This year we were determined to start earlier in the year, so maybe we'll get two breaks away. Organisation and forward planning is everything. The dates more or less decided themselves. I noticed that The Saw Doctors were playing at Buxton on 22nd April, by which time most of the stock should be out (making it easier for James to manage on his own) and if we stayed until the weekend we could fit in a visit to Rob and Claire's at Belper. So tickets were booked. Campsite booked. The caravan given a cursory check. Loads of time to get it all ready. But as the weather got warmer and the days got longer, farmwork filled every available minute, and by last Saturday it became obvious that something had to give. One of the (supposed) advantages of having a caravan is that you can just up and go at a moments notice. Not so. It needed a bit of maintenance, a new battery (the old one is now on the old digger), and a lot of cleaning to remove the green tinge it had acquired. So there was nothing for it, but to give up the idea of roughing it and opt for the luxury of a B & B.
Isn't the Internet wonderful? When we were rallying I booked a lot of B & B's - by leafing through a paperback directory and phoning. All there was to go on were a few printed lines and the sound of the voice on the phone. Now I can search for any kind of accommodation anywhere in the world with the click of a button. So finding a farmhouse B & B near Buxton was easy. At the back of my mind I was slightly worried that it was too easy - other wise why wasn't it already booked up? I needn't have worried - Barms Farm was everything we wanted and more than we expected having left the booking so late.
We got away on Wednesday morning (after a bit more stone picking ) and with a car loaded with more than the usual suitcase set off. We had arranged to go to Rob's on Saturday and meet up with Victoria & Co who would come up from Wigston. So in the back of the car we had a large box of Lego Duplo (for Izzy), a large box of wooden train set (for Fletcher), birthday presents from us and Wellbank for anyone having a birthday in April and May, wedding anniversary presents (both Rob & Claire and Glenn & Victoria). I'm a hoarder (as I've admitted before) and have a large stock of toys that as well as entertaining children at Strickley travel round the country. In a few years they'll move on to someone else or come back home.
The SatNav took us safely round Manchester, past the Trafford Centre and out the other end to the edge of the Peak District. We managed to find a good pub on the way for lunch and arrived at Barms Farm with time to relax and refresh before the concert. We had a picnic in the Pavilion Gardens (forward planning and good luck with the weather) and waited for the Opera House doors to open. We've seen The Saw Doctors (click on the link if you've never heard of them) in a lot of different venues, but this was by far the grandest. The photos on the Opera House website don't do it justice. But the band was as good as ever - pared down versions of some songs, and gloriously souped up versions of others, finishing with a rousing version of Hay Wrap.
On Thursday we did a bit of shopping in Buxton, then drove down to the Crich Tramway Museum. Maybe it was me who didn't read all the blurb about it on the web and leaflets, or maybe they showed all the interesting bits and not just the highlights, but it was a bit of a disappointment. So no website link - but if you're really into trams I'm sure you'll find your way there. A bit more shopping at Masson Mills at Matlock Bath (Henry this time - he now has more shoes than me!) and a circuitous drive back. We passed Chatsworth (which seems to be very much a brand as well as the most stateliest of homes) but decided to leave it for another day, but couldn't resist the Chatsworth Farm Shop - and restaurant. A late lunch and back to Buxton to rest and refresh before going out for supper. Oh it's a hard life on holiday.
On Friday we drove across country to Hardwick Hall. The entrance price was the same as the Tram Museum, but this time was well worth the money.
There was a long drive from the road up through parkland and this is where I first got my camera out when we saw the Longhorn cattle.One of my indulgences when we go away is to take an unread book with me. This year I was lucky as one of my favourite author's latest novel was published at the beginning of April. Stephen Booth's books take place in the Peak District and looking at the map (much more user friendly than SatNav in this instance) I could see many familiar places, including the setting for part of the latest book - Eyam. So with map on knee I was back in navigator mode and we completed our own Stephen Booth tour. I put off reading the book as long as possible - not because I didn't want to read it, but I love the feel and smell of new books (no e-books for me) and most of all because it will seem a long wait till the next in the series.
Saturday was a family day in Belper. The sun shone, we sat in the garden (admiring Rob and Claire's expertise with chicken, fruit, veg and flowers - including impressive rain-harvesting) and the children played.
But now we're back home. Henry's was out doing a bit of reseeding with the fiddle drill by 2 0'clock; and I've not really seen him since. The Landrover and trailer shot off with a bowser in the back a while ago, and I hope he will be in soon. This is back to reality - a cold house (we let the Aga go out), cheese and biscuits for supper and no prospect of a Full English Breakfast in the morning.
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