Posts that Didn't Happen - September 2022

And on to September - traditionally our main 'holiday' month, but also the month where there is usually a glut of garden produce to deal with.

So the first week of the holiday involved lots of sorting through apples, tomatoes and marrows - freezing some down, cooking up tomato and chilli jam, etc. etc.

Then there were other domestic tasks, such as cleaning the upstairs carpets; a Covid booster jab for Martin; and on the recreational front a fishing trip with his Dad up to Dinas Reservoir.

Other notable pre-holiday activities, included a walk along the prom taking in the sights of the Rali Ceredigion, which ran a short stage through town and round by the Castle.

Then it was holiday time 'proper' - bags packed, and on the road for our first slightly more extended break since before the pandemic.

First 'in-transit' stop took us to Malvern - lovely town, nice walk up to St Ann's Well with some great views - ending the day with a pint or two, and a very tasty curry.  All in all a good start!

From there it was a cross-country drive to Norwich - via the National Trust's Wimpole Estate - arriving late afternoon to news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II - truly the end of an era.

Had a couple of days in Norwich, exploring the city, and visiting the Cathedral - where the sights included the Cathedral Cat, Budge, enjoying a nap; tributes to the Queen; the Book of Remembrance (actually turned to a page with my Great Grandfather's name inscribed); and this rather macabre 400 year old ode to mortality:

All you that do this place pass bye
Remember death for you must dye.
As you are now even so was I
And as I am so shall you be.
Thomas Gooding here do staye
Wayting for God's judgement daye.

From Norwich we moved on to the Norfolk coast . . .  meeting family for a beach walk and lunch at Winterton-on-Sea . . .

Visiting Cromer (with its roaming Goats) . . . 

. . .  National Trust properties at Felbrigg and Blickling . . .

. . . and Sheringham, with its murals and historic steam railway . . . 

Loved this piece of WW2 signage at Sheringham station - no 'leaves on the line' excuses back then!

Left our cabin on the coast for a couple of night's visiting family in Cambridgeshire, before returning home again.

Back to the reality of hedge cutting and wood chopping, and my own Covid booster jab - before returning to work the Tuesday after the Queen's funeral.  Life was more or less getting back to normal, then the 'new' government under Liz Truss released its budget, and appeared to be in the process of bankrupting the country.

In other news, we had the end outside wall of the Folly rendered (as you can see it wasn't in the best of nick before all the Folly works started).

The addition of the chimney for the log burner hadn't helped matters, but now we have a nice solid wall - just need to paint it!

Finally, the end of the month saw us down by Tan-y-Bwlch beach enjoying some late September sunshine (while waiting for the car to be MOT'd!) - watching the sea, and the passing Hercules aircraft . . .

Back in the Peak

So for this year's 'trip out', we decided to revisit Bakewell and the Peak District, by way of family in East Anglia.

On our way to Bakewell, we took in Calke Abbey near Derby . . .

. . . lots of deer, spooky service tunnels, and a rather run-down property (described as an 'un-stately home' reflecting the condition in which it came to the National Trust).

Fitted in a long walk along Dovedale on one of the nicer days, starting at Ilam Hall, crossing the iconic stepping stones, and on to Milldale and back (a bit further than we'd intended - although Martin also made it up Thorpe Cloud). 

Some great views (lots of caves and arches), and even saw a dipper by the stream.

 

Our visit to Hardwick Hall was a little damper - although it all looked quite atmospheric in the rain, and the house is always beautiful.  The autumn cyclamen in the gardens were also looking stunning despite the weather.

Bakewell itself was much as remembered, although the bridge pictured on our last visit in 2013 is now so loaded down with 'love locks' that it's no wonder it needs repair!

Finished the trip with a long-anticipated visit to Little Moreton Hall - a moated, half-timbered Tudor manor house - very quirky and picturesque, and we got to see it in the sunshine too!

A Good Day

With our holiday weeks drawing to an end - and after a busy few days cleaning, tidying, gardening, cutting hedges etc. - decided on another trip 'out' - this time a (pre-booked) day trip to Powis Castle.

We've been really lucky with the weather so far, and today did not disappoint, with another day of glorious sunshine, so the gardens were looking their very best (no access to the Castle itself still):

Also took the opportunity to pop in to the nearby Coed-y-Dinas store / garden centre on our way home for a browse round.

Must say I'm not sure why anyone would want a gorilla in their garden, but it was good to see that he was wearing his mask!

Back home again, and as it was still dry, sunny, and relatively calm decided to light the bonfire (which had built up again with garden waste, hedge clippings and various bits of rotten shed panelling / old leylandii).  

We'd scattered the hedge debris around the fire pit to help it all dry out a bit - but it still looked like far too much for one bonfire:

It did turn into a longer job than we'd planned, but it was a nice evening so we stuck with it - ate our dinner by the fire, had a drink, and watched the stars come out.

By 9pm we were down to the dying embers, and had actually managed to burn the lot - time to shower off the smoke, and pour a glass of wine!

Out and About

September holidays - and with some sense that normal service is resuming, decided we would take a break and actually go 'away'!

Booked ourselves a Travelodge in Portishead on the Bristol Channel, and headed off for three days of sun, sea and sightseeing. 

 
Stopped off at Clifton on the way, walked round Portishead taking in the views (and the graffiti) and fitted in a return trip to Tyntesfield (which had to be pre-booked, and was all very one-way and socially distanced):

Also had a day trip to Clevedon - with its pier, and marine pool (really missing the opportunity to go swimming back home, but unfortunately hadn't brought my bathing gear).

All in all it was a nice few days - we mostly ate / drank in beer gardens (kind of regretted the one trip to a too-busy Wetherspoons) so it all felt safe enough - and the weather was remarkably kind.

At the same time we were glad to be going home again.

Stopped off for a final (pre-booked) visit to Duffryn Gardens - then back to the safety of our little bit of Wales.

Archive Girls On Tour: The Return

Time for the unintentionally biennial archive girls reunion - this time basing ourselves in the Forest of Dean.

A different cottage - a different location for our main 'day out' (from Ludlow to Ledbury), but the same great company!

Good food, a few drinks (of course), and the traditional evening of Strictly.

Finished our trip with a visit to Westbury Court Garden  - a restored Dutch water garden, with some interesting old trees, and lots of carp to feed . . .

The question now is whether we can actually manage to keep the diary date for next year, or whether I'll be reporting back again in 2021!

September Meanderings

September is holiday time too, and in between chopping, grating, stewing and boiling things from the garden, we managed a few days away visiting family.

First stop Stratford (this time with the full wheel) - a wander round town, a few pints, a curry, and some shopping.








On the way there we revisited Coughton Court - a beautiful tudor house and gardens - and what would have been a lovely cream tea, but for the hordes of hovering wasps!

Moved on to Cambridge on the next day - stopping in Coventry Ikea along the way for a free cup of tea, cake, some excellent views from the cafe - and (from Martin's perspective) too much shopping!







Nice evening in Cambridge - including a drink in the pub opposite my old place of work at Shire Hall. 

In those days we'd go out for a lunchtime pint (although I was usually on the 'snowballs') - how times have changed!

Next morning it was wedding business with my sister (trying on her dress - no pictures allowed!) before heading on to March for the main family visit (and to meet up again with Martin - for some reason he wasn't interested in wedding dresses).


Visit to Peckover House with the folks - lovely house as ever, beautiful gardens / greenhouses . . .









. . . and some fantastic book / paper sculptures on exhibit . . .

The hotel we were staying in was another blast from the past as well - overlooking my old infant / junior school.

All in all a nice few days - time to go home again . . .