London

 

Well, I didn't really have long before the planning and preparation began again, as last weekend saw us back in London again. This was my first visit since running the marathon, and I'm happy to say that the weather was much warmer this time, no need for my hat and gloves :)

After dropping off our bags, the first stop was Richmond. By this time, we were feeling really hungry, so after a much needed lunch stop (a lovely picnic on Richmond Green) we walked along by the river, and up the hill towards Richmond Park. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and we had hoped we might see the deer, but it didn't look too promising. There were plenty of butterflies and bees, but we didn't notice any deer, not even in the distance.

We made our way a little farther along the track, weaving our way past the ponds, and returning through the trees, when I suddenly spotted a deer among the bracken. Just one. Whether there were any more close by, I couldn't tell, but you're not supposed to get too close to them, so we stayed where we were.

Having given our legs a good stretch on the walk (It had been a long train journey), we headed along the river again, back to Richmond Green, where we enjoyed an ice cream and watched some of the cricket. It was quite busy there, as you might expect on a Saturday afternoon, but everyone was happy and  relaxed, and making the most of the sunny day.

Dinner that evening, was a McDonald's, eaten on Clapham Common :) I think half of Clapham was there, and why not, it was a lovely evening for it. After a quick drink at a nearby pub, we went back to our hotel for the night, where we both slept incredibly well, unsurprisingly after all that walking. 

For ages now, Lily has been wanting to experience H22, the city's highest free viewing platform, but you usually have to book tickets in advance for this. I kept checking for cancellations, but I wasn't having much luck, until last Sunday, while we were eating breakfast. I refreshed the web page, and it appeared that there were just a handful of tickets available for 11.00 that morning. Cue much excitement, then a quick dash to get into central London, to make our time slot. We had been incredibly lucky to get these tickets, and it was the perfect morning for it.  

Once we had reached our destination, in sharp contrast to the heat and noise of the city, we stepped into a quiet, cool entrance lobby, where we were directed through security and into the lift. 58 floors later, we were greeted by the most amazing views. Previously, we have visited the Sky Garden, which feels high enough, but on this occasion, we were actually looking down on it. We had a wonderful time up there, searching for the landmarks down below. The Tower of London, especially, looking as though it was part of a model village. It was amazing, and I would definitely recommend a visit there, if you are ever in the city. 

From H22, we walked down towards the river, passing The Monument to The Great Fire of London, then caught the tube to Hyde Park, where we enjoyed another picnic lunch, before spending the afternoon by The Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. 

Then, all too soon, it was time for us to return home. Although, I was quite relieved, as the temperature rose even higher the following day. And I must admit, the city is not my favourite place to be when the weather is so hot.

J. X

Filling My Cup

As lovely as it is to get away, it usually takes a lot of planning and preparation on my part. Often, the most relaxing times, for me at least, can be those days spent closer to home. These kind of days are more spontaneous, take minimal planning for, if indeed any at all, and besides a little petrol, don't cost anything.

I enjoyed one of these days, this week. After an early lunch, we took a short drive out to Sizergh Castle, so we could have a wander around the gardens. It is really beautiful there, and although it can get busy at this time of year, there is plenty of space where you can experience some peace and quiet.

The flower beds are gorgeous, and there is plenty of contrast to keep my interest. Not being overly green fingered, I might not know all their names, but I can still appreciate them.

And we are always keen to get to the kitchen garden. I love to see the rows of vegetables, interspersed with companion plants, the fruit tree borders, sweet peas, and sunflowers. And Lily always loves to see Charlie, the resident cat, who on this occasion was lying fast asleep on a bench.

The fruit trees in the orchard are laden with apples and pears, and the wildflowers are attracting so many pollinators.We sat for ages in the limestone garden, watching out for the bright blue damselflies above the water there. The acers look really pretty now, but they will put on an even more stunning display of colour in the autumn.

Once we had visited the main pond at the front of the castle (of course we had to see the Lilies), we set off for home again, feeling relaxed and happy. Some places seem to have that affect don't they. Then my cup was filled even more, when I discovered what my own vegetable 'garden' had produced for me.

J. X

Castleton

 

At the weekend, we packed our bags and set off for Derbyshire. I'm not certain why I decided it would be a good idea to go away so soon after finishing for the summer, but I keep thinking back to when we were fortunate enough to have visited Sycamore Gap, just a few short weeks before the tree was felled. It has given me a more 'seize the day' attitude. Not that I suspect Mam Tor will be disappearing anytime soon, but you never know.

Having looked at various options, I had booked into the Youth Hostel in Castleton, which is conveniently situated right at the beginning of our walk, and had ample free parking. Better still, there are sheep! Almost as soon as we arrived (it was too early for us to check in), we set off along the track and up the steep slope of Lose Hill. It was perfect weather for walking, mild and with a gentle breeze, and plenty of others clearly felt the same, as it was quite busy up there. After a brief sandwich stop, we then walked right along the ridge to the summit of Mam Tor. There were many more people at this point, because from here Mam Tor can be more easily accessed along a short track, directly up from the road, which is ideal if you want to be able to enjoy the views for a lot less effort.

From here we dropped back down towards the road, passing the Blue John Cavern and on towards Winnats  Pass, which we had driven over on our journey to Castleton. There appears to be  a lot of caverns in this area, Lily's favourite being Peak Cavern, because it is also known as the Devil's Arse!

From here, our route took us through the village, and back to the Youth Hostel, where by this time we were able to check in and go to our room. Tired from our walk, we decided to eat at the hostel that evening, then I had a wander around the grounds and made friends with a goat :)

After a good night's sleep, we enjoyed a delicious cooked breakfast, which set us up for the morning. Our next stop was Chee Dale, and a circular route, which took us a short way along the Monsal Trail, down into a limestone gorge, where we walked across large stepping stones, then back again through some old railway tunnels.

Everywhere was looking especially lush and verdant. The paths were a bit slippery in places, and I got my hands quite muddy, trying to steady myself, while navigating some of the rocks. But thankfully, the stepping stones were quite solid, so at least I didn't need to worry about getting my feet wet.

It was lovely to see all the wildflowers attracting plenty of pollinators, and we even spotted a large heron wading through the water.

J. X

Summer Break

Last Friday saw the start of our summer break and Lily's last ever day at primary school. It was a beautiful day of blue sky and sunshine, and it was a happy one. I wasn't sure how I would feel, to be honest, but she is ready to move on, and that is a good thing. Maybe I will feel it more in September, when I no longer need to do the school run each day. It is also reassuring that she feels incredibly excited to be starting secondary school. And although she is experiencing the usual concerns of attending a much bigger setting and getting lost on her first day, we are as prepared as we can be. Lily's seven years at primary school have been positive ones, and we have some wonderful memories.

Following a lovely and uplifting leaver's assembly, the children busied themselves with signing one another's shirts and saying their goodbyes, then they enjoyed their final walk out of the school accompanied by some music. Most of the class then went on to a nearby park, where they could have a play, which just reminded us, as parents, that even though they are growing up, they are still just children.

In the evening, we continued our own celebration by enjoying a chippy tea down by the lake, before Lily and big sister went out in the kayak. It was a very pleasant evening, and surprisingly quiet. A lovely way to end the day.

And now, six weeks of summer lie ahead. I may have some adventures planned. 

J. X