Country idylle

Back in London now, after what seems like a lightening trip to Derbyshire, the Dales and Peaks.
We managed to meet up with Roger and Mary in Baildon, Laila in Nottingham, and fit a day in at Chatsworth House, where we had tea with Alison and Clare.
A blur of enjoyment and pleasure, but an overwhelming impression of what makes England so special.

Where are you ?

Over here . . .

. . . and how many times have I told them not to do that in the garden?

Don't get any ideas about redecorating, alright?

Who says I can't sing here if I want to ?

Some days you feel like doing just . . . . . nothing.

Goodbye Bakewell (where the tarts come from).

Ah yes! The weather . . . .

It doesn't matter if you talk about it or not, and most folk do, but the weather dominates.
Possibly because it can change every five minutes or so. Especially here in the Dales, when you can look out three or four miles across a valley, and see sunshine there while it's raining on you.

Still, damp or not, friends to meet, and catch up to be enjoyed. Tilly from Derby met up with us for a day out, lunch and postcard writing . . .

Up dales . . .

. . or down . . .

the countryside constantly surprises and delights. . . whether it's bluebell woods . . .

or Daisy and the gang waiting for us back at the farm!

no whinging now!

Still, no use moaning about the weather, nowt you can do about it. So the morning was ideal for some indoor activity, and Caudwell Mill in Rowsley provided a great opportunity to learn all about the art of flour milling. Four floors of a fully operational 19th Century flour mill, all powered by water fed off the River Derwent. Brilliant!

"There's an old mill by the stream, Nelly Dean . . . "

Then it was off to Wirksworth, visiting cousin Alison and Clare for lunch, and with the weather turning into a bright, warm afternoon, a stroll around their neighbourhood.

But first, a ride on the trains at the bottom of their garden!

Always helpful to have informative signage at the station!

Then to the Parish Church, an elegant structure incorporating many centuries of additions to the building, including Anglo-Saxon reliefs from the original church in the 1st. Century . . .

In the churchyard, a magnificent copper birch tree, and almost hidden behind, nestled between Georgian houses, a gem of Tudor vintage!

. . . and at the rear of the Tudor house, an exposed wall revealing an even older structure on which the Tudor house was built.

Fond farewells, and back to the farm, and an evening walk . . .

Say goodnight Daisy !

Springtime in England . . .

Well, we always say we don't come to England for the weather - and indeed, it hasn't let us down.
Our week in the Peak District, Derbyshire, and the wet has descended.

Good accommodation, our very own self-catering cottage on Bellcross Farm, high on the moors, on the Chatsworth Estate, home of the Duke and Dutchess of Devonshire. But, more of that later.

The Farm -

The view from our front door -

and one of the many pheasant neighbours, lurking just outside the door!

But no use sulking about the weather . . .off to explore our local surroundings, with a lunch break at the Barrel Inn, high on the moors, warm and snug inside.

"Oh, to be in England,
now that Spring is here . . ."