27^th September 2020

 

Dear All,

The Derbyshire weather was very kind to us, we had sunshine for 5.5 days out of 6 and just one damp morning. We were staying in the Card House at Hopton Hall estate. Evidently the lord of the manor had the house built to entertain his wealthy friends to card schools – I don’t know why we have never thought of that! There was a swimming pool, a large garden, 30 acres of grass and trees and a collection of vintage cars.

 

Hopton Hall

 

We were a stones throw from Carsington Water and spent a little time there and at Repton on the way up.

We managed one or two walks every day, some of which had challenging climbs for us fen dwelling flat landers!

On Saturday we started at Nether Padley and took in Grindleford followed by a difficult walk to Curbar and Froggatt Edges which are spectacular. The difficult part came from getting the wrong path and having to traverse a mile of bogs.

 

 

Young River Derwent at Grindleford

 

 

Curbar Edge

 

On Sunday it was Birchover and the Nine Ladies stone circle followed by a tour of Wirksworth and Bolehill – a sentimental journey for Kate.

 

 

The Nine Ladies, Birchover

 

Monday was Bakewell market – we were not allowed into the livestock section but sampled Bakewell Pudding of course then on to Monsall Head and Cresswell Dale which involved a couple of steep climbs.

 

Monsall Head

 

 

Litton Mill

When we were in Derbyshire with U3A in 2013 we encountered spectacular snow and were unable to get to the top of Stanage Edge. David who was with us on this trip has been keen to conquer that ever since so we managed that on Tuesday followed by an even more exacting climb up to Mam Tor from Castleton.

 

 

David at Stanage Edge

 

 

Stanage Edge Mill Stones

 

 

Mam Tor

We finally had a wet morning on Wednesday and visited Arkwright’s Mill at Cromford, followed by a damp walk up Cromford canal then lunch in The New Bath Hotel at Matlock Bath where Kate worked as a cleaned when in the 6^th form – another sentimental journey as she had not been back for 55 years. After this we explored Matlock Bath and Matlock.

 

 

Cromford Mill

 

Kate at the New Bath Hotel

 

On our last day David was keen to see the Wirksworth Quarries so we walked along the Monsall trail and took in Black Rocks and Barrell Edge as well as the Gang Nature Reserve which used to be the Dovegang lead mine drained by Vermuyden before he tackled the Fens.

 

 

Middleton Engine House

 

 

Wirksworth Middle Peak Quarry

As Friday was designated as cricket pitch winter maintenance day we rose early and were back in Over by 9.36am only to find work was postponed as it was too wet!

With love

Mike & Kate

20^th September 2020

Dear All,

Monday began with a ZOOM session with NatWest advising about investments – as this took 1.5 hours the rest of the week was downhill from there! In the afternoon Merv helped me re felt the bottom shed. The existing felt looked OK but the ceiling was damp every time it rained. 

 

 

Refurbished shed

On Tuesday we had lunch at David and Elly Cook’s to discuss the Derbyshire break next week. David was in the RAF and I suppose got used to moving round a good deal so their home is always uncluttered and tidy – not a book in sight!

 

I started digging at the allotment this week burying the Sweet Corn stover (look it up) in three sessions. The last planting of Sweet Corn in the garden received a visit from one of our nocturnal black and white friends on Thursday night so has now been barricaded.

 

 

 

Sweet Corn activity

Our walk on Thursday started at Sandon south of Royston and took in Roe Green and Kelshall. The blackberries were phenomenal – probably the best I have seen and a good size – much bigger than round here.

 

 

Sandon Blackberries

 

 

Kelsall

 

 

Inside Kelsall church

I have been working on a Harvest report which is a bit depressing this year: low Cereal yields, Oil seed rape plummeting due to Cabbage stem flea beetle and fruit and veg needing 44,000 pickers.

I contacted our local historian Carolyn Redmayne about the Vermuyden project that I am working on for a few local insights about the Dutch style house in the village. It seems contrary to what we have been told before they have nothing to do with the drainage engineers. It was evidently a popular style in the era in which they were built. Carolyn is a fanatic about local history and so far, I have received six lengthy emails and Kate had a 30-minute conversation on the doorstep when she dropped some maps off!

It was back to school for Amélie this week and a toe in the water for Albert followed by his 5^th birthday yesterday.

 

 

 

School Ready!

 

We should be in Derbyshire from Friday so no letter next week.

 

With love

Mike & Kate

 

6^th September 2020

 

Dear All,

We celebrated the Bank Holiday with a blackberry picking outing, there were plenty but the size was not impressive.

 

 

Bank Holiday foraging

 

On Tuesday we dined out for the first time in many moons at Over Community Centre sussing it out for our walking group. There was plenty of space both indoors and outdoors for social distancing and the food was basic but OK, while the service could have been quicker.

 

The wind and rain had played havoc with the sprouts and broccoli at the allotment leaning them in all directions so they nearly needed staking this week. Paint brushes have been exercised again this week: Kate attending the garage door and me the bottom shed.

 

Art Deco Door

We had not seen much of Kate Foster over lockdown so we were pleased to have her call in for coffee on Wednesday. She has her in-laws living with her now and children and grandchildren in need of help and supervision, so has her hands full tending 4 generations! Daughter Anna has taken on a “Little City” franchise which hires out street scene models for children’s role play at parties.

 

I was pleased to receive a multi-stamped envelope from Moldova this week having had considerable trouble trying to reclaim air fares on Air Moldova, there now seems light at the end of the tunnel but I am not holding my breath.

 

 

Air Moldova letter

 

We walked with some of the U3A group again this week starting at Orwell and taking in Eversden and Wimpole. It was a good work out with some surprising climbs with just a shower in the last half hour.

 

Orwell Clunch Pits

 

 

Checking Holiday accommodation

 

Wimpole Rare breed Norfolk Horns

 

Both Over football and cricket teams were in operation yesterday and both won – the football team were playing their first league match of the season at Gamlingay and like England won 1 v 0 away having had a man sent off!

Plant of the week: Love Lies Bleeding

.

 

Love Lies Bleeding

With love

Mike & Kate