Apr 29, 2013 - The Crooked Spire Church - Chesterfield

Today I went up to see Shirley and Frank Shaw. Frank is Kate's Dad, my dear friend in Cleveland. They live in Rowsley, about a half hour from Holbrook. Shirley took me into Chesterfield for some shopping and a look at the city, as well as The Crooked Spire Church. It turned out to be a beautiful day as you can see from the blue skies in the photos. Here's a little history on The Crooked Spire Church: Wikipedia: "Chesterfield Parish Church is an Anglican church dedicated to Saint Mary and all saints, located in the town of Chesterfield in...

Apr 8, 2013 - Lichfield Cathedral

I took a trip with Vivien Wilson down to Lichfield Cathedral. I met Vivien through my friend, Sibylle, whose husband, Heinz, is on a three year assignment for Lubrizol in China, currently they are living in Beijing. While Sibylle was living in the UK 10 years ago, while Heinz was on assignment in the Hazelwood Office (where Paul now works), she met Vivien through a graphic design class. Vivien and I found we have something in common - besides our watercolors and our gardens - our love of cathedrals, so she was kind enough to drive me to...

Apr 6, 2013 - Ironbridge - first iron bridge, built in 1779

Paul and I took a ride to Ironbridge on a lovely Saturday afternoon. And the sun was shining, too! "The world’s first iron bridge was erected over the River Severn here in 1779. Britain’s best-known industrial monument, the bridge gave its name to the spectacular wooded gorge which, though now tranquil, was once an industrial powerhouse and the cradle of the Industrial Revolution. Ironbridge Gorge is now a World Heritage Site. . At the beginning of the 18th century, Abraham Darby I pioneered the process of using coke made from local coal...

Mar 29, 2013 - York by train

On Good Friday, Paul and I and Carol and Terry Thiele took the train from Derby up to York to visit this ancient town. It was a clear day, no snow but pretty cold and windy. We visited York Minster (Cathedral), The Shambles - a row of shops, tea rooms, bakeries, candy makers and treasures. There was even a shop called The Cat Gallery - full of stuff for those who love cats - did I get to go in and look around - but NO!!!!!!!!, food was at that moment on the top of everyone's mind - except mine, of course. :-) . There is also the York Cat...

Mar 28, 2013 - Haddon Hall in Winter

Carol and I drove up to Haddon Hall, the weather was good - cold but no snow - and it is such a lovely place - still my favorite as far as manor halls go. . As I am reading the book, "Bess of Hardwick - First Lady of Chatsworth", I am coming across names of places that I'e visited in Derbyshire that were part of Bess' properties through her four marriages or through her family - Bolsover, Haddon, Chatsworth, Hardwick, Sheffield - all within an hour or so car ride from where we live. . If you enjoy reading historical books, consider reading...

Mar 26, 2013 - Chatsworth House in Winter

Carol and I headed up to Chatsworth after the three days of lots of snow and heavy winds. The roads were clear, for the most part, and we were able to get down the lane to Chatsworth House. This was my first trip to see the house and Carol's first trip to Chatsworth House and Gardens. . We had a lovely Afternoon Tea at the restaurant in the former stable block area, then a bit of shopping and onto tour the house itself. . I am presently reading "Bess of Chatsworth", about the woman who expanded and decorated the existing structure in the...

Mar 25, 2013 - Holbrook Snow Storm - March 22-24

Paul and I have experienced the worst March in the Midlands in 50 years - and we thought it was going to be an easy winter living in the UK. HA! The storm started late the evening of March 21 and continued with heavy snow and high winds until Monday morning. Our friends, Carol and Terry Thiele were in the UK on vacation heading to our house Friday, the 22nd, in the afternoon. By the time they got to our house we had 4+" on the ground and they had a heck of a time getting up to the house, thank goodness Terry had a front wheel drive....

Mar 14, 2013 - Things I miss . . . besides my friends

The above goes without even saying. However, some things I do miss: . A washer that holds more than 1 large towel and 3 small towels. . A dryer that actually dries in 30 minutes instead of 60 or more. . Hazelnut Dairy Creamer - too bad I can't bring that back to the UK! . Roads that are straight and wide and don't have rock walls or hedges on either side . .The Weather Channel on t.v. - I'm still a weather junkie. Thank goodness I can get it on line! . Streets that are not parked with dozens of cars on both sides and JUST enough room to...

Mar 13, 2013 - More definitions and sayings

As you've read previously, I've picked up some new word definitions while I've been in the UK. Below are a few more since the last installment: "she'll drive me spare" - as in "drive me crazy or mad or nuts pinched - something taken, stolen barmy - as in the barmy weather we've been having - crazy, mad (and it certainly has been! chuck - toss - as in "chuck it in the back of the lorry" (truck) a doddle - something that is very easy to do; piece of cake, cinch, child's play ( I learned this from a commercial for a broadband company - the...

Mar 13, 2013 - Bits n Bobs 4

I am continuously surprised by what I find running around on the roads here in the area we live in. This photos was taken less than a 1/2 mile from our house, which is just off Killis Lane. As the crow flies it was probably even less. Two older gentlemen were trying to herd the cattle into a lorry to take them elsewhere and this lone cow wanted none of it! It wasn't very nice of me but I sat in my car chuckling way while taking pictures, would have liked to get closer but between the cow, the two men and it being a blind curve, it was safer...

Mar 13, 2013 - Derby Cathedral

A thank you goes to Wikipedia (again): The original church was founded by King Edmund I in about 943 as a royal collegiate church; however, no traces of its structure survive. According to the Domesday assessors, it belonged to the King, and was served by a college of seven priests.[1] The current cathedral dates from the fourteenth century, although it appears to be based on an earlier medieval building, which drawings show was about the same size as the present church. It may be that it became structurally unstable and was pulled down....

Feb 8, 2013 - The Marine

Many of you knew that Paul's youngest son, Ben, joined the Marine's and headed off to boot camp in November. He graduated on February 1 and is on leave until mid February. He heads to Camp LeJeune in NC for a month of training and then not sure where he'll go from there, probably another training facility somewhere in the US. Enjoy the pictures, he's all grown up! :-)