa! Bliss!

Christmas celebrations!

Christmas Day:

We had a lovely Christmas Day - one of the most relaxed for years. The children were up at just after 8am and by 9am all the presents had been opened! All that shopping!

While chaos reigned in the living room I tidied up the kitchen and made a cooked breakfast as we weren't going to be eating dinner until later that afternoon. By the time we'd eaten chipolatas, bacon, scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast it was almost 11am and I just had time to play with the Kindle that Keith had bought for me (along with a Tassimo coffee machine) and download two books. I will still read paper books, but I have to say it's a lot easier to buy a new book via the Kindle!

At lunchtime we popped to the pub for an hour to wish Happy Christmas to Keith's mates Dave and John, and to say hello to Ian who was rushed off his feet. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day, just how it should be!

The afternoon was very relaxed and we played two games of Mikey's "Cards Against Humanity" which was actually really horrible and in some cases, in very bad taste! It was hilarious though, and Sophie and I had to re-do our eye make-up as we were laughing so much! Not a game to play with friends who are very politically correct!

At 4pm we loaded the car up with Mum and Dad's presents and then drove to their house. We had planned to leave the car with them overnight and then walk back, something we needed after a heavy meal and lots of wine!

We had a fantastic evening and Mum and Dad worked really hard to make it special for all of us. They had lit a fire in the living room and we sipped Mulled wine as we opened our presents. The children were really pleased with what they received and Mum and Dad were over the moon with the hamper I'd made up for them, which was a relief! I received a lovely nightie and dressing gown set in a gorgeous silky material plus Keith and I were treated to another voucher for a night away, this time in a character hotel! Yippee!

Once the presents were opened we sat down for our starters - prawn cocktail for the adults and pate and toast for the wee ones. I'd bought Dad a bottle of Chablis which we drank with the starter and even the children had half a glass and enjoyed it! My Dad then served a mango sorbet and after letting that refresh our palates we went back to the living room while Mum and Dad beavered away putting the finishing touches to the main course.

I felt a little bit guilty, I have to say, sitting doing nothing in the living room, but all my offers of help were refused so I had no choice but to sink back down into the cushions and relax. My parents' house is very cosy indeed and with the twinkling lights and the fire it felt lovely to sit and look forward to our turkey dinner.

Mum and Dad had made a lovely meal and we had loads of vegetables, turkey, gammon and enough roast potatoes and pigs in blankets to feed an army! By the end we were all well and truly stuffed! Again, we were told to go and relax while Mum and Dad cleared away and then we watched The Pink Panther film which was silly but enjoyable!

Maureen, our cook at work, had very kindly made dessert for us - it was a bit like an ice-cream bomb with spiced fruits which dad had covered with melted chocolate. It was delicious but I still like my Christmas pudding with brandy cream!

By 9.30pm Mum and Dad were flagging and the kids wanted to go home and get back to their gadgets so we said our goodbyes and walked home. It felt very frosty underfoot but it was great to get out in the fresh air and have a little bit of exercise!


Boxing Day:

I was up early this morning and I caught up with a couple of programmes I'd recorded on Christmas Day, one of which was a ghost story called The Tractate Middoth - a bit strange but certainly not as scary as the reviews described!

Keith and I dressed and walked up to collect the car before the children woke up and the frost had given way to grey, murky fog. Not very pleasant! We had a quick cup of coffee with Mum and Dad then drove home to prepare dinner (beef casserole) before we went into work to feed the birds. I just had a couple of things I needed to do in the office and then it was home to do some household chores which I couldn't leave any longer!

Keith spent all afternoon ironing while I cleaned my filthy car inside and out, hoovered the house and changed our bed. By 4pm I was ready for a long soak in the bath and a loll about on the sofa. We had talked about going to the pub but Keith had a quick drive up to the village and said it was closed. That was all the excuse we needed to don our comfiest clothes (I'd bought Keith a very snuggly onesie!) and do very little before dinner!

Happy Christmas!

I'd like to wish everyone who reads this blog a very Merry Christmas and I hope that 2014 will be the best year ever for you all!

Perfect Christmas Eve

Today has been lovely and the weather has improved no end, with lots of sunshine which has been a bonus!

Keith was very brave and ventured over to Tesco first thing as we realised that this year we can't rely on leftovers for our Boxing Day meal! I thought he was mad, but he called me from the store to say that the place was empty...amazing!

We had booked a table at the Royal Oak for lunch so we had a drink in the bar before going to our table and I soaked up the lovely atmosphere that's always part of the pub's appeal. We had a great meal  - starters of very garlicky bread, followed by a whale of a fish for Keith and I, a burger for Sophie and a Club Sandwich for Mikey - and Sophie even managed a delicious panna cotta for dessert.

As soon as we got home Sophie and I went out again to Beckworth as I was still on the hunt for a flower arrangement for Mum. I bought a beautiful turkey and stuffing (pork) pie and as they were desperate to get rid of them, we had another added for free, along with two mini pork pies! I'll take the bigger one over to Mum and Dad's tomorrow as there's no way we can get through two!

I also bought some satsumas and a little tray of dates but couldn't find any flowers or plants for mum so I bought her a box of chocolates instead. With some little dunking chocolate sticks for the children (to make hot chocolate) our purchases were complete and we headed home.

The rest of the day was spent doing very little, just how Christmas Eve should be!

Christmas storms

I was awake early this morning and the news was full of the very windy and wet weather set to batter the British Isles. We even had a weather warning in our area for high winds and rain, not the best of days to venture out to finish the Christmas shopping!

But Keith and I did go out as Sophie had some of her friends around today and wanted them to sit in the living room, eat pizza and watch DVDs! We went off to Meerkat Harborough at midday and braved the foul weather for a couple of hours. We called in to see Duncan and his merry band to get some wine to take around to Mum and Dad's house on Christmas Day. The shop was packed with people looking for wine to match the turkey and Nick picked out an Italian red and a Chablis for me.

I bought Mikey two little stocking fillers and then we ventured home but on the way I remembered I wanted to buy my Mum an arrangement of flowers so we headed off to the garden centre by Harlestone Firs. It was quieter than I expected but I couldn't find anything I liked so we just had a mooch about and chuckled at all the sales prices tagged onto the trees and lights. They'll probably be even cheaper tomorrow! Finally we decided to head home and watched TV in our bedroom, marvelling at the sound of the wind and rain outside. It was a really violent night!

It really wasn't the sort of night to venture out into town to see the Pantomime! We picked Mum and Dad up at 6pm (Keith was more than happy to stay home and watch the football) and headed off to the Derngate theatre to see Sleeping Beauty starring Linda Lusardi and her husband Sam Kane. I can honestly say it was the best Panto I've ever seen and had something for everyone. The highlight for all of us were the 3D effects which really were like being at a high-tech show in Universal. Lots of scary creatures (spiders, snakes, horrible insects) loomed out of the stage at us making everyone scream and squirm in their seats! It was truly brilliant! As well as that, the comic scenes were very funny and the King performed some great magic tricks so the whole show, with the fantastic costumes and dancers, was very entertaining and they've certainly brought the traditional pantomime into the 21st century!

When it was time to go home the rain had started again and back home our string of lights almost came down. It was certainly a wild and woolly start to Christmas!

Dog sitting!

I awoke this morning feeling a little fragile (again!) and feeling glad that the only thing I had planned was looking after Max the dog for Sarah and Liam. Sarah brought him around at 11am and I spent a lovely afternoon rubbing his tummy and having lots of cuddles. I wasn't the only one...

The cats weren't happy at being chucked out of the house, though! Half way through the afternoon I took him for a short walk down to the village and decided to turn back as he's getting on a bit now...I doubt very much he would be able to do the 16 mile Holcot Hobble that we both did together many years ago!

I'm glad I turned back as the beautiful blue sky was gradually turning a very nasty shade of dark grey and within five minutes of being back at home we had a very violent hailstorm that turned the roads and gardens white - it looked like it had snowed!

Sophie called me to ask me to pick her up at 4pm which I was only too glad to do. On the way to pick her up the sky had reverted back to pinky-blue but the hailstones still lay on the grass verges!

By the way, here is a photo of my Christmas cake and I suppose I can cross another item off my Bucket List for 2013!

1. Visit Saltaire near Bradford - a Victorian model village built by Sir Titus Salt for his mill workers. 
2. Drive to Berlin (maybe a bit dodgy this one but I'm going to persevere).
3. Visit a UK Christmas Market.
4. Walk through Dovedale in the Peak District.
5. Make a Christmas cake.
6. Write a short story - it's about time I got back into my writing.
7. Visit Coton Manor Gardens.
8. Climb at least one of the highest mountains in the UK - either Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis or Snowdon (hmmm...got to get that treadmill at the gym on a higher incline...)
9. Visit Portmeirion in Wales.
10. Ride one of the scarier roller coasters when we visit Florida, but NOT the Hulk!
11. Visit the National Gallery.
12. Read Wuthering Heights.
13. Grow a sunflower from seed.

I suppose I haven't done too badly, although I'm still annoyed with myself for chickening out on the Revenge of the Mummy ride! Maybe next year we'll visit Busch Gardens in Tampa and I'll make myself go on a scary rollercoaster!