15-Apr-2022
I mentioned last week that Nigel had been under the weather. Well, he is slowly improving. Slowly is very much the operative word, but we're obviously very relieved and grateful to see him going in this direction.
As befits recuperation, it has been another quiet week. Which is one reason this will be a short post, made up mostly of photos. The other reason is that we've spent most of today cleaning and packing, ready to move on tomorrow, so we are pretty much exhausted. (So many rental properties seem to buy their kitchens from Smears R Us, and what IS it with people's hoovers...?)
Anyway, here's a pictorial rundown of our final days in Derbyshire:
Making the short trip to Crich (pronounced "cry", with a "ch" for church on the end), so that Nigel could see if a massage would help. (Verdict: No lasting relief, but a pleasant experience.) And Crich, with its gorgeous stone, is really worth a visit
Fab views from this elevated spot
St Mary's, Crich
The tower known as The Stand, which commemorates the thousands of Sherwood Foresters killed in conflict. The views from up there are amazing
After a gruelling four-hour session in the King's Mill emergency care unit (to which Nigel had last week been bidden to return if there was no improvement after three days), a bit of fresh air at nearby Sutton Lawn Lake was very welcome. Unfortunately, it was a little too fresh, with a wicked wind...
We returned a couple of times to Shipley Country Park and Mapperley, an easy drive-free walk from our accommodation
Just about warm enough to eat brekkie outside
Back in Ilkeston to shop at the market
The grounds of the Erewash Museum
A ladle from Stanton Ironworks (used to transport molten iron)
Not a warning you read that often...
Yesterday was our first little bit of actual "sight-seeing" for a goodly while. Darley Abbey, once the site of one of the largest monasteries in the country, later hosted some of the earliest cotton spinning mills
Former mill workers' cottages
These buildings are thought to have used stone from the former abbey (dissolved, of course, by the usual suspect)
St Matthew's, Darley Abbey
The graves of mill workers and their offspring
Darley Abbey Mills, reminiscent of our visit to Belper, in pre-plague days
Of course, the week has also brought goodbyes, which we really hate. We just have to remember that they're only temporary. We'll be back!
To close, some scenes from our little cottage:
Seen from our window: A bullfinch
The bears have been assiduously guarding the front door, but they reckon they're ready to move on now...