Terrafirma Travels

Said tearful goodbyes to John W and David who both needed to be home today, after the obligatory though oft forgotten group photo. John took Guy and Lesley to church the he and I met up with the others in Wirksworth where he gave us a guided tour, including buildings he worked on in 1982. Quite a lovely village.  Back home for lunch on what remained in the fridge. Out past the village mill pond to Cromford Mill again where the waterwheel was working. We bought a basket to replace our laundry basket and some items from the antiquarian bookshop. I carried the basket back on my head - it was easiest but caused much hilarity. (Note the heated gloves!) Dinner was yesterday's that had been rescued from the recalcitrant oven. Followed by more quizzing and hilarity. I reported the wasps/hornets to the owner. At least the Internet is now behaving.

V diff weather, no frost, rain instead. Went in two cars to Kedleston Hall. T&A stayed behind to watch Charlton play on Sky Sports in The Boat, and David stayed behind for a chilled day after doing his Park Run. The Hall was v grandiose, home of the Curzon family for 500 years. Really OTT display of wealth. Had a reliable NT lunch and obligatory browse in bookshop and shop - even bought a book. Home for tea and lazing. Tried & failed to set up my new dartboard, foiled by the lack of a screwdriver. (Must put a multitool into the car.) Tested Internet and found EE had finally fixed it after we (I) pressured Paul the owner all week. Eric and I spent an hour reconnecting the booster routers.  Much drama with John & Guy's dinner when the oven door would not open, with the food inside cooked! Owner sent young Sam round and with screwdriver and WD40 he released it. But not before we had ordered replacement dinner from the chippy. After delayed dinner we had a PantSoc meeting ...

Still haven't touched the car. Today people decided to do their own thing. D JW & E went early on a long one. I almost went with, like yday, to prove something but they did over 8 miles so glad I didn't. L & I had lovely quiet walk up far side of valley to look over towards Matlock Bath and Abraham Heights. Ano glorious day. Lunch in the house for a change, and a lazy afternoon furiously doing another jigsaw after splendid Scarthin bookshop. Dinner in The Boat, excellent food, and stayed a bit to listen to a singer/songwriter. I liked her voice but not to L's or Eric's taste so some of us left early and returned to ... the jigsaw and more reading, and L ran a quiz.

Another lovely day, walked to Lea Bridge along the canal. Cafe at High Peak Junction closed despite what Google said. Up to John Smedley knitwear outlet- the factory is still here. All 3 ladies plus me bought something while the rest of the blokes stood and chatted. Walked further on to aquaduct past famous Lea pumping station that still works, while L & Alison W (with bad back) headed back. David, Eric, John W and I headed up the 1 in 8 incline for 1/2 a mile where they used to haul railway wagons by cable over the peak to link two canals. We saw the tunnel where they diverted wagons if they came loose from the cable! I think I was slowing these 3 big walkers down, but I did OK. Round Black Rock where the Park Run is on Sat and back down the long hill called ... The Hill. 14,000 steps and v happy to reach The Boat pub where we found the others and had a v late lunch. Remains of the afternoon was jigsaw and reading, and after dinner I ran a quiz.

Awoke to cold rads and water. Boiler had error code. Manual said low water pressure. Found YouTube video on how to let more water in, similar to our system at home. 15 minutes later the boiler was functioning! Made our own porridge & coffee in our top kitchen then joined the rest in middle kitchen. I found a booster router in the boiler cupboard, not working,  set it up in upper living room and it works. Another problem solved. Out into the cold at 1030 for a walking tour round Cromford led by John G - he's v good at this. First stop was the weir right by our house, which was a water-driven mill. Home at 12 for hot drink. Out again at 1230 heading to Cromford Mill of Arkwright fame. David & I diverted to check Greyhound menu & booking re dinner later in week. So we just missed joining the tour which started at 1300. Good miss, I think. L joined us and we had cafe lunch then did our own tour. V impressive site, both the history (first factory etc) and the Heritage wor...

Left home 0830. Collected Eric from Honiton Rd Park & Ride at 0945. Brunch at Gloucester Services, petrol at top of M42, arrived The Malthouse, Cromford at 1515. Good journey. On arrival the engineer was trying to resolve heating problems on top floor, where perhaps rashly we selected a bedroom. Much hugging of Pantsocians, full, country and associate members. Much unpacking. We provide dinner that we had brought with: goulash, baked pots, brocci; lemon cheesecake, gypsy tart. All went down well, 2nds were served. Then we played a game called LINKEE brought by Tim - an Only Connect type of quiz. Lesley's team won and I was hopeless. I have poor general knowledge and poor pattern recognition.