Matlock for May Day Weekend

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SATURDAY


After my final Committee Meeting as Chair for The OCA yesterday, it was good to know we had a relaxing long weekend coming up with our great friends, Ralph and Karen in Matlock.

We left around 10.30 and had a trouble-free journey (helped by the new bit of the road linking the A14 to the M1 going north). We arrived just after noon and after a quick natter, we got stuck into Ralph’s ‘Messy BLTs’ – Delicious and messy in equal measure!

Messy BLTs!

Suitably stuffed, it was then off to the John Smedley Factory, a short drive away. Thirty minutes – and a few cardigans later, it was back in the car and off to Lea Gardens (not the Chinese Restaurant in Kettering) – famous for it Rhododendrons. Unfortunately the weather was pretty crap, so we decamped to the tea shop.

Lea Gardens in err, Lea

After a cuppa and a slice of cake it was back to base for a look at R and K’s photos from their recent Cruise.

It’s a tough life, but next stop was back down to town and our 6.30 reservation at  Thailand No 1 for our evening meal.

Fab Food!

It was a good job we booked! It might have been just ‘busy’ when we arrived, but an hour later, it was heaving! Surely a good sign? It certainly was. The menu was varied and the food delicious. By 8.45 we were stuffed and because we’d thoughtfully parked the car a short distance away, at least we got a chance to walk-off some of it before returning to R and K’s.

We finished the evening with a Mini-Magnum and a movie: choosing the Magnums was easy, but picking a film – a little harder. In the end we settled for The Debt starring Helen Mirren and Tom Wilkinson.

Apart from a pretty horrific scene in the first 10 minutes, it was a superb film – a tense political thriller with a surprise ending!
four star
Tomorrow, a slightly more healthy lifestyle with a long walk and only ONE visit to the Pub!
Smile


SUNDAY
Well, the weather certainly looked more inviting this morning! We had a healthy breakfast of fruit and cereal followed by a short chill-out before heading for the Pub.

The Plough Inn

As planned, the healthy lifestyle began by parking up the Tesla in the Plough Inn’s car-park in the village of Brackenfield before heading off for the almost-four-mile-walk around the local area.




Beautiful Countryside!

Well, the four miles might have taken us over two hours, but it took-in some great views along the way looking over the Derbyshire countryside – including Ogston Reservoir.

The Reservoir

Phew!

Looking Smug!!

And then, just before 2.30, it was done – and we could concentrate on the serious issue of perusing The Plough Inn’s menu!
Smile

We all felt a bit smug having completed the walk – and tucking into starters, mains AND a dessert… and a bottle of Red… and a couple of pints of Doombar seemed a perfect way to celebrate!

A Taste of Cornwall

We were stuffed! (again!) and we headed for the car and back to R and K’s for an evening of nothing-much-except-chill! Perfect!

After doing nothing for a while, Karen sorted out supper whilst Ralph fired-up err, Amazon Fire and we picked a  movie – this time around we chose ‘Hamilton: In the Interest of the Nation’. It turned out to be a sort of Swedish James Bond with occasional subtitles! – and it was pretty watchable!

four star

…and good news for Hamilton fans, we found a sequel imaginatively titled ‘Hamilton 2’ which we’re going to save for when R and K visit us on the next Bank Holiday.

It was 11pm when we next looked at the time, and I think our four-mile walk was catching up with us – and we headed for bed. We’re leaving after breakfast tomorrow.


MONDAY
After a good night’s sleep, it was a healthy brekky of smoked salmon in scrambled egg followed by fruit and yoghurt, we packed up our stuff, said our goodbyes and headed home just before 10.30. It’s been a great weekend – you can’t really go wrong if Ralph and Karen are hosting! We had a good journey home too as the traffic was pretty light and we were filling-up the washing machine by 12.15!
Smile

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