We set off a bit later than we had intended, stopping for lunch in Tansley Barn garden centre just a few miles short of our hotel.
Suitably refreshed, we drove to our hotel to suss out parking arrangements ahead of booking in later in the afternoon. We saw some adorable calves in the farmyard next to the hotel.
Reconnaissance completed, we drove to our afternoon destination, Eyam Plague Village, where we explored the excellent museum. As we browsed the museum, I could hear the intermittent sound of what I knew to be a Christmas Carol being sung. The special exhibition said that the carol, A Virgin Most Pure, was local to Derbyshire with each village having a slight variation on words. I am not from Derbyshire but I found that the carol was imbedded in my subconscious from my choir days and I had to resist the urge to burst out singing!
We walked to the nearby St Lawrence’s church which, in addition to its plague connections has other features of note including an ancient Saxon Cross.
Luck was with us; we made it back to the car before the heavens opened! As we drove the short distance through the Chatsworth estate to our hotel, we saw the adorable sight of sheep and lambs sheltering beneath the leafy branches of magnificent trees.
As far as I was concerned lamb was off the menu for that evening.
We booked into the hotel and were shown to our luxurious room which had a bedroom and a sitting room. Mr C collected the cases from the car after the rain had eased off.
During this time, I noticed a missed call and voicemail (about a hospital appointment) from the care home where mum is currently living. The Peak District has dodgy mobile reception and the hotels were so thick that I couldn’t call back. After the rain stopped, I went outside into the hotel garden to confirm the arrangements for mum’s hospital appointment.
I chose the opportunity to explore the garden before returning to our room to chill out and change before dinner. This left plenty of time to have an aperitif before dinner. It is unusual to find a dry sherry on offer but I was served with a wonderful dry Amontillado which had all sorts of flavours tickling my tongue.
We both chose guinea fowl as our main course. Mr C preceded this with a starter and followed with a dessert both of which I was allowed to taste. The food was all we hoped it would be.
There was a slight downside to the evening… One of our dinner companions was an annoying lady who liked the sound of her own voice. She talked loudly at her husband with a circular conversation that kept coming back to her telling her husband he wasn’t listening to her. From where I was sitting it was extremely hard not to listen to her, in fact her voice was impossible to tune out.
After dinner the guests retired to the lounge area where her relentless voice caused everyone to retreat, even me eventually. Picking up my drink I whispered in Mr C’s ear that I was going to retire to the bar area.
Peace at last!
Das ist ein sehr einladendes Bett – zumal es schon zwei Stunden nach Mitternacht ist.
Die Ruhe der Nacht!
And as always the peace of the night