October Blog

By the end of September we had completed all but a short stretch of the ‘High Peak Trail’. My prediction was that we would be able to complete all but a short length of the remaining stretch. On the first day of October we set off. This part of the trail was much more convenient than the last. At the start end was a pub with a toilet. Here we had the best coffee and fresh muffin that we have ever had. At the other end of the section was Parsley Hay. This also had refreshments and a toilet. Once more there was tunnel on the route and we had a discussion about the difference between a tunnel and a bridge. This has yet to be resolved. The walk took less time than I had anticipated and much to my surprise we reached the point where we had ended the previous section. The ‘High Peak Trail’ had been conquered, by more than its length.

An Istrian Kazun
from Croatia at Parsley Hay

New Haven Tunnel

Panorama

Work continued on the ' school to church' conversion and the day after our triumph I was asked  to take some more ‘before’ pictures. This time an international delivery firm had adopted the Haven as it's charity and on a wet Saturday morning at least 20 members of their staff and families descended on the site; mainly clearing the garden area. Some painted in one of the rooms. We stopped at 11.30 when the rain really decided to pour down.

For a while the weather continued to be inclement and so our next Wednesday trip was to be to a more indoor venue. The journey involved driving through the Nottingham tram works. This was much worse than driving through the torrential rain getting into and through Grantham. Belton House was worth the visit. We were able to see something of the gardens. The house was relatively small but interesting.

We learned three things:

    1. The hot seat. This was the seat next to the fire. The most responsible house servant sat here for his meal with the other members of staff. 

     2. Curfew. This was the cover put over the fire at the end of the day.

   3. Just desserts was the pudding awarded to those who had done well.

The journey back through Nottingham was equally fraught with no easy access on to the A52.

On the following Wednesday we had to make a journey into Nottingham. There is no problem when you travel by bus along the bus lanes. The main aim of the journey was to pick up a watch from the jewellers. It was a rather elegant thing to do and we were served with dainty cups of real coffee. However, we found it much better to go into Gregg’s for our lunch time piece of pizza and doughnuts.

We were treated to a Sunday out. Tim had invited us to have lunch with them to have an early celebration of mum’s birthday. We went down to Stowe Park in Buckinghamshire and used our National Trust passes.

The park has a fascinating collection of temples. They have a political significance which I will not go into here. It was also a good chance to enjoy autumn colours.

Although it was very windy it was possible to sit and enjoy lunch, with the four from Milton Keynes, in the courtyard.

The last Wednesday of the month gave a real taste of Autumn and we decided to make it more of a shopping day. This we did by going to the ‘Mustard Seed’ Christian bookshop in Gedling. They had a very pleasantly laid out teashop for our elevenses. As it was still dry it seemed a good idea to call into Bestwood Country Park on the way back. We had visited it with the two boys about 15 years ago. The main feature is the winding house. As we stood looking through the railings a lady came up and said that she worked there and invited us into the building where we read up on the history of the coal mining industry in the area.

We then decided to be bold and follow the country park path around to the ‘Mill Lakes’. At the lakes there was a seat where we stopped to have our picnic. A few spots of rain fell and we decided to get back quickly. This turned out to be a fair walk. A large part was over fields which we had not planned to do. The ground was still quite dry. On the way home the rain poured down.

The day of Irene’s birthday arrived. We had a Saturday lie in before opening presents. She had bought herself a dressy watch and I bought her one for normal use. She was very pleased with all the presents from friends and family.

At lunch time we had planned to go to a garden centre to buy pansies and so we met up with Jan and Lawrence at Shipley where we indulged ourselves in very large scones and cream.

Irene had insisted on cooking dinner for Joni and Fiona. After the meal we sat down to play board games. These sessions had an interval for the consumption of a variety of cheeses.

I think that Irene enjoyed her day having had a chance to speak or in other ways communicate with all of her children and grand children.

Visits in October finished on a high note. It was a fairly dull and fairly cold Wednesday morning and the plan was to have an indoor visit. The previous afternoon I had made a phone call and so off we set for an appointment at ‘Mr Straw’s House’. The journey was north along the motorway to arrive in Worksop at 12.15 pm. Our very slow journey (50 mph for miles of motorway) took us past Hardwick Hall. Since we had our NT membership it cost us nothing to park and to go into the grounds.

At the entrance to the gardens I saw my first proper tourist. There was a large camper van ahead of us which took a long time getting through the barrier. The man at the gate explained that the people in the camper van had no intention of stopping at the hall and were just looking to get a glimpse. No doubt this was one more item off their ‘bucket list’. We, however did park, did get our sticker and take a walk into the gardens. Here we admired the autumn dahlias. 

 We also stayed for coffee and beetroot and chocolate cake. Then we were on our way up to the next junction and our road to Mr Straw’s house.

It is actually the one on the right.
The left one is the reception area.

For those not in the know it is one of two semidetached houses built in 1920. Basically it is a time capsule. The brothers who ended their days there kept the house pretty much as it was when their mother died. They were fussy and not altogether tidy. They never had even a radio and the iron was still sitting on the gas ring. To say that they died leaving the house and over a million pound to the National Trust their lives were very Spartan. It was an altogether fascinating place to explore.

In the evening we played our new game of 'Carcassonne'. We think that we got the rules right. It played well for just the two of us.
On the last day of the month our friends, Jan and Lawrence, gave birth to a daughter called Jennifer Millie Woolley.

September and a New Challenge

Some time ago we walked with members of Pioneer Church from Cromford along the High Peak Trail. Last year we inadvertently climbed up the Middleton Incline to Middleton Top. Having completed the Monsall Trail this became our new challenge.

Our refreshment stop was the cafe in Bonsall. The three mile walk took us through Hopton tunnel and on up the Hopton Incline. This was not as steep as the Middleton one but engines struggled to get up it. 

It was one of our noisier walks as we passed by noisy and dirty cement works. There was more industrial archaeology in the form of what were, most likely, lime kilns. They did very much look like Aztec temples.

 Ten days later after a pot of tea and delicious cakes (£3.50 in total) at our favourite tea shop in Wirksworth we set off to park where we had left off the walk last time.

We left the car all alone in a lay-by and walked over a field on to the track. The walk started past a group of rose bay willow herb which was changing from purple to the snowy colour of the seed heads.

A little way on was an unusual piece of industrial archaeology. Because we were on top of limestone there was no water. The solution was that an engine pulled tanks of water from Cromford up to a special platform and engines filled up from them.

The panoramas along the route were some of the most spectacular that we have seen.

On this walk we were to see ancient archaeology in the form of a tumulus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumulus); now known as Minning Low Hill.

At this point we began to see an even more impressive stone build. This time it was a huge embankment crossing over the valley.

At the other end of the embankment was Minning Low car park where we sat for our picnic. From there we returned carrying with us a great respect for the builders of the now abandoned railways.

There was then an urgent need to drive back to Middleton Top and the relief that was on offer there.

The following day I just had to take my camera up to the allotment. The profuse growth and colour was stunning.

Two days later it was Irene's mum's funeral. Nan had lived a long life and after a well fought battle against death she quietly succumbed at the age of 94.

The funeral was a good opportunity to spend time with our three boys and partners. In the morning we gathered together at the Peace Pagoda in Milton Keynes and went on to have refreshments at Campbell Community. This is a campus for special needs people where they grow their own food and serve in a cafe.

It was a dignified event at the crematorium with many people attending. Martin and Irene spoke well about their mother. Seeds were given out as a reminder for each generation to sow good things into next.

There was an old fashioned tea party in a nearby church hall. This was a good opportunity for the wider family to catch up with each other.

Then Irene and I gathered a wreath from the crematorium collection to put by the headstone and bunches of flowers to give to the staff and residents of High Clere Nursing Home.

Finally the Norwoods gathered in the garden of the local pub to spend more time with each other before sharing meal to end the day.

On the following Wednesday there was only time for an afternoon walk. This we did at Calke Abbey, resulting in a lot of bright, colourful images.

 The first Saturday that we were not obliged to go to Milton Keynes was not entirely free as the Haven Church had Vision Weekend in the afternoon and evening. But in the morning I took the opportunity to set up a photographic lamp and take photos of the layout. All of the photos were put on to Facebook but I include a couple here.

 Our Wednesday walk took us to the next part of the High Peak Trail. This time we had to start at Minning Low car park. The nearest refreshments and toilets were back in Wirksworth.

The sky was quite blue but we walked into a cold breeze. For the first time this year warm clothing was needed. The walk took us to a car park at Friden. We then went passed a factory producing special refractory bricks and then a little further to get to a recognisable place to turn round. Back at the Friden car park we sat down for lunch and I found a toilet stop. The nettles stung. Irene had to grin and bear it until she found a suitable wall to duck behind. Hopefully this will be the last time without there being any convenient conveniences. 

The last Saturday of the month was the celebration of our friend Mary at her house in Burrowash.