December

December is always a busy month - more so than usual I think this year with visits to Christmas markets and decorated stately homes, followed by the inevitable shopping and cooking.

We started at Haddon Hall, continued at Calke Abbey and Kedleston Hall, then returned to Chatsworth which we'd already visited in November for the market, but this time to see inside the house.

In between all these trips, I tried to keep up my daily walking (not easy with damp weather and dark evenings), and, very exciting, we had a new front door fitted (a sort of Christmas present to ourselves)

Christmas itself was busy and fun-filled with two full dinners  - one with turkey (though it's missing from the photo) and one with a vegan roast. My grandson's birthday falls in the immediate post-Christmas period so involves another family party - this time with burgers and cake, as he was allowed to choose the food.

The days just after Christmas were shrouded in mist so instead of a walk outside we settled for another inside visit to Kedleston

Kedleston in the mist

 

Haddon Mercatum

The start of December brings with it a certain sort of shopping frenzy fueled by Christmas's imminent arrival. I'm trying my best to avoid doing all on my present-buying on line which is ample reason to be off out to another Christmas market - this time at Haddon Hall.

This is the first time I've visited but I'd heard good things about it, and it definitely didn't disappoint. 

It's hard at first to appreciate how large the market is - there were stalls situated on the flat ground before the hall, some in the main courtyard, more throughout the hall's rooms and kitchens, and a marquee in the terraced garden.

I'm always drawn to the foodie section first, sampling this and that, picking up some treats to bring home (Infusions apple balsamic vinegar, and cakes for the evening), and getting some lunch (bean chilli from Eat Shoots and Leaves), before facing the climb up to the hall.

Through the main door and into the courtyard filled with mainly outdoorsy stalls - wreaths, plants, woodworking - 

then into the Great Hall dominated by a huge Christmas tree, and on into the smaller rooms beyond before heading into the garden and returning via the Long Chamber. I lost count of the number of vendors  - more cheese, chocolate and flavoured spirits, jewellery, soaps, knitted goods, candles; a list that goes on forever.

I particularly liked the setting. Not traipsing through mud from stall to stall, but going inside and experiencing the atmosphere of such an historic house. Although the rooms weren't fully decorated for Christmas there was a festive atmosphere throughout with lights in the windows, trees and garlands. 

Looking back as we left it's easy to imagine Haddon in its Tudor heyday. 

Back home though for some rather delicious cakes.
 

Chatsworth - Christmas market and Illuminated garden trail

As a sort of early Christmas treat to ourselves, we decided to re-join the Chatsworth 'Friends' scheme, and our first visit was timed to catch the Christmas Market and visit the Illuminated Trail round the garden.

We were fortunate to have missed all the snow and ice, and stumbled on a wonderfully sunny day. The food and drink stalls were, as always, the main attraction for me - trying samples as diverse as White Peak gin and Casa Mia amaretti biscuits - and, of course, we came away with more treats for ourselves than presents for family or friends.

As the sun set, the day turned colder so we headed inside to the cafe in the old stable block for tea and cake before our visit to the gardens. With an illuminated 'tree' in the central courtyard and decorations around the ceilings, I doubt any previous occupants would have recognised their former stables.

On then into the gardens as the sun sank completely and twinkling lights appeared. No matter how well you know a place (and we've been frequent visitors to Chatsworth for years) it takes an a different appearance after dark, especially when illuminated. It was like following a path through an enchanted woodland.

 

There were small flickering lights which swayed and danced, huge static ones to light the tallest trees, searchlights moving across the maze area, all in all an enchanted wonderland.

And as a grand finale, a light-show transformed the front of the house.

Nottingham Night Out

 Heading out for a George Gadd gig in Nottingham last weekend seemed like the ideal chance to drop round by the Christmas market.


Unfortunately most of the gift stalls had closed by the time we arrived - food stalls, bars, roundabouts and the skating rink were still open though, and the twinkly lights always look pretty.







Outside was cold; inside at Bodega very, very warm! It probably doesn't work for everyone but I find an hour or so letting loud music drift over me to be relaxing.

Then back out to the cold streets and sparkling lights.

Exploring Manchester without our guide

Last weekend we were in Manchester again, but this time left to our own devises while our daughter was busy at Stall, a pop-up Christmas market. Although we've explored quite a bit of the city it's always been with her along to show the way, so this time was more of an adventure.








She was based for the day in a new building (Kampus) next to an old canal, so on our first foray out we followed the water past the bars and clubs of the Gay village. It was a cold but brilliantly sunny day, the sky and water blue, and everything looking so pretty.













When the canal towpath came to an end we headed vaguely in the direction we thought 'town' lay, but without bothering to use a map our route was a little hit and miss. Even so we managed to find Manchester's Chinatown - well, how could we miss that magnificent arch? - the Art Gallery and a wonderful exhibition of ceramicist Halima Cassell's work, and the Christmas decorations outside the library.

Manchester Art Gallery

the gallery's amazing entrance hall

here and above, a couple of Halima Cassell's
intriguing pieces of work

For lunch we decided to head back to Kampus where one of the vendors was surprised we hadn't encountered the other fairs around the city, so our next excursion was a little more organised - head up the road and look for signs to the Town Hall. Off we went (after pizza)


The first thing we spotted was the Crown Court with its castle-like turrets and door

Then up the road we stumbled on Santa overseeing the fountains and a Christmas fair at Piccadilly gardens





























Deciding we should really follow signposts, we headed into the setting sun, and found the Town Hall and adjoining market almost next to the library where we'd been earlier!













This whole area was absolutely packed with people, so we had a quick look round (as best we could because of the crowds) before heading back to Kampus again

Fortified by chips and hot peas, we had time for one more short wander along the canal - now lit up for the evening, and looking so pretty.

Something I didn't realise till checking Google maps later was that we weren't far from the places we've visited before, so I can sort of claim to have walked across Manchester. No doubt though there'll be more to discover on another visit.