random ramblings: Weekend in Derbyshire, part 1

The last week in February, we had a slight variation in our week. Daughter was due a training day so we were to have the children on the Tuesday. The training day was changed at the last moment, but she still went in on the Tuesday. We had them again on the Thursday as arranged, then on the Friday we packed, took the child seats out of the car, packed up the car and set off for Derbyshire. The traffic was really slow, due to congestion, the satnav sent us off the M1just before Derby, by which time it was rush hour, then we seemed to crawl along for ever through a series of small towns, then onto open twisting roads. We arrived at our hotel at Buxton at around 6 pm.
Our room was on the first floor, but there was a lift, so we used that for luggage. We had a pleasant room overlooking the front garden of the hotel, and the nearby park, with peaks in the background. Dinner was served in the Conservatory, which all looked very pretty, with fairy lights, but once again we were disappointed to see diners in jeans, and looking scruffy, doesn't anyone dress for dinner these days.? We were in smart clothes, I have couple of skirts and blouses I always keep for special occasions. perhaps I'm just old fashioned.

View from room

Front of hotel

There was a reasonable choice, but some things such as pie and mash, fish and chips just didn't ring my bell. If I'm paying for a dinner then I like it to be special. I had a goats cheese panna cotta for starters, husband had a ham terrine, then we both had sea bass, on a pearl barley risotto. The risotto was a tad bland. Then for dessert I had a creme brulee, which was delicious, again I can't remember what husband had. I did write it all down, but have lost the piece of paper. Coffee and mints followed, and we retired to our room. Not much on TV, so we read, I couldn't get online, as the hotel wifi must have been very busy.
Unfortunately, after having got used to our new mattress at home, and, whisper it softly, I'd actually been sleeping, for most of the night. Suddenly there was a seemingly rock hard bed and rock hard pillows to match. The curtains were real blackout curtains, couldn't see a thing. I tossed turned, coughed, kicked off the duvet, too hot, then at around 3.30am decide a visit to the ensuite was in order. Not wishing to disturb husband, I didn't put on a bedside lamp, but shuffled slowly across the floor, hands outstretched to feel obstacles. He told me next morning he had been awake and had been amused by my efforts not to disturb him!
Back in bed, I did manage eventually to drop off, and awoke feeling tired and stiff. The over bath shower was good although the bath so high off the ground that my legs only just made it over the side. I peered at the free shampoo label, but couldn't read it so decided to risk it. The bathroom was over hot, having both a radiator ad a heated towel rail.
At breakfast there was a good choice, several fruit juices, dried fruits, fruit salad yoghurt, croissants, cereals etc, all help yourself, they came and took our cooked breakfast and coffee order, mine did not vary, poached egg, grilled bacon, mushroom tomato and black pudding, but husband added sausage and even fried bread at least once. We were not offered toast, but husband had noticed baskets of bread, and 2 4 slice toasters, with dishes of jam, marmalade, honey and sachets of matrmite and Nutella.
DIY toast, so much more civilised than having it served in a rack at the same time as brekkie, and it going cold and hard.
Breakfast over, we planned the day. I put our anniversary cards on display, husband had forgotten to bring mine, my fault, I should have reminded him, but didn't want to seem to be dropping hints. First I needed to pop into the town centre, I needed heat pads, as the journey had disturbed my back, indigestion tablets, just in case, and something for an itchy bite I had. I was juggling reading glasses and various other items in Boots. I found husband in a charity shop, where else would he be? We popped into a few outdoor shops, then I took some 'touristy' pictures, then we drove over to Hardwick Hall. I had wanted to 'do' Haddon hall,where Jane Eyre was filmed, but it doesn't open till April. Chatsworth doesn't open till later in March, and Hardwick is NT, so no entry fee. I had taken one of my 'super' pain relievers, which contain both aspirin and caffeine, so I rarely take them.

Victorian Urn

Old spa baths

tearoom where we had lunch last time

Free Buxton water

On arrival we got our NT stickers, and looked in the shops before going into the stables restaurant for lunch, leek and potato soup for husband, ham sandwich with the loveliest piccalilli I have ever tasted, for me, then a sneaky brownie with our coffe I hadn't been able to find my reading glasses, to read the menu, but digging deep into my bag I found the spare pair. Afterwards,we then set off for the hall, walked what seemed to be miles, up stairs round corridors, in and out of rooms, where we gawped, stared, and wondered at the value of the priceless furniture and artefacts. My education on Bess of Hardwick had been sadly lacking, but now my knowledge is somewhat increased, did you know she was married 4 times, first husband was 13, and he died soon after? That she bought Chatsworth, knocked it down and rebuilt it in its present form, that she even had designs on one of her heirs taking the throne? Quite a formidable woman for an Elizabethan. We didn't see all of the gardens, or the old hall, worn out, I just managed to pop into the shop for a jar of that piccalilli.
We drove back to the hotel, me wishing there was an opportunity to stop and photograph the twisted spire in Chesterfield, and had a short rest before changing for dinner. Despite searching the car, my bag and anything else, I could not find the missing reading glasses.
That evening the restaurant was full and pretty busy. We both had scallops, a slight surcharge, but nowhere near as expensive as in Cornwall, and there were more, I had a chicken breast with a savoury sauce, and 'pastry ball', which contained stuffing, there was mashed potato,and we shared side of veg again. Husband persuaded me to have a glass of wine, although I wasn't overstruck, but I agreed, as it was our anniversary. Husband can't recall what he had, for dessert I had assiette d'orange, lemon curd, a small warm orange sponge pudding, a lemon mousse type thing, and orange flavoured mini shortbreads, all very yummy. Unfortunately the staff forgot to offer us coffee, we think they may have been winding down after a busy evening, so we went back up, and used our hospitality tray, and I used my own decaff which I had brought with me.
I think I had better pause here and include some pictures.