The last few days

On Sunday we decided to drive to Leek over the Roaches past the 'winking man' and on to Buxton. There was still a lot of snow around on the hills but Buxton itself was wet and slushy.

We had a wander around the town, a mug of coffee and a muffin in the shopping centre and then walked up to the Pavilion. There were some beautiful orchids in the glass house.

Then we drove back over the hills via Earl Sterndale, into Hartington and back towards home. The views were spectacular.

Today we decided to drive over to the Air Museum at RAF Cosford to see the new displays but when we got there we were diverted by the police because there was a security alert at the air base and museum. We ended up for lunch at Norbury Junction and looked at the canal boats instead.

Oh well, boats instead of planes. The lunch was very tasty but the weather was very cold.

Off to Nottingham tomorrow to visit some friends one of whom is just starting up a blog - so watch this space for a link.

Weather Report

Well, after the spring like weather of Saturday and Sunday this is the state of the garden today. The cats are not liking it at all; for some reason they think it is my fault.

You have to admit though, that this weather is more normal for early February.

Off to have some warming soup for lunch. I just hope the council have gritted the roads well so that it doesn't take Paul over two hours to get home from work like it did when we last had a downfall like this.

High Peak Trail Part 3

Sunday was such a beautiful day. We had decided that we were going to walk a further stretch of of The High Peak Trail this time from Middleton Top, through the Hopton Tunnel and on to Harboro Rocks. We managed to park at Middleton Top even though by the time we arrived it was getting very busy and people with huge cars with cycles on the back were struggling to park; luckily our little car slips into the smallest place.

We donned boots and coats and set out on our adventure. This length of the trail was far busier than the stretch down to Cromford and we had to watch out all the time for joggers and cyclists. Query - why don't cycles have bells any more? This walk went past quite a few quarries and the scattered remains of buildings and earth works associated with the old lead mines and lime burning industries. We saw farmsteads nestled in valleys and in the distance the glittering tranquility of Carsington Water. We slowly but surely made our way up to the top of Harborough Rocks - it was quite easy to get up there on well trodden paths - the views were spectacular - although, on the horizon was a strange, thin layer of yellow cloud - I'd never seen anything like this before.

As we came down again Paul was busy taking shots of the coal mine below us - I turned and saw this view which I took with my new camera - I'm quite pleased with it:-

A Visit to the Garden Centre

Today, after a much needed trip to the supermarket - the cupboard, fridge and freezer were bare, and even worse we were down to our last four sachets of cat food - we drove out to Bridgemere Garden Centre to buy tomato seeds and compost. Even though it was sunny in Stoke as we drove out towards the Maer hills and through to Woore the mist was swirling across the road. Of course we hit the coffee shop first whilst it was still fairly quiet and then had a wander around the new spring time displays. We hadn't visited since just before Christmas and everything had changed. We also had a walk around the gardens there which, by then, were looking lovely in the bright sunshine.

We bought two types of tomato seeds, the popular Moneymaker and a plum tomato variety called Incas. These are now potted in plastic catering cups with holes drilled in the bottom so we will await the results. The best plants will be nurtured in the conservatory before planting in the green house later on.

We managed to do a little bit of work in the garden after sorting out the seeds and I discovered a daisy on the lawn and a dandelion in one of the beds - both in flower and Paul spotted a Peacock butterfly and noticed rose buds on our yellow rose. In February? I don't expect to see these things until much later. To quote one of my heroes Christopher Hill - 'The World Turned Upside Down' - well it has in our garden anyway.

Grey, Grey

For the past week I've been feeling rather low but can't put my finger on any particular reason. For five days now I've had a sore throat and tickly cough which has just about driven me mad and I keep wanting to curl up and sleep. Today it has finally turned into a cold so I'm sitting here with eyes streaming. I've just seen a grey squirrel dancing and prancing across the lawn but, of course, by the time I'd got the camera out and set up it had disappeared. The weather outside is grey and misty so I'm going to add a poem that I wrote, nearly five years ago. I actually wrote it in November and the inspiration came whilst I was walking in Longton, my nearest town. I wandered down The Strand, into Times Square, under the railway bridge and across the old St John's churchyard to home. When I got home I wrote this:-

Monochrome

Grey, grey windswept day,
when all life’s colour is washed away
by drizzling rain and misty gloom,
where, in the street, there is no room,
for anything but monochrome.

Urban seagulls swirl and dive
over naked trees looking half alive.
Pigeons shelter beneath dripping eaves
above damp pavements where sodden leaves
turn from russet to monochrome.

Umbrellas turned against the rain,
then blowing inside out again
as their owners rush towards their day
in concrete boxes bleak and grey
and a life in monochrome.
©Rosie Pursglove 2002

I think it sums up how I feel today. On a lighter note I was amused yesterday by the headline:-
'Man pulls car with ears' - ok, I know, you've guessed - my first thought was why would someone build a car with ears? Doh.....

High Peak Trail Part 2

We set out early on Saturday morning and by the time we had parked the car at Arkwright's Mill at Cromford the drizzle had stopped and the sun was trying to peep through the grey sky. We wandered onto Wheatcroft's Wharf and had a cup of coffee at the cafe there before starting our walk along the canal towards the old station buildings at High Peak Junction. From here we set off on the High Peak Trail towards Black Rock. We were able to climb up into the old engine and look inside.

We made our way up the steep slope known as the sheep pasture incline. It really was a lot steeper than it looked and I had to stop a couple of times to catch my breath and let the joggers pass me by. I made the excuse that I was stopping to take photographs.

At the top was the old engine house similar to the one at Middleton Top but now just an empty shell. Hard to believe that this beautiful, tranquil walk used to be a railway transporting stone from the quarry and men to their places of work, it must have been noisy,dusty and dirty and in winter bleak and cold

We made our way to the exact point we had reached the week before and then retraced our steps back down the sheep pasture incline but left this path halfway along and took the footpath back to Cromford Village.

When we got back to Arkwright's Mill we had a warming bowl of chunky vegetable soup before heading back home.

This and That

I think I'm having my 'blue Monday' today because for some reason I feel quite low and can't put my mind to doing anything positive. I'm sort of drifting through the day instead of grabbing hold of it, as a friend of mine used to say 'it's like wrestling with blancmange'. Must get my self going though as there is so much to do.

This weekend we are definitely going to do the RSPB's 'Big Garden Birdwatch' we've participated in this for the last three years but I have noticed that the varieties of birds we get now are less than when we first started. I've noticed that this year in particular there are fewer finches around. We do have regular visits from the blackbird family who nested in our hedge last spring. 'Mr Blackbird', as we call him, is quite fearless and has been known to sit on the bird feeder whilst we are putting food on the table. We have several blue-tits and coal-tits visit for the fat balls, also a pair of collard doves and one huge wood pigeon visit regularly. This morning I saw a Robin on the bird table. Yesterday whilst I was clearing up and re-stocking the feeders and cleaning the bird table I heard a familiar 'honking' noise in the distance and then that swooshing of flapping wings and I looked up to see hundreds of geese flying in three lots of V formation. I'm not used to seeing them fly over the city and it reminded me of when we used to live out on the Lincolnshire fens where we used to see them quite often.

I think we are also, depending on the weather, going to walk a bit more of The High Peak trail, this time walking from Cromford along the canal to the point where you can join the trail, and then up to Black Rock the other way. So there will hopefully be some more photos. We are also going to enter some photos, probably some of the ones we took on New Year's Day (see the post below) for this competition.

High Peak Trail

It was drizzling slightly when we arrived at the Stone Centre car park and it was very cold. We said goodbye to the warmth of our little car and set off on our walk.

We decided to walk uphill first to Middleton Top, where we stopped for a while at the visitor and cycle hire centre and the old engine house.

Then we walked back down the incline of the old railway and down to the Stone Centre where we had a warming mug of coffee and a Bakewell slice. After a good look around the shop which was full of fossils, minerals and gemstone jewellery we decided to set of further along the walk as far as Black Rock.

As we passed along the edge of Wirksworth, by the Steeple Grange light railway the sun came out and there were some spectacular views of the quarry and Masson Mill in the distance. We decided to walk past Black Rock and discover a little more of the walk before returning to make the climb up.

When we finally got up to the top of Black Rock the views were spectacular and well worth the effort.

Blue Monday

According to this morning's news today is one of the most depressing of the year, the day when everyone feels down in the dumps because of post christmas debt, bad weather and failure to keep new year's resolutions. Although pay day does seem a long way away we are just about scraping through, the weather last week got me down - wet and very windy - but today is lovely, cold, dry and very sunny. I didn't make any resolutions so I'm not kicking myself about my lack of application. But, and there is always a but, I think today I will not make a resolution as such, but mentally agree to take part in a campaign organised by today's 'Independent' to tackle the problem of waste caused by supermarket packaging. I have been trying, half heartedly I admit, to not buy things that are over packaged but still it is hard, in some cases for example - soft fruit and berries. I try to buy things that are loose rather than packaged because I think any fruit or vegetable with a skin that can be peeled or washed doesn't need to be protected. The only thing I now drawn the line on is bread.

We make our own bread and have done for years but sometimes we run out and or can't be bothered or don't have time to bake so then we buy bread. If I bought it at the supermarket I always used to buy the loose bread from the baskets until one day I saw a woman walking along feeling the bread rolls with her bare hands. She went back and forth along the row whilst her husband leant on the trolly handle willing her to hurry up and chose something. I had to bite my tongue in order not to say anything but I've never bought any of that bread since. I'm afraid I buy it with wrapping - just in case.

Yesterday we had a long walk along part of the High Peak Trail from Middleton Top to Black Rock, I will post photos when they are sorted out.

Lichfield

About 40 minutes away from us by car is one of my favourite places and on Saturday we decided to pay it a visit. Lichfield is one of the smallest cities in England but for me has more to offer than some of the larger ones. I think it is because it is steeped in history, many of its historic buildings have been preserved, and it takes great pride in itself and its heritage. I just love walking round the streets and imagining what it was like many years ago. As you journey towards Lichfield you can see the three spires of the cathedral and they draw you towards the centre.

In the 18th century it was the home of many famous people including Dr. Samuel Johnson; the actor, David Garrick; physician, poet and botanist Erasmus Darwin and the poet Anna Seward who was also known as the 'Swan of Lichfield.' There is a plaque on the wall outside the George Inn on Bird Street, to say that playwright George Farquhar stayed there whilst recruiting troops in Lichfield and he wrote some of his play ‘The Recruiting Officer’ there around 1705/6.

The new Garrick theatre opened in July 2003. The first season was directed by actor Corin Redgrave and one of its highlights was a production of Farquhar’s ‘The Recruiting Officer.’ I think the outside is very interesting. Nice coffee inside, too.

Here in Erasmus Darwin’s house would occasionaly gather together some of the most noted men of the 18th century. Known as the Lunar Society because they met when it was a full moon so they could see to travel in the dark they were some of the most famous names in science and industry England has known; including Matthew Boulton, Josiah Wedgwood, Joseph Priestly and James Watt. Can you imagine the conversations, around a candle lit table, as the friends discussed the latest ideas in science, industry, philosophy and politics. Amazing.

You can also visit Dr. Johnson's birthplace museum and bookshop and there are statues of Johnson and his friend James Boswell in the market square. I didn't take photos of these as the square is being refurbished and at present, resembles a building site.

A Week in the Life Of.....

Monday 7.30a.m. - Red Sky over the back garden

I was reminded of a childhood saying:- 'Red sky at night, Shepherd's delight, red sky in the morning, Shepherd's warning' - don't think there are many shepherds in Stoke.

Rain, Rain, against my window pane - the Money plant in the conservatory is trying to compensate for the bad weather outside - I've never seen it with so many flowers.

Tom and Max in the kitchen - where's the food, then?

Not ready yet? OK, we'll wait outside.

Sunday morning - oh, good the rain has stopped, time for a long walk around Trentham Forest.

A farm in the sun shine - maybe we'll find the shepherd here.

What's forecast for next week? Rain or Sun. I know which I would like.

Whilst I'm on the Subject

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the subject of global warming and what we can do as householders to be more energy efficient and to save water; and also help by recycling. Luckily our council has fortnightly collections for paper, tin cans and glass but not as yet for plastic or tetra packs which is a concern. They also do a garden refuse collection every two weeks during the spring and summer and they always empty the household wheelie bin every Monday including Easter and Bank Holidays the only time we don’t get a collection is Christmas week, when extra bags are delivered to cope – so all in all a very good service.

For ourselves we try to conserve water and energy as much as possible but still our monthly energy payment has doubled in the last year. We have gas central heating with no extra fires anywhere. The oven and hob are electric; we don’t have a tumble drier or a dish washer and use energy efficient light bulbs where ever we can. We are guilty of leaving the video recorder on but that is because we use the clock and because it is a pain to reset if you switch it off. The refrigerator is C rated for energy efficiency so I guess when we buy a new one we could look to getting an A or better.

In the kitchen we have a compost waste bin under the sink as well as an ordinary household one and I try to use mostly Ecover products for washing and cleaning. I also have a large jug in which to collect any fresh water and use it to water the indoor plants. In the garden we have three water butts collecting water all year for use in the summer for watering the greenhouse and garden and topping up the pond. We also have a large compost bin. We encourage garden birds by having a feeding station and birdbath; we have a pond and a wild area with a log pile for other wildlife and try to grow insect friendly plants like sedum and buddleia. We have one small car whose emissions are acceptable to regulations. We try to buy locally produced seasonal fruit and vegetables, make our own bread with organic flour and buy organic milk and eggs. Just a drop in the ocean, I know, but if we all try and do our bit perhaps we can achieve just a little change for the better.

They did warn us, didn't they?

Well, we were warned that global warming would lead to hot dry summers and warm wet winters and this week, the warm wet winter is really happening. This means that the garden is absolutely sopping wet – we have clay soil - and wellies are needed to walk anywhere on the garden because the lawns are under water and squelching and the pond is overflowing. A garden project we started in November and hoped to complete over the Christmas & New Year break has been abandoned and everything looks awful. The cats, bless them, are trampling in bits of garden and I’m sure I’ve washed the floors, windowsills and flat surfaces twice a day every day this week – I daren’t look at the spare bed – I’ve just covered it over with an old blanket because the cats like to sleep there. So rain, rain, wind and rain means no gardening, no walks, no photographs and a very fed up, lacking in inspiration and disgruntled me. That lovely, sunny New Year’s day walk seems so long ago.

New Year's Day Walk

There is nothing like a long walk on New Year's Day to lift the spirits and work off the lethargy that sets in over Christmas and the holidays. We left the house at 9.45a.m. and by 10.15a.m. we had parked in Ilam Village.

Walk this way


to see the Red deer grazing


The lovely church at Ilam

The River Manifold

The sun was high in the sky


and the hills looked wonderful


and the sheep were enjoying their New Year's Day lunch.

Christmas Memories

Memory One

I have in a box on top of the wardrobe, along with three ancient teddy bears, a little artificial Christmas tree, green branches with red berries set on a little red wooden block. My mother bought this for my first Christmas, of course I don’t remember that as I would have been only four months old. My first real Christmas memory is standing on a street corner, in Leicester where I was born, clutching a toy which I had been asked to donate to another child whose family couldn’t afford presents or perhaps it was going to a child in an orphanage – I just remember a large vehicle stopping and a man taking the toy – I can’t remember what toy it was. Not that we were a well off family, far from it, but my father had a job with the city council as a patisserie chef cooking for Lord Mayor’s functions and city events so at least we had a regular income.

Memory Two

Cut to Shirebrook in Derbyshire and my grandma’s house. I wake up, upside down in a small bed on the floor of grandma’s bedroom. I am hot, sweating, bright pink and the skin is peeling from my hands, grandma is trying to untangle me from the twisted sheets and cool me down with a damp flannel. I have Scarlet Fever. In the room next door my mother lies ill with an allergic reaction to sedatives administered by the doctor. Grandma, widowed only the year before, now has to cope with a newly widowed daughter and a granddaughter who had lost her father. I think I’ll forget this Christmas.

Memory Three

On to the village of Scarcliffe in Derbyshire. Mum has married again and we have left the city behind and I’m now attending a small village school where there are only 35 pupils. I am to be an angel in the school nativity play and the day of the dress rehearsal dawns. It is a very cold morning so Mum dresses me in warm clothing including the regulation vest and liberty bodice over which are my school blouse and pinafore dress topped off with a thick, home knitted, doubled breasted, cardigan. The teacher places a white sheet with a hole for my neck over these clothes and then adds a halo and some huge paper wings. I am then lifted on to the top of the stable. The rehearsal goes on and on, the headmistress makes us sing the same carol over and over, I feel hot and slightly strange and very hungry. The next thing I remember is coming round and finding myself laid out on a dining table in the school hall, teachers flapping round me. Apparently I fainted, fell off the top of the stable and scattered the shepherds and their flock across the stage – no one was physically hurt – just my pride. Thank goodness it was only the dress rehearsal and not the actual performance.

Time Wasting - again

I was up at 4a.m. tending to a sick cat so feeling slightly strange this morning. I have so much to do and so little time to do it in but still I'm messing around on here - borrowed this from Sissy's blog - hope she doesn't mind - wish I could unfurl some angelic wings and fly down to the bank to get some cash then on to the surgery to collect my prescription then to the library to take my books back, I could be home in an instant to sort out the laundry and tackle the ironing - but I suppose my feet will have to work hard instead

You Are an Angel

A truly giving soul, you understand the spirit of Christmas.

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

A Day Out

After the dreadful wet day we had experienced on Friday, Saturday was a glorious day of bright sunshine coupled with a seasonal nip in the air. We set off on our day out about 8.30.a.m and drove through Ashbourne, Matlock and Clay Cross, down to the Heath roundabout and up to Scarcliffe. We bumped into a relative as we pulled up to park in front of the church, she'd been putting a wreath on her first husband's grave. Harry was one of Dad's younger brothers who was killed down the pit in the 1970s. We donned wellies to go up into the churchyard as it was very wet and muddy. After placing our Christmas wreath on Mum and Dad's grave we drove over to Bolsover Castle for a warm cup of coffee and then spent a wonderful hour looking around. It was a long time since I'd been inside the castle and only the third time I'd been considering I lived for many years only two miles away.

When we had finished our visit we drove up to Chesterfield and had lunch with my sister and brother-in-law, swapping cards and presents and then set out to pick up my niece and her children and it was off to the family party where we met up with my other niece and her family and many members of my brother-in-law's family whom I hadn't seen for ages. The children were entertained by a circus act who showed them how to juggle, spin plates and ride a uni-cycle amongst other things and then Father Christmas arrived and all the children received a present and a cracker before quiet descended as supper was served and little mouths were silenced as food was consumed. Their little faces shone with happiness and delight.

Just Ordinary Things

Days are rolling by that are filled with ordianary, every day things that, however small, need to be done in the count-down to Christmas.

Yesterday I wrote out all my Christmas Cards and typed up all my letters and got them ready to post, that's one thing I can tick off my ever growing list. Today I wandered down to the post office and posted them. On the way back I chose a rather nice holly wreath to put on Mum and Dad's grave when we go over to Scarcliffe on Saturday and then on to Chesterfield for a family get-together and present swapping. Still on the list are a few last bits for presents to take with us.

When I got home I made some jars of Christmas Chutney from the recipe on Nigella's Christmas Kitchen show last week. I'm definitely going to make the Mulled Cider on Christmas Eve. How does she manage to make food look so wonderful and sensual? Although I hugely enjoyed the glamour that is Nigella my favourite TV programme this week just has to be 'Housewife, 49' written by and starring Victoria Wood. The acting was superb and the story of Nella Last - not so ordinary housewife - had me laughing and crying at the same time. Victoria Wood has excelled herself with this one.

York

When Paul was offered the choice of an OCR course work seminar at either Birmingham or York there really was no choice and given that the York meeting was on a Friday, meaning that I could go too and make a long weekend of it – well, decision made. So it was with great anticipation that we set out after work on Thursday evening to travel up to York. We decided to go the quick route via the M1, M18, A1M and A64. It took just three hours from door to door as thankfully the weather and traffic were good.

Next morning we set out on foot from the hotel on Clifton road and walked into the city. Having seen Paul safely into his meeting I set out to start the day I’d planned out in my head many times. The Minster was first on my list but I fell at the first hurdle because it was closed for a graduation ceremony. On to my next stop the Cat Gallery on Stonegate where I had a wonderful time choosing one or two items and a nice chat with the lady on duty before moving on to my next adventure. As the Minster had been closed I popped down to see if Barley Hall was open, I’d been before a number of years ago but thought that if it was open it would replace the Minster for the morning’s activity but alas it too was closed.

Barley Hall

I decided to look in one or two shops around the Stonegate/Shambles area and then wandered down towards Betty’s Tea Shop which always looks so elegant from the outside but I decided to have coffee in Border’s bookshop instead as I can’t resist the combination of books and coffee.

Entrance to The Shambles

My next port of call was Clifford’s Tower as a) I wanted to use my new English Heritage card and b) to take some photos from the top. I climbed the steps to the kiosk and flashed my card at the girl on duty in the kiosk – ‘Are you going in on your own?” she enquired “Yes.” I replied – it was only afterwards that I wondered why she asked that question. Is it strange for people to go in alone? I clambered up the steps to the top and took photos of the views from all sides. Looking across at the Minster’s towers, the York wheel and the ice rink that was being constructed in front of the courthouse and the Castle Museum.

Roofscape showing the York Wheel

Then I went across to the Castle Museum where I had a warm bowl of soup before setting off to look at the exhibits. All the wonderful street scenes like Kirkgate and Half Moon Court I remember from previous visits were still there – enlivened by sights and sounds and animators dressed in period. The policeman made me jump as he stepped out in front of me. About two hours later I returned to the café for a pot of tea and a piece of carrot cake.

Clifford's Tower

Then it was time to meet Paul from his meeting at the Hilton and we set off to wander around the now dark streets all lit with Christmas lights.

Christmas Tree in Fountain Square

After a wonderful evening meal at Bella Italia on Petergate we walked back up Bootham and Clifton road to our hotel.

The Minster

The next morning after a wonderful breakfast we set off to drive home via Tadcaster, Otley (where we had morning coffee) and Ilkley. Then down to Halifax, Huddersfield and Holmfirth where we stopped for a late lunch/afternoon tea and then down to Glossop, Buxton, Leek and home.

Random Conversations

Conversation over the breakfast table at a York Hotel

Me ….. I recognise this song

P……. does sound familiar.......

Me….. it’s that hot dogs thing.....

P….... oh, yes hot dogs, chocolate logs

Me……chocolate logs? It’s not Christmas yet – jumping frogs?

P……. it’s that Albu whatsit song....

Me …. Albuquerque...

P…….How do you remember these things?

Me…..Prefab Sprout

P……What?!!

Me….Prefab Sprout – they sang it.

P……Oh. Well at least it isn’t a Dexys Midnight Runners situation

Me… God, I know – it took us three days to remember their name – I kept thinking
it’s something like the Bow Street Runners.

P… and it wasn’t even them we were talking about at the time.

Me… No, it was all because I was telling you I’d once seen Geno Washington and the
Ram Jam Band's van with their name on the side. More coffee?

Oh, what a laugh

On Friday we went to the New Vic theatre to see the Northern Broadsides production of 'The Man with Two Gaffers' and as you know from previous posts, I love Northern Broadsides, so I have been keenly anticipating this performance and I wasn't disappointed. As usual the exuberance and sheer versatility of the actors was second to none. Every character was a gem, especially Roy North as the vicar and of course actor/director Mr Rutter himself whose reaction to the breaking of his trifle bowl after sticking his finger in the gooey mess was absolutely priceless. I left the theatre with a happy heart and aching sides from laughing so much.


On Monday we popped over to the retail park at Trentham Gardens where all is tastefully lit for Christmas including a German Christmas Market and piped festive music competing with the sounds of Germany from the purpose built bierkeller - on the way home we saw the first house decorated for Christmas. Now this is all very well, I love Christmas but not on the 13th November - could it all start on 1st December please? This early start ensures that by the time Christmas actually does arrive - it's lost it's magic and that is a real shame.