12-Feb-2025
Since arriving in Nether Heage last week, we've been kind of chilling.
Hanging out with family, pottering, indulging in the kind of food we won't see for a little while... It has all been very low-key, and none the worse for that.
Highlights:
Returning to Shipley Country Park, under better circumstances than last time
Heanor Memorial Park. The gates opposite Mundy Street originally came from the Derby Lodge entrance to Shipley Hall
Bestwood Country Park is actually in Nottinghamshire. Coal-mining started here in the 1870s, and Bestwood Colliery was the first mine in the world to produce a million tons of coal in 12 months... Mining came to an end in 1967
Some reminders of what a dangerous business it always was
The adjacent village has some very attractive red brick
And a bit more mining memorabilia: This wheel, originally from Shipley Park, now stands at a key junction in Codnor, in memory of the village's miners
Then, of course, there's food...
Bakewell tart from Willow Wood, Ripley
Bangers and mash from Brewers Fayre, South Normanton
Roast beef and Yorkshire pud at The Spanker, our almost-next-door pub. AND it came with horseradish sauce...
Crumpets from Cafe 1899 at Gedling Country Park (again, actually Nottinghamshire)
The 70-per-cent-cocoa hot chocolate from Cocoa Cafe, Belper, is as good as ever
I have no photo, but the Saltpot Community Cafe, in Swanwick, also deserves a mention in dispatches for good scones and friendly staff.
Meanwhile, there were the joys of another temporary home:
Around the Heages
Around home
We're moving on tomorrow, taking the next small step back towards the place that's still home... But we'll look forward to being back in Derbyshire soon.