Badge Man

              Last night, Derby County Football Club said a fond farewell to one of its characters.  The Badge Man, Douglas Else was much loved.  Eighty Six minutes into the match, all supporters gave him a standing ovation.  Prior to the match, the Badge Man's mighty jacket was paraded round the ground on the Derby County flag.  Enough from me, Derby County FC showed their quality.

Stephen Else with his dad, Douglas, the Badge Man


http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Derby-County-super-fan-Badge-Man-dies-86/story-16903955-detail/story.html

Caldwell and Linton

                  Bright sunshine and a cool autumnal wind accompanied me when I decided to go exploring on my bike.  I took a flask of coffee and a sandwich in case and headed off to Caldwell, a small village I'd spotted on the map as being not too far out but far enough for a good explore.  I headed off down Newhall Road, turning left at the traffic lights and having got up the hill, made a right at the roundabout turning onto Caldwell road.
                 The wind was strong and I was glad for my long trousers and gloves.  I laboured against the wind before making the left turn to Caldwell.  A lovely narrow road, I cycled all the way up and stopped to admire the view over the fields and get my breath back.
                Down the hill for a bit and then I arrived at Caldwell where I took a left to Linton.  I did not dare stop in case my little legs would not start up again. The village looks lovely and I'll come back and explore it properly when I'm a bit fitter.  More labouring up the hill toward Linton.  Beautiful views over the hedgerows.
                At last, going downhill through Linton.  I pass the Square and Anchor, once a pub, now an antique shop and tea room.  Looks great and worth a proper look I think as I sweep past.
                Back then along the A444 and Newhall road to home.   Walking up the hills for a bit as my little legs are tired.

http://www.squareandcompassantiques.co.uk/About-Us.html

Late summer Calke Walk

I love Calke Abbey and walking in the grounds is always a pleasure whatever time of day or year you go.  On Wednesday I parked in the main car park and did my usual circuit down the road to the reservoir, along the path past the deer park and out towards the lambing area (well worth a visit in February and early March).  I walk through some woodlands to a delightful pasture, sometimes used for grazing and sometimes used for camping by the Craft Fair stall holders during the May Day bank holiday.  Along this route there are signs so I look closer (photos to follow).  A Tree Trail has been set up and it is wonderful.  A placard tells you the type of tree and a little information, and the undergrowth has been cleared so you can get a better look.  The oaks are magnificent in their aged hollowed but still living state and the walking lime was a fantastic surprise when you look for the clues, look up into the canopy and around and see.
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/calke-abbey/?campid=MIDPPC

 Some plants, such as strawberries, propagate themselves by sending off shoots with "babies" attached.  When the young plants reach the ground, they put down roots, becoming independent.  A walking lime does this.  It's quite amazing to look up and along the links between "mum" and "babies" to think how many patient years and decades this has taken.  I did not take a picture as there are just some things you have to experience first hand.

See the site below for other lovely trees.
http://www.kew.org/news/kew-blogs/arboretum-team/kews-old-lions-celebrate-anniversary.htm

Breakfast with a Chicken

For some time Dot has been coming up the the window for a back scratch and a nose into the house.  She has, I am certain, toyed with the idea of coming in for a proper look herself.  Madge and Dot, as you may remember, came into the kitchen and helped themselves to the cat food.  A nosy and curious chicken, Dot had to investigate further.  The pictures speak for themselves in this case.

Crossing the Threshold

A short flight for Chicken Kind

Well, I'm here now...

Ooohh, so this is what you eat.  Nice

The Derbyshire Seaside

Sunday before last we spent a great couple of hours in Matlock Bath pottering around.  It being the last weekend before the kids go back to school and a glorious, unexpectedly hot, clear blue sky day, it was heaving.  Despite being well embedded inland, Matlock Bath has the feel of Blackpool. Brighton, Torquay, Porthmadog, Barmouth or any other Seaside town.
       
A favourite with bikers, families, couples and "Wombles" (an endearing term for elderly tourists I've heard used) it has tourist attractions, open in the
summer months only, and some establishments open
all year round.  
                                                                             The pavement parking spaces were lined with gleaming bikes and the pavement café's and chippies full with bikers et al contentedly munching.

There's some great sweet shops, ice cream of course, souvenirs both tacky and tasteful too.  The festival, holiday atmosphere was enhanced by the unexpected sight of Morris Dancers, who gamely allowed a tourist to join in before shooing him off

Away from the hustle and bustle is the Heights of Abraham, a short but winding and steep drive an equally winding and steep walk up.  The effort is worth it as you can stop whenever you like on foot to admire the stunning views.

So many houses built up the hillsides, major feats of engineering building on such slopes.  One gardener we chatted to on the way down was cutting back the shrubs and trees in her perilously sloping garden.  She has taken many a tumble and "dreams of living somewhere flat like Lincolnshire" at times.


On the way up, you pass the sounds of those enjoying the rides in Gulliver's Kingdom.
http://www.gulliversfun.co.uk/matlock-bath

We also saw this wonderful sculpture of an elephant just below Waterloo Road, something you would not see from a car at all.

We arrived to the entrance of the Heights of Abraham but did not go in this time.  On previous visits we have enjoyed tours through the mines, the spectacular vista and the cable car ride down.

http://www.heightsofabraham.com/

     
We walked down on the steeper paths, taking our time over the cobble stones which must be lethal in winter

My other half spent some time enjoying himself on the various gaming machines in one of the family friendly games stores, whilst I had a good potter around and did a bit of shopping before meeting up and heading home.
http://www.visitmatlockbath.co.uk/

Cheeky Chickens

Dot makes herself at home

My other half had left the kitchen door open, the idea being to lure our ex-next-door-neighbours cat inside, so we could put her in a pet box, phone her new home (a mile down the road) so they could come and fetch her again.

I heard noises of cat food being eaten, but it did not sound like a cat doing the eating.  I got up to look, beckoning to John to come see as it was far too good to miss.  This is what we saw.

Dot,

Dot, with Madge joining in

I want what she's got..

Sweet Swadlincote

For the first time in I don't know how long, I had an idea for a story.  I love the alternative realities created by Paul Magrs and Jasper Ffordde so it is very derivative.  Plus I have been reading "Les Miserables" this summer so there is bound to be some Victor Hugo in there and plenty of other stuff too as I'm an avid reader.  I spent a good couple of hours writing what may be loosely termed a chapter, outlining characters, situations and further characters.  Like Magrs and Ffordde I'll use real places, but the people and events will be completely fictional.  We'll see if it takes off or fizzles out.  Either way it will be a good exercise.



http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2098513642460163234#overview/src=dashboard