Snowdogs at Buxton

We chose to visit Buxton on a beautiful day.  At first, as we travelled along the A53 past the Roaches and the Winking Man we were in mist and low cloud but as we descended into the town this cleared and half an hour later the sun was out giving a golden glow to everything.

We parked at the Pavilion and popped inside for a coffee and to pick up a map to tell us where the Snowdogs were.

Here we spotted the first Snowdog.

Elf, artist Amanda Quellin 

The Snowdogs are, of course, from the popular cartoon The Snowman and the Snowdog by Raymond Briggs.

The Snowdogs are a Wild in Art event, sponsored by Markovitz in aid of Blythe House Hospice.  There are twelve to find spread across the town outside various landmarks,  in parks and by the riverside.  The furthest out of town is at Poole's Cavern.

We took all morning to wander around the town.  The dogs were proving very popular.

The Heron below was popular too as it strutted proudly along the river. I think it was used to having an audience.

Below outside the Opera House

 

Classic by the Wild in Art Studio. 

On top of Monument Hill.

Boats on the lake in Pavilion Gardens.

 

All Twelve Snowdogs on display until 15th December.

We did find all of the Snowdogs, the last one up at Poole's Cavern probably my favourite.

 

Rosy Posy by Jessica Perrin.

 

We ate our lunch outside next to Rosy Posy, pieces of homemade pizza and the last two homemade date slices. 

  In my last post I promised a second post about Clumber Park, that will come but I wanted to show you the Snowdogs whilst the day was fresh in my memory.

 

I've added links to the places mentioned on our journey. 

Clumber Park

In the walled garden and glass house at Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire it was all about Apples, Pumpkins and Squashes.

It was a lovely sunny afternoon

 The apples looked wonderful against the warm red brick walls.  There were many different varieties.

In the Apple store there were boxes full of them for sale but still many windfalls in the garden.

The walls and ceiling were full of bunches of dried flowers and grasses.

 

We missed the Apple day as we were there the day before.  I expect it was very popular.

 

 

In the garden the Auricula theatre had been filled with dried flowers and apples.

In the main entance to the glass house were lots of displays of pumpkins and squashes.

Plenty of places to sit, both inside and out.

 

It was warm enough to sit outside with an ice cream but we decided to head towards the cafe for an afternoon cup of tea.

On the way out of the walled garden I spotted a Medlar tree.

 

I've never tasted a Medlar, Have you?

 

After some refreshment in the cafe, where we reminisced about childhood visits, it was time to walk down to the lakeside through the autumnal trees before we moved on.  I'll be back with more in a second post.

A Definite Autumnal Feel

There is a definite feeling of Autumn in the air.  Chillier mornings, quickly darkening evenings, gorgeous skies, brisk winds tossing and turning fallen leaves, trees turning gold and bronze.

We walked in Trentham Gardens on Wednesday, as we set out around the lake there was damp in the air.  It took a while to clear and then the sun appeared for what seemed like the first time in ages.

The walk was mostly fungi spotting which is always a fun and interesting thing to do.

I'm not sure what they all are but I know that the red ones are Fly Agaric toadstools and the round ones are puff balls.  In the bottom photo the fungi looks a bit like poached eggs.

 

I recently received a most wonderful gift.  A dear friend often sends me links to the Guardian Country Diary, especially if the notes are about places we know or animals and birds we love.  They are always a joy to read.

 

A couple of days ago there was a knock at the door and the postwoman stood there with a parcel for me.  It was quite funny as the pharmacy delivery man was standing at the side of her with medication so two parcels together. One parcel far more appealing than the other.

 

Inside was a recently published book of the best of the Guardian's  Country Diary from 2018 to 2024.  It has an introduction by the wonderful Ian McMillan.  How to read  the book?  From beginning to end? Dip in? Or read with the seasons?  I decided on the latter and so my bookmark is in October.  Thank you, both of you, for you kindness.

 

The sun is out this morning highlighting the fact that windows need cleaning but at least I'll be able to put the towels outside to dry.

 

 

 

Into October

 Well, the engineer finally came this afternoon and replaced the modem.  It suffered damage in the storm on Saturday 21st September.  There was a loud crack and a bright light shot across the room where we were sitting with our evening meal. Apparently it happened to neighbours both sides of us one of them lost electricity, the other one  modem and internet.  Several other neighbours were affected as well.  Unfortunately on the next street the roof of a house was set alight. The occupants were unhurt and sought shelter with neighbours.  After twice booking an engineer it was third time lucky.  The first visit was cancelled because the service provider assumed that because all other homes in our area had been re-connected ours was too.  We made a second booking but no one turned up which was annoying as we'd rushed home from a hospital appointment.

Anyway all is now back to normal - I hope. 

Here's a photo of one of our garden visitors, he pops by most evenings and is such a delight to see.

Below a wood pigeon squab enjoys the berries on the laurel tree.

There have been lots of bedraggled and damp birds and squirrels visting the garden these last few days.

 

Down Time

Just a quick post to apologise for not replying to your comments on my last post or for visiting your blogs.  We lost our internet connection during the awful thunder and lightening on Saturday and we are still waiting for a new modem.  I’m writing this in the local garden centre cafe. Fingers crossed I’ll be back soon.

Down Memory Lane

A couple of weeks ago we travelled to the town of Mansfield in Nottinghamshire to attend the funeral of Paul's Aunt Peggy.  Paul was able to catch up with some of his cousins who are now spread across the country in different places like the Isle of Wight, York and Colchester. We also spent some time in the town visiting old haunts one of which was the Museum.  

When I worked at the Museum in the 1970s and early 80s the entrance was off the street down a large passage way between the Library and the Theatre.

The older entrance is still there under the glass canopy or atrium which now houses exhibits and photographs of manufacturing in the town.  Many factories including Metal Box, Mansfield Shoe Company, Mansfield Brewery and Mansfield Hosiery Mills to name just a few.

Paul hoped to see the Dinosaur exhibition and we managed to catch it before it closes in early October.

Dinosaurs, Weird and Wonderful by Bespoke Scientific features replicas or casts of some of the most unusual dinosaurs.

The layout of the museum has changed so much over the years which is good.  Some of the Victorian Whitaker collection of birds is still there, as is the Buxton collection of watercolours of Old Mansfield but the ceramics have gone, perhaps they are temporarily in store.  There were quite a few pieces, purchased whilst I was there,  decorated by Derby born ceramic artist William Billingsley from his days at the Derby Pottery, Pinxton Pottery, Mansfield, Torksey, Nantgarw and Coalport.  Here is a - link - to more about William Billingsley.  I find him fascinating.

We had a wander around the town before we left.  Lots of memories as it was one of our main shopping towns when I was a child.  The village we lived in was midway between Mansfield and Chesterfield so we shopped at both.  Mansfield was slightly closer by bus and I caught that regularly when I worked in the town.  There was a bus every hour to Mansfield through the village and a bus every two hours to Chesterfield.  Those were the days, when every outing was worked out by bus times. Making sure you were in time for the last bus home after evening classes, theatre or cinema.  Only heavy snow would make them late or stop them running.

Below are a few photos of the town.

The viaduct which is so prominent in the town is now used by the Robin Hood line which runs between Nottingham and Worksop.

 

St Peter's Church.  Scene of one or two family weddings and that of a friend.

This statue by sculptor David A Annand is called Ampitheatre.

Below the Market Place in front of the Town Hall and the Moot Hall.  When I was a child this was always very busy and full from side to side with rows of stalls selling anything and everything.

The Bentinck Memorial was built in 1849 in memory of Lord George Bentinck who was MP for the area for many years.  It was never finished, due to lack of funds.

We've been enjoying the warmer weather for the last few days getting out and about, walking, gardening, enjoying the sunsets and this week the Harvest moon which has been beautiful.