Anyway on Thursday Mike drove us to the Heights of Abraham. The Derbyshire Dales are really pretty - and quite far away!! We got to admire the heather on the moors, which is really beautiful! Once there we found a carpark with some difficulty and then dashed off to make the ascent in the cable car. The boys were ecstatic! A few minutes after we arrived a Punch and Judy show began and the boys had an absolute blast! I lot count of the fart jokes and delighted giggles. After that we had lunch and looked out over the view while the boys frolicked in the playground. We then entered Masson Cavern, a lead mine that stopped operating 50 years ago. The boys loved it, and dashed around in the dark like a pair of loons. Once we ascended the many steps to exit the caverns we scrambled about on rocks by a lookout before the boys discovered another playground. Finally, they enjoyed another ride on the cablecar as were descended down to Matlock and then headed off home.
On Friday the weather took a turn for the better and actual sunshine bathed Glossop. Naturally, this was a sign that we needed to go visit Lyme Park, the exterior of which was used for Pemberly in the Colin Firth BBC production of Pride and Prejudice. Sadly Colin wasn't swimming in the Reflection Lake when we got there. Despite this our tour around the grounds was very enjoyable, even though Kieran's legs ached from the steep steps of Massons Cavern the day before. We saw a lovely begonia garden planted to resemble poppies to celebrate the centenary of WW1, a lovely orangery, the Reflection lake, a hare sculpture and a sweet little rose garden before we leapt back into a buggy to go back to the carpark so we could picnic by Darcy's lake. Once the picnic had been consumed we caught another buggy up to the house. The rather affable and easy going driver had allowed Cameron to sit in the drivers seat and pretend to drive on the previous arrival. Remembering this, Cameron leapt into the front, turned the key in the ignition and drove hell for leather with the driver galloping alongside on his left, and Mike galloping along on the other. I stared bemused, thinking that this was planned and under control. We promptly fled the scene once the culprit was dragged from the vehicle. After this, we toured the interior of Lyme Park, which was stunning. No photos could be taken sadly, but the detailing on the ceiling, mantels and fireplaces had to be seen to be believed. Most striking were a set of Chippendale chairs in the extremely well named Stag Parlour, the cushions of which were made from Charles the first cloak, handed to the staunch royalist Richard Legh, as Charles divested himself of his clothing on the scaffold. The boys soon grew tired of walking around the various rooms however to I took them off to the Crows nest playground while Mum and Mike got to have a better look. The boys had a most enjoyable time in the playground and then we stopped in at New Mills on the way home to view the Archimedean screw 'Archie' installed there. We also got to admire a dead tree carved to represent trout leaping in the river, and the boys had a little paddle once we moved off the Millenium bridge. Then Mum and Mike came over to babysit so Chris and I could have a night out - the first in a year! I got all dressed up and we headed off to the Wheatsheaf where I had a most delicious steak and Chris tucked into bangers and mash. Afterwards we strolled around Old Glossop and then moseyed off home.
On Saturday it dawned cold, windy and grey - a perfect morning for the boys swimming lessons. Fleeing the house at the crack of dawn we got them there in good time, and a wonderful lesson was enjoyed by both boys - their enthusiasm a delight to observe. Mum and Mike joined us at the pool and watched the kidlets leap and frolic. Once home we headed out to the Pikes Lane fields to try and fly the dragon kite that Mum and Mike got for the boys. There was much leaping and running, and more running and the boys had a wonderful time! Mum and I left the festivities early to pick blackberries which I turned into delicious apple and blackberry tartlets. After that I applied for many, many jobs. Then I set the boys up in a tent in our room which they were very excited about - bless their hearts. Tomorrow, we shall see what tomorrow brings! Hopefully sunshine! Sadly no, it bucketed down and we had a pyjama day!
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