Larch Cottage with Sal

Back to The Lakes with Sal, I thought it was never going to happen! She needed to get away for some peace and relaxation as this year and the last month in particular had been very hard for her. Her dad's funeral was very moving and all the preparations that her and James did turned it in to a celebration of his life. Tears were shed all round but there was also plenty of laughter. We all went to The Red Lion in Grenoside after the service and raised a glass or two in his memory.

We had intended going to Lowther Castle but when we turned up, the main car park was full and the large additional car park was almost full as well. It then dawned on us that the Lost Castle Adventure Playground had just reopened so we beat a hasty retreat and decided on a visit to Larch Cottage Nurseries in Melkinthorpe instead.

It is classed as a garden centre but as the photos show, it is much much more than that. It has the most delightful cafe and to our surprise, it was open for business. We both had a cappucino before exploring the many nooks and crannies of the gardens. We always say that we will have some lunch there but never seem to get round to it, maybe next time.

It was great to be up in The Lakes with Sal again and to see her relaxing and having a smile on her face.


Eryngium planum

Larch Cottage Cafe

Larch Cottage Cafe

Larch Cottage Cafe

Hiya!

Larch Cottage Gardens

Unknown perennial

Bumble Bee

Hosta

Rose

Garden Ornament

Larch Cottage gardens

Verbascum Gainsborough

Garden Ornament

Garden Ornament

Larch Cottage gardens

Garden Ornament

Dahlia

Larch Cottage gardens

Dahlia

Butterfly

Larch Cottage gardens

Larch Cottage gardens

Larch Cottage gardens

Eryngium planum

Larch Cottage gardens

Larch Cottage gardens

Larch Cottage gardens


Garden Ornament

Griffin Statue

Green Man

Foxglove

A stroll down Memory Lane

Had a short drive out with Sal, her mum and Holly the dog to have a walk along the Chesterfield Canal and through Hawks Wood. We parked up in Thorpe Salvin and walked through the village to the start of the footpath. I have lost count of the number of times we have done this walk. We usually do it every spring when the snowdrops are out but missed out this year due to Sal's dad breaking a hip and then the Covid-19 virus outbreak.

It's a walk Sal and her mum have done together all their lives and it is quite a special place for them. I let them walk on ahead as they had lots to talk about and I thought that if I left them alone, it might help with their grieving process. Anyway I was quite content with just dawdling along taking photos to be honest.

With it being a weekend, there were a few people on the towpath but never too many to make it uncomfortable. I think this stretch of the canal is really beautiful. Most canals run through industrial areas but the stretch between Kiverton and Shireoaks is mainly lined with woodland and the only sound you hear, apart from the wildlife and occasional human, is the train on the main Sheffield to Lincoln line which runs nearby.

Everybody's head seems to be all over the place at the moment, mine included. Instead of me returning to the village the way we would normally return, I carried on along the canal because for some strange reason I got it in to my head that was what they had done. I eventually turned round and headed back towards the village, bumping in to Sal who had come to see where I had got to!

We finished off our walk with a lovely pint sat outside The Parish oven. I think everyone was putting on a brave face, the funeral is fast approaching and I think this was praying on everyone's mind. Maybe we can all start to move on a bit once it is over.


Wheat Field, Thorpe Salvin

Bee on Thistle

Chesterfield Canal

Chesterfield Canal

Chesterfield Canal

Hawks Wood

Hawks Wood

Lady Bell Hawks Wood

Hawks Wood

Spider's web, Hawks Wood

Chesterfield Canal

Chesterfield Canal

Chesterfield Canal

Chesterfield Canal

Emotionally drained at Thoresby Hall

A few hours on my own at Thoresby Hall, Nottinghamshire. Me and sal were down in South Yorkshire visiting her mum who had just lost her husband. As a family they were sorting out the funeral and I thought I was maybe intruding a bit so I got out of the house for an hour or two.

Thoresby Hall is one of my favourite places down in that neck of the woods. It is quieter than nearby Clumber Park and Rufford Abbey and certainly a lot quieter than Sherwood Forest! Plus it has a nice coffee shop which had just re-opened after lockdown.

After having had my first 'proper' cappuccino, I had a lovely stroll around the grounds, getting as far as the village of Perlethorpe. Looking behind, I could see dark rain clouds looming so I started to beat a hasty retreat. I hadn't got very far when the heavens opened. It threw it down, so much so that I had to take cover under a large old oak tree. I wasn't the only person caight out, a cyclist was doing the same under another tree.

After about 15 mins it eased off which gave me just enough time to get back to the car before it started again and carried on all the way back to Kiveton.

It had been good to get out because the walls were beginning to close in on me a bit. It's not a good time at the moment as everyone is finding it hard to deal with the situation, me included. It has long been a standing joke that I was the only person whom Sal's dad actually liked. I used to sit and listen to his past exploits (which were usually quite inappropriate and hilarious), tolerate his old-age grumpiness and, I hope, always treated him with the love and respect he deserved.

Dementia is a horrible illness. I will miss him and will always regret not knowing him during his younger, more active and illness-free days.


Thoresby Hall outbilding

Thoresby Hall Visitor Complex

Thoresby Hall Visitor Complex

Thoresby Hall Visitor Complex cafe

Thoresby Hall Visitor Complex

Thoresby Hall grounds

Thoresby Hall grounds

A distant Thoresby Hall

Thoresby Hall farm


Thoresby Hall farm

Thoresby Hall farm


Pink Rose, Thoresby Hall

Balmacara and Skye

 WE had a mixed week of weather but on the whole we managed to stay dry. The only wet day was our second day when Sal stayed in the cottage ...