July Arrives Without Cabled Broadband

Three month have now passed and we start August at Bamford Road. Naturally, it starts on a wet day.
However, back to July. The diary for the month looks very busy. The very first Monday started with the windows survey. But the following day was to be more of a fun day as we spent it with Paul and Mary. We left the car at their house and went into Derby on the once familiar i4 bus. Our destination was the Lego Brick History exhibition at Derby museum.
One clever bod and his team had created model showing many historic events starting from the 'Big Bang'.

 The last picture is one of two castle models. One was the castle at peace. Above is the castle at war. We were surprised to see pigs being herded into a tunnel. Apparently they were sent under the castle and set light to. The burning fat would weaken the foundations of the building and it would fall down. That is something that I never knew.
We had time to go on to the cathedral. It is a very light and airy place.

 Before popping back to Paul and Mary's bungalow we had a nice dinner in a Derby Weatherspoons.

Paul discussing the quality of the food!

Thursday was quite a busy day. Firstly we took in a B & Q delivery. The most enormous lorry bought a tiny bathroom fitting. In the morning I had time to fit our new breakfast room lights. Next I built a pan rack. Using a chrome bar, chrome ends and snug fitting hooks I put it on a two by one over the cooker. It also takes the pan lids.

We had in mind to see if it was possible to walk along the TPT, reach Poolsbrook Country Park, have coffee and walk back. It was possible, but since it was a hot day we had an ice cream instead. While we were there we had a long conversation with a lovely couple. They each had a Nikon camera with a telephoto lens. Their habit was to arrive at about 5.00 am. They were very knowledgeable.
True to our new lifestyle we had a Friday trip. Living here also makes more distant parts of Derbyshire much more reachable. Last year we had a visit to Ladybower dam where we found that there was free roadside parking and a path alongside the main Lady bower dam which would end at the visitors centre. It was a warm day and the walk was one and a half hours. (Much longer than we intended.) But it was worth it.

Another birthday came round and my dream of a garden layout came forward a tad with the purchase of my first Lego train.

I had a birthday outing. We have passed by Cromford Mills many times without spending money on a visit. The mill is the brain child of Joseph Arkwright. His activities changed society forever as, for the first time, workers were now tied to set hours regardless of how dark it was or how they felt on a particular day. I had one mishap. I took my camera gear, but no camera. Fortunately, I still my phone.

For lunch we had food at Scarthin Books in Cromford.
Back home there was the cake.
The next day work continued as the asbestos roof was replaced.

 Our after church walk was along the Chesterfield Canal to the basin. At this point it comes to a halt as no decision as been made about the route of the HS2.

Continuing to make the most of the flexible working pattern that we now have we went of to see some local flower festivals and well-dressings. The first port of call was to the Bolsover parish church. The people there were very friendly and welcoming. The church is quite large and well lit with led lighting. A lot of effort had gone into the floral displays.

As we sat having coffee we admired the intricate work that had gone into the kneelers and the stained glass window.

 From there we moved on to a little church at Pleasley. The well dressings at the entrance set the scene. Apparently you do not need a well to have a well-dressing so long as the rule of fixing petals and other bits into wet clay is met.

The church itself, though small is well kept.

The creativity of local people is amazing.

 In the afternoon there was to be a wedding service in the church. Some lucky bride will certainly enjoy the additional decorations in the church.
The explorations for today were not yet at an end. We still had to find somewhere for a picnic. Partly by chance and partly by SATNav. we ended up at the Peter Fidler nature reserve.

Having had our picnic we managed to take the correct path into the reserve. Firstly we passed some objects which we thought was a sculpture.

Apparently there are 21 copies of Andrew McKeown's 'Breaking the Mould' sculpture around the country. To find out more visit http://www.andrewmckeown.com/projects/breaking-mould/. Just before the path swung to the left was the start of an industrial estate and here we found the real car park. Following the path we came to the place that gave the name to this reserve.

 From his birth in Bolsover then becoming a labourer of the Hudson Bay company he became an explorer/surveyor in Canada. He named a number of places and his statue is to be found at Elk Point, Alberta. No wonder Bolsover wants to remember a famous son.
Going on we had yet another botanical treat. There were teasels by the dozen and other interesting plants.

 Our walk ended at the pond and its beautiful reflections.

Another time we shall complete the whole circular walk.
As we left we caught a glimpse of the model village.The pit village was begun in 1891 by the Bolsover Mining Company. It is was built by philanthropic colliery owners to benefit and improve the lives of workers at Bolsover Colliery. A lot of work is going on to restore it to its former glory. The picture shows some of the houses nestling at the foot of Bolsover Castle.

The following day we made the second of our bus journeys into Chesterfield. The main aim was to visit the audiologist at Specsavers and have the feedback to my hearing aids eliminated. We also found time to do the walk to Queens Park. Queens Park is lovely old town park with a band stand, miniature railway and cafe. It is also the town cricket ground and a serious match was taking place.

There was time for tea and ice-cream before heading off to my appointment.

The following day was time for yet another appointment. This time it was to the opticians at Asda. Unfortunately the nearest Asda is in Sheffield. I have to say it is one of the largest Asda stores that I have ever seen.
On Saturday we made yet another local visit. About 15 minutes away is the village of Old Wittington and there is 'Revolution House'. In 1688, three local noblemen – the Earl of Devonshire, the Earl of Danby and Mr John D'Arcy – met at Whittington disguised as a hunting party, to begin planning their part in the overthrow of James II. A rainstorm sent them seeking shelter at the Cock and Pynot alehouse. The house is a thatched cottage. It is staffed by a very knowledgeable young lady employed by Chesterfield Borough Council. We had a pleasant time there and I sat in the plotters' chair.

The temperature was now building up and we were headed towards heat wave. Tuesday looked to be the best of the days ahead. In fact Wednesday was forecast to be in the high 30s; and it was. We had been told by one of our workmen that it was only 1.5 hours to Cleethorpes and that we should head to park the car at the Cleethorpes Country Park. The information turned out to be accurate. Most of the way was motorway/dual carriage way with a short stretch through Grimsby. There was no shortage of free parking in the country park. which was a pretty place to be.

Out of the park it was straight walk down the Buck Bec to the northern end of the sea front. Conveniently placed next to the 'Smallest Pub on the Planet' was the cafe and the toilets.

From here the 'Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway' makes its way to the Cleethorpes Leisure Centre where it connects with land train into town. Well refreshed, we made our way along the coastal path towards the town; arriving at the Leisure Centre and the start of the golden sands.

 A lengthy paddle was welcome. We almost made it to the pier but stopped off for our fish and chips. Now re-energised we walked on to the pier and on to it.

Almost the whole pier was taken up with 'Papas' fish and chips restaurant complete with queues to get in. From the pier the main entertainment of the town was very visible.

 We walked back along the top of the gardens to the Light Railway Station to sit refreshments.

While we sat the little train pulled in. I had an ice cream in my hand and wanted to take a photograph. At the moment my phone rang. It was our plumber confirming his visit.
After that we made our way back. The more we got inland the more the thermometer rose to the high thirties. It was a good day.
The next day the heat continued to increase. It was a day to be indoors with the fan on full.
Over the next few days the weather deteriorated and rainfall was the regular prediction. Even so, we had a good visit to Bradgate Country Park with Tim and Izzie. The park is about half way between here and Milton Keynes. 
All started well as we left the car park to climb the hill. Everyone was happy in the sunshine as we admired the gnarled tree at the bottom.

 The rain kept away as we made our ascent to the war memorial.

 There was time to sit before going on to Old John.

Old John is a tower shaped folly, looking like a mug. Having made it to this point we began the descent as the storm clouds gathered.

 The sun came out briefly to illuminated the tower as we looked back.

Full of confidence we walked in what we thought was the path to the Deer Barn cafe. We made it through the ferns.

Then, the heavens opened, but not defeated; although bedraggled we arrived at our destination. The day before there had been so much rain that the visitors' centre was closed and still awash. Well fed, and after lingering in the cafe, we walked the easy path along the shortest river in the U.K. This took us passed deer grazing by the side of the path to the Bradgate Park Tea rooms. Here we sat and conversed before taking parting. Despite the rain it was an enjoyable time spent together.