It all started with the closing of route A6...

 

  The journey started with us going to Chatsworth House for a picnic.  For those who don’t know, Chatsworth House is a grand hall in the Peak District of Derby, and was once the home of John F. Kennedy’s little sister, Kathleen.  It’s one of those grand houses that I adore, where the aristocrats live and we imagine how our lives would be if we lived there.  My mother always says “rich people have money, and poor people have imagination and that’s a fair deal”, do you think so?... Up till now, I still can’t make up my mind how fair this deal is.

A view of Chatsworth House

  Ok, so that was the plan, but, because of a massive (and I mean MASSIVE) fire at a plastic recycling warehouse, there was a diversion on the road, enforced by the Police.  Well, we diverted as good citizens do in this situation.  The only problem, we were miles and miles and miles and miles... and miles from our next route to Chatsworth House.  So we settled down for the nearest option: Matlock Bath (it’s a name of a town, not the wash bath).  Now that is clear, I can show you some HANDSOME pictures.

  The landscape is very hilly and breathtaking.  The road is narrow, and believe me, the only thing you can compare it to is a theme park rollercoaster... just this one has speed cameras. 

You think this is a drop? Wait till you see the next photo.

  There was a huge massive drop ahead, just take my word for it, because I don’t have any photo to prove it because, at this time, I was clinging to the wheel for my dear life, while my daughter thought it was hilariously funny and started to whoop and abandoned the task of taking photos.

And yet another drop.

And it goes on...

...and it goes on...

...and on...

...hooray, we made it, and just in case we were in doubt whether we have dropped off the end of the Earth, the flags reassured us that we were still in our dear England. FLAT ROAD!!

The place was charming... but this phrase only revealed itself after 2 cups of coffee to calm my nerves.

A war memorial...

...a river...

...a bridge...

...cable cars...

...a random!!!

  Matlock Bath is a haven for motorcycle enthusiasts.

  My daughter loves classic scooters and aims to own one by the time she leaves for university.  Well then, time to check how the piggy bank is doing.

These were the quirkiest ones out of all the motorcycles, but there were also some "whoa!" ones.

 All's well that ends well, our picnic journey started with a plan, followed by a diversion, then a discovery, and ended with a delight :)

TRAIL OF LOOPS...

  Knitting is about order and rhythm.  When I knit, this trail of loops creates a sense of comfort and peace.  The rhythm of my hands and needles channel my thoughts to a path of harmony.  These loops that congeal into patterns and textures fill me up with a sense of pride and contentment.

  Knitting is not a tedious repetition of loop after loop, because each loop is unique.  It is the closest thing to magic. It transforms strings of yarn into creations that witness our feelings, memories, movements and sounds of that special moment.

  Knitting is about passion, connection and love.

  Knitting is about the celebration of a newborn.

  I knitted this little cardi for my friend who is expecting soon.  This is the first time that I have created a pattern for such a small item.  I dearly wish that she and, of course, her little bundle of joy will like it :)

Creations of Beauty are Forever

Happy Easter Everyone

At the start of the month my daughter and I visited Wollaton Hall in Nottingham.  It was a warm sunny day, and although the clouds kept coming and going, they were a welcome shade from the heat of the Sun. 

With the vast land and sense of history, you cannot help but to wonder about the glorious past of this majestic building, and how many carriages have crossed this path, with their glamorous passengers clad in their finest.  The building itself is a testament to the craftsmanship that went into building it. 

Oh, I adore the place; it’s a dream.

I wouldn't have minded living in this place, would you?

Every Paradise has it's Troubles

However, the peace on the water was disturbed when one of the swans decided to chase a goose around what seemed the entirety of the lake.

I hope that these photographs can at least partially convey my passion for this blissful place.