Castleton Christmas Tree Festival

Bakewell is the biggest town in the Peak District, a market town in the Derbyshire Dales. We love to visit so when we saw that it was hosting its Christmas Market Weekend on the 16th and 17th of November, we put it in the diary. We were expecting a lovely day out, something to kick off the Christmas festivities, but it was anything but. There were traffic jams before we'd even entered the town itself, cars queuing just to reach the car park. The crowds, wow, the crowds! You couldn't even see what some stalls were selling, it was a push and shove just to walk along the streets. It didn't feel at all Christmassy, I think we heard Christmas music playing on one or two stalls but that was it, it could have been a summer market for what we saw of Christmas. We stayed for as long as we could stand it, which wasn't long, and then decided to make a hasty retreat, which wasn't hasty at all because of the crowds and queues.

I'd seen that Castleton, a village in the High Peak district of Derbyshire, was having its lights switch on that same day so we decided to head over there instead, it's about half an hour away from Bakewell. It was such a different experience there. It was still busy but there wasn't that push and shove that there was in Bakewell. The first thing we noticed when we hopped out the car was the scent of roasted chestnuts, that just shouts Christmas to me. It's such a pretty village and it was done up beautifully with Christmas decor. It was such a great atmosphere too, people drinking mulled wine and plenty of mince pies being served. There was a Santa's grotto for the children.

Part of the festivities was the Christmas Tree Festival at St Edmund's Church. 

Local businesses had decorated small trees which were displayed inside the church. The meet and greeters made us feel very welcome, and even Archie was allowed inside.

Each tree displayed a number so we were able to see which business had supplied it.

Some of the trees displayed what the business sells, such as this one by Three Roofs Cafe.

Their tree is filled with gingerbread men, and women, all named.

And this one decorated with ice lollies and ice creams.

This tree had been decorated by the children at Castleton C of E Primary School.

Castleton is known for Blue John, which this tree was decorated with.

The only place where this semi-precious mineral can be found in the UK is at Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern, both in Castleton.

The chancel looked especially lovely. I always enjoy seeing the stained glass windows in a church.

We enjoyed our visit to the church to see all the beautiful trees, and we enjoyed our visit to Castleton too. We managed to save the day after a shaky start, and though we didn't stay to see the lights switch on, our festive season got off to a good start in Castleton.

Harewood House

We had a lovely day on Friday. We'd seen that there was to be an artisan fair held at Harewood House in Leeds over four days, the Thursday to Sunday, with reduced admission to the estate. It's somewhere I have a vague recollection of visiting as a child but I've never been since. Admission is usually £18 but the reduced price for this event was just £5 so we decided to take advantage of that and so Mick took Friday off work.

Harewood House is the family seat of the Lascelles family and home of David Lascelles, the eight Earl of Harewood. The landscape was designed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown. Emmerdale is now filmed on a purpose made set on the estate and the house has been used in various TV and film productions including the Downton Abbey movie and Victoria. We weren't able to go inside the house as it's currently closed as the Christmas exhibition is being installed. Friday was the day that winter arrived here, a mist hung in the air all day and it was much colder than it's been all season, but that didn't stop us enjoying the day.

There were over 130 different stalls at the artisan market. It was very well organised with the stalls creating a walkway by the side of the woods.

There were a good selection of stalls, lots of food and drink stalls. but so many others too: candles, wooden toys, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, glassware, wood crafts, rustic garden art, hand painted glass, hand made soaps, and so much more. We made a few purchases.

There was also a small seating area where you could purchase hot food to eat right away. A duo was providing musical entertainment. We spent quite some time looking round the many stalls, there really was something for everyone.

Afterwards we decided to have a walk around the grounds. Here you can see the front of the house getting decked out ready for the Christmas festivities. Numbers were being placed in each of the windows to make the house look like an advent calendar.

We went round to the back of the house to see the terrace and Parterre. Such fantastic planting here which I think will look even more stunning in summer when the flower borders are in full bloom.

The fountain.

From the terrace you look out over beautiful countryside. I'm sure it looks even more stunning when the mist lifts and it's bathed in a sunny glow.

Before we left we visited the Christmas shop. It's located in the Old Kitchen, Below Stairs. There were lots of goodies to browse, but I was just as interested in all the copper pans and cooking paraphernalia displayed on the shelves around the room.

And what about this magnificent range. The kitchen was restored in 1996 and I enjoyed looking around here just as much, if not more, than I enjoyed looking at all the Christmas merchandise on sale.

We went out for a meal on Friday night to round off a very enjoyable day. We didn't see all that Harewood House had to offer but we were impressed with what we did see and it's on the list to return there to explore more at some point in the future.

October 2024

Autumn has definitely settled in this month, though at some times it's felt more like winter. We've had some lovely bright autumnal days too though, it's nice when we get to see blue skies and sunshine this late in the year.

We've tried to make the most of every last little bit of sunshine we've had, enjoying days out where possible. We've visited Seaham and Scarborough on the coast, various National Trust properties, Pateley Bridge, Ripley Castle and Knaresborough, among other places.

There have been some Friday evenings out too. Something new we've done this year is head out, just as soon as Mick's finished work for the weekend, and enjoyed late afternoon or evening walks on the beach. It was good to still be doing this in October but now the clocks have gone back, we won't get the chance again until Spring arrives.

This last Friday evening's excursion was something special, we headed off to Fountains Abbey to see Fountains by Floodlight. This is an after-dark experience where you're able to wander around the Abbey's glowing ruins while a choir sings. The fact that it had been misty all day and into the night made it even more atmospheric. We thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

Wedding Fair season is upon us and we've had a few appointments with Daniel and Jasmine. I think they've just about decided on a venue now so once that gets sorted out it will be all systems go securing all the other suppliers needed to bring a wedding together. There's still a bit of time yet, the wedding won't be until 2026 but you do have to arrange these things in plenty of time.

I've read five books this month.

The Great Hippopotamus Hotel by Alexander McCall Smith.

"A chance meeting with the manager of The Great Hippopotamus Hotel leads the much-admired and traditionally built Precious Ramotswe to investigate what is going wrong with this previously successful country hotel. Guests have been unwell, clothing has disappeared from the washing line, and scorpions have found their way into the guest bedrooms. Mma Ramotswe drives out to the hotel with her irrepressible colleague, Grace Makutsi (97 per cent in the final examinations of the Botswana Secretarial College). What they find there are family conflicts that only the investigators of the No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency will be able to resolve.

Meanwhile, at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, Mma Ramotswe's husband, Mr J.L.B. Matekoni, gets a visit from a middle-aged client who wants to purchase a fast Italian sports car. What should the conscientious garagiste do in such circumstances? Should the client's wife be told? Mma Ramotswe is used to wrestling with such tricky questions, but it is harder for Mr J.L.B. Matekoni.

And in the background is that beautiful country, Botswana, with its wide skies and its courteous people. In such surroundings, big problems soon seem small, and small worries fade away altogether."

This is the twenty fifth book in The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. I often wonder if and when Alexander McCall Smith will call it a day with these stories but as long as he keep on writing them, I'll keep on reading as they're always so entertaining. A nice gentle crime series set with the slow pace of Botswana as a backdrop. What's not to love.

The Memory of Us by Dani Atkins.

"If she had been found moments later, Amelia's heart would have stopped and never recovered. Instead she was taken from the desolate beach to the nearest hospital just in time to save her life. When her sister Lexi arrives from New York, Amelia's heart is beating, but the accident has implanted a series of false memories. These memories revolve around a man named Sam, and a perfect love story that never existed.

Determined to help her sister, Lexi enlists the help of Nick, a local vet who bears a striking resemblance to Sam. Together, Lexi and Nick recreate and photograph Amelia's dream dates in the hopes of triggering her true memories.

But as love starts to stir between Lexi and Nick, they must navigate a complex web of emotions, How can Lexi fall for Amelia's dream man without hurting her sister?"

I had my reservations about this book as I was reading it thinking it was a bit far fetched, but I should have trusted the author. I've read all her previous books and loved them all and this story does work out in the end. Definitely one to tug at the heartstrings, make sure you've got a box of tissues handy if you decide to read it.

Nurses on Call by Donna Douglas.

"London's East End, 1957.

In the Nightingale Hospital, Matron Helen finds herself playing surrogate mother to her newly discovered French niece Catrine, while having to keep their family relationship a secret from the rest of the staff.

However, independent Catrine is determined to do things her way, and break the rules. But underneath it all, she is lost, still mourning the loss of her mother and struggling to get along with her new family.

Helen's own heart is aching since the breakdown of her marriage to David, which isn't helped when he returns to work at the hospital. Can she work side by side with the man she still loves?

Helen's isn't the only marriage that hangs in the balance, as Nurse Dora faces a shock that could mean the end of her own..."

This is another book series I follow. This is the thirteenth installment in the Nightingale series, and I've read this author's other books too. I like that even this far into the series, we're still following the lives and careers of some characters from the very first book, and there's plenty of new characters to get to know too. Another good read.

The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths.

"A CHILD'S BONES are discovered near the site of a pre-historic henge on the north Norfolk coast, and the police ask local forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway to date them. Are these the remains of a local girl who disappeared ten years ago?

DCI Harry Nelson refuses to give up the hunt for this missing child. Ever since she vanished, someone has been sending him bizarre anonymous notes about ritual sacrifice, quoting Shakespeare and the Bible. He knows Ruth's instincts and experience can help him finally put this case to rest.

Then a second child goes missing, and Ruth finds herself in danger from a killer who knows she's getting ever closer to the truth..."

I've read many great reviews of this Elly Griffiths series so I decided to give this first book a go. I've had it on my bookshelf all year waiting to be read. I figured that if I enjoyed it, it would start me off on a new collection of books to read, there are actually fifteen in the series and Elly Griffiths has now announced that she won't be writing any more.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, it's a bit different from those I've been reading recently. I did guess 'whodunnit' but I didn't mind that, it kept me entertained and I shall definitely be reading more from this author.

The Secrets of De Courcy Square by Ann O'Loughlin.

"When Cora Gartland learns that her long-term partner, Jack, has been killed in a car crash in Ireland her world falls apart. But she soon discovers that there was another woman in the car: a wife he'd never told her about.

Devastated, Cora flies to Dublin to try and make sense of Jack's secret life. As she grieves, Cora must find the truth and a way to move forward. But what else was Jack keeping from her and how will she ever survive this betrayal?"

An okay read which I expected more from. I just didn't find it believable that after discovering your long term partner who had been killed in a car crash was married, and heading from America to Ireland to find out more, you'd just slot into a life living in that couple's home, wearing the dead woman's clothes, and becoming involved in a campaign to save a community park from being turned into a carpark. The blurb was misleading, I should have paid more attention to the title. The book was more about the residents of De Courcy Square and not Jack's secret life.

Saying that, I did enjoy the story but I was waiting for a big reveal which never happened.

Today is Halloween. We had a trip to Lotherton at the weekend to visit their Halloween trail. You'll have seen many posts on my blog in the past about the Spooky Halloween event they put on there, it's similar each year but they do change things up a little. This year it's all about Scarytales, that's fairytales with a twist. Expect to see all your favourite characters from childhood stories in a different light! Mirror mirror on the wall...

Granny's little pumpkin. Jack's such a cutie in the hat I knit for him especially for Halloween. This is Sweet Pumpkin by Drops Design, a simple pattern to knit up. I used Drops Karisma in the Orange and Forest Green colourways, a DK wool yarn. He wore it when Eleanor and Jacob took him to the pumpkin patch to choose their pumpkins and it prompted lots of comments from people.

The clocks went back at the weekend so the dark evenings have now arrived. It's time to hunker down for the winter months. There's only one thing in the diary for November and that's Jasmine's birthday which we'll be celebrating as a family, but I'm sure we'll find other things to do as the month progresses. Christmas events have started popping up so perhaps we'll get to one or two of those, we'll see.

Tree Carvings

I'd heard that The Yorkshire Carver was going to be working at Lotherton earlier this year. He was demonstrating his art, and carving for the visitors to see. We didn't make it at the time, but I thought I'd show you the carvings which were done on the pollarded trees in the Visayan warty pig's enclosure.

He's carved the leaves and seeds of six British trees into the trunks of these pollarded trees.

Ash

Beech

Walnut

Oak

Sycamore

Horse Chestnut

Shane Green, The Yorkshire Carver, uses a chainsaw to create his carvings. He's previously represented Great Britain at international chainsaw carving competitions in America. Apparently, he's created a new art trail in Roundhay Park in Leeds recently based on wildlife so I shall definitely have to go and see that.

Archie's Passport

We joined the National Trust earlier this year and as part of the membership package, we receive three National Trust magazines throughout the year. The assortment of articles they contain are interesting to read. 

In the magazine we received most recently,  we saw that there's a promotion running this autumn, right until the end of February, whereby you collect stamps in a Pooch Passport in order to receive treats. Now Archie would freely admit that he's a greedy dog so when I told him about this he was eager to pick up his own Pooch Passport and begin collecting.

We visited Beningbrough Hall in North Yorkshire on Saturday so this gave us the chance to acquire the passport and collect the first stamp. We need six in total for a free packet of natural dog treats and if we manage to collect twelve, Archie will get a free snood, how smart would he look in that.

The stamps have to be collected from different National Trust properties, I'm sure we'll manage six before the end of February but I'm not sure we'll have visited twelve individual properties in that time. I mentioned this to Archie and he told me he didn't mind, just so long as we get the treats!

Marienlyst Sweater

I'm still knitting baby garments. I saw the Marienlyst Sweater by Guri Pedersen on Instagram and immediately popped over to Ravelry to purchase the pattern.

I used Drops Merino Extra Fine in the Light Taupe colourway but in hindsight, I think a slightly finer yarn would have been better. It's beautifully soft though and has a beautiful drape to it now that it's been blocked. I didn't knit a swatch, it's knit up a little bigger than the 3-6 months size I chose but it doesn't matter, Jack will grow into it at some point.

I really enjoyed the pattern, I believe it's written in Norwegian and translated to English, but it was very straightforward to understand. This designer has some really lovely patterns, especially for babies.

I think this sweater will be perfect for the cold weather, especially when warm layers are needed. That time will come quicker than we expect, the nights are drawing in and the heating is on!

September 2024

Autumn seemed to arrive at the very start of the month with the mornings and evenings noticeably cooler. I was hoping for an Indian summer but that wasn't to be.

It was my birthday on the 3rd and I had the most perfect day. Mick took some time off work, we hadn't really planned a day out as the forecast didn't look too good but in the end we decided to head off to the Yorkshire Dales. I'm glad we did as it turned out beautiful, warm and sunny. We started the day off with a walk around Aysgarth Falls, a triple flight of waterfalls surrounded by woodland, before travelling on to the market town of Hawes, home of The Wensleydale Creamery. Of course, we had to bring some cheese home with us. The family came round once they'd finished work and we enjoyed a takeaway and an evening of games. I was so spoilt receiving some wonderful gifts and cards, the words inside them chosen especially for me were just beautiful.

We've been trying to make the most of every bit of fine weather this month. Now we're into autumn and with winter on the way, we may end up stuck indoors more so we've made sure we've had plenty of days out. We've visited Hardcastle Crags, Haworth, Thornton-Le-Dale, Hebden Bridge and Bingley Five Rise Locks, amongst other places. We like to get about a bit.

I've read four books this month.

Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt by Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker.

"Maia, Ally, Star, CeCe, Tiggy, Electra and their long-lost missing sister are gathered together for the first time, on board the Titan, to say a final goodbye to the enigmatic father they loved so dearly.

He has entrusted each of them with a clue to their past. But for every truth revealed another question emerges. How did Pa Salt amass his fortune? Why did he choose to adopt the sisters and why were they chosen from such different parts of the world? Have the answers been there all along, if only they had known where to find them?

The sisters must confront the idea that their adored father was someone they barely knew - and even more shockingly, that his long-buried secrets may still echo through the generations today."

The final book in The Seven Sisters saga and the one where the unanswered questions and secrets of the previous seven books are revealed. Sadly, Lucinda Riley, who wrote the series, died before completing the books so she entrusted the plotline to her son, Harry Whittaker, who wrote this final installment. He's done a brilliant job as the change in authors is seamless. Such a complicated story to unravel in this final chapter, it must have been a mammoth task to take on, but it was done brilliantly. 

I'm so sorry to have come to the end of this excellent series. I can only say that if you haven't yet read these books, you're missing out.

A Vintage Summer by Cathy Bramley.

"London has not been kind to Lottie Allbright. Realizing it's time to cut and run, she packs up and moves back home - but finds her family in disarray. In need of a new place to stay, Lottie takes up the offer of a live-in job managing a local vineyard. There's a lot to learn - she didn't even know grapes could grow so far north!

Butterworth Wines in the rolling Derbyshire hills has always been run on love and passion but a tragic death has left everyone at a loss. Widowed Betsy is trying to keep the place afloat but is harbouring a debilitating secret. Meanwhile her handsome but interfering grandson, Jensen, is trying to convince her to sell up and move into a home.

Lottie's determined to save Butterworth Wines, but with all this and an unpredictable English summer to deal with, it'll be a challenge.

And that's before she discovers something that will turn her summer - and her world - upside down..."

I've read a couple of books set around Christmas by Cathy Bramley and enjoyed them so I thought I'd give a summer themed one a try. I found it very easy to get into and an enjoyable story but there was just too much detail about winemaking for me, the technical details just made me want to switch off. It doesn't put me off wanting to read more from this author though, I like her style of writing and they're easy reads.

Home Truths by Charity Norman.

"Two years earlier, Livia was a probation officer in Yorkshire, her husband Scott a teacher. Their children, Heidi and Noah, round out a happy family until the day Scott's brother dies.

Grief and guilt leave Scott seeking answers, a search which takes him into the world of conspiracy theories. As his grip on reality slides, he makes a decision which will put the family on a collision course with tragedy.

Livia's family has been torn apart, and now her son's life is hanging in the balance. Just how far will she go to save the ones she loves?"

Charity Norman is one of my favourite authors, she hasn't written a book I haven't thoroughly enjoyed, so I've been waiting for the release of this latest offering. It was a good start, the book grabbed me from the first page and I read on wanting to know more.

This author comes up with some very interesting storylines and I love the way she writes, building the tension and urging you to turn page after page. Another brilliant read, I'm just sad that I've come to the end and have to wait for her to write something new.

Swimming to Lundy by Amanda Prowse.

"Tawrie Gunn feels stuck. She's spent her whole life in the same seaside town with her beloved Nana and grief-stricken mum, all of them still reeling in different ways from the tragic loss of Tawrie's dad at sea. Desperate for a change, she challenges herself to take up wild swimming - every morning, no excuses, from March till September.

Daring to take the plunge with the 'Peacock Swimmers', Tawrie feels alive in a way she's never known. Suddenly it seems she might be able to step outside her comfort zone after all and let life surprise her - perhaps even dream of a future beyond the shores of Ilfracombe? Especially when, one day, she spots a man in a pink linen shirt who seems as eager for a new start as she does.

But it turns out taking risks on land is a little different from wading into the sea. Can Tawrie face her fears head-on and find her way to happiness? She knows it's never too late to pursue your hopes and dreams, but it might be easier said than done..."

Amanda Prowse is a prolific writer and I've read every one of her novels. She writes about women, families and everyday life, and each of her books strike a chord, we can all put ourselves in the situations she writes about and I think that's why she's so successful at what she does.

Another great read, well rounded characters, a good storyline and a beautiful setting, what's not to love.

Jack has turned three months old. He's brought so much joy into our lives, he's such a happy little character and we love him so much. He's already rolling over and he's cut his first tooth. I'm just loving being a granny to this beautiful boy.

I've been busy knitting various versions of the Baby Aosta Cardigan by The Knit Purl Girl. I knit one for Jack in the first size and he's worn it to death, it's Eleanor's favourite cardigan for him and it's the baby cardigan I enjoy knitting the most. I decided I'd knit one in the second size for him, Eleanor requested a green. I thought the Olive colourway in the King Cole Cherished range was a nice shade so I went for that. It took just over 100 grams so as I had the best part of 100 grams left, I decided to knit another in the first size as a gift to go with a little pack of babygrows as my friend is to become a granny to a little boy in October. Then, as the winter months are approaching and Jack will need plenty of woollies, I decided to knit another for him. I went with the Happy Hippo colourway in Sirdar Snuggly, though I can't say I'm happy with the shade of blue, far too bright and with a purple tinge, but it was purchased online and you can't always get a true reflection of the actual colour when you don't see it in person. It's the second size again but the yarn is a much finer gauge than the King Cole so it's knit up a little smaller, but that's fine, it will just fit him sooner. I think it's time for a rest from this particular pattern now for a while.

Some of the shows we associate with autumn are now back on our screens, Strictly Come Dancing, The Great British Bake Off, and one of my favourites, All Creatures Great and Small. I remember the original TV series with Christopher Timothy in the leading roll. This new adaptation is now in its fifth season and I'm eager to see how the latest installment unfolds.

Autumn has arrived in earnest, I can't remember feeling ready to hunker down for the colder months quite so early in recent years but there's been no gradual creeping in of the darker evenings, they've just arrived all at once without warning. It's already dark at 7.30pm but one thing I have resisted is the urge to turn on the heating, even though we've already had some quite chilly days. I'm pleased I've been able to hold out until October. October will see Eleanor and Jacob's second wedding anniversary and, at the very end of the month, Halloween. We've got nothing planned for the month ahead so we'll just sit back and see what it brings.