Kedleston on a scorching summer day

If my trip out on Monday was marked by rain, Friday's visit to Kedleston will be remembered for the heat.  

We'd booked a time slot, as you have to do these days, with the intent of walking round the parkland- a new route for us, and one to help with my 'extra steps' fitness plan, but the day started hot, and the temperature was forecast to reach around 33 degrees by mid-afternoon. I'm not fond of heat, especially walking far in it, and I mulled over the idea of cancelling but decided it was better to go, even if all we did was sit in the garden and look at the wildflowers, preferably from under a tree.

As it turned out things weren't quite as scorching as I'd feared. Kedleston isn't far from the built-up suburbs, but it feels like somewhere miles out in the countryside and a pleasant breeze (that wasn't apparent at home) was blowing over the grounds. 

So back to my original plan - the Wilderness walk; along the lake and river bank, where even the geese thought it was best to find some shade under a tree, then turning east under trees before reaching the entrance drive and following that back to the house.

Most visitors were staying by the gardens or the lakes, so we had the paths almost to ourselves; a major consideration in these times of social distancing.

It's slightly rougher underfoot than the Long Walk, following a line cut through long grass, then a worn path through open fields, but there's less uphill walking.

There are plenty of seats along a the route, but all of them were in full sun, and it was too hot to rest for long. Eventually I decided the best thing to do was flop on the ground in the shade of a tree.

I thought the last section, back along the driveway would be quite dull, but it wasn't.

It was now nearing four o'clock, the last visitors of the day had already arrived so there was no traffic to dodge, and for quite a distance I was back under the shade of the trees.

There's also a good spot to catch a glimpse of the hall; something that rushes past when arriving by car.

Definitely a walk I'll return to in autumn, if not before.

 

Locko before the lockdown

I've been quietly staying at home the last week or so, but on Monday evening, as if expecting the lockdown to come, I decided to risk going out to nearby Locko Park.

As I've said before, this place is a lovely tranquil spot hidden out of sight of a minor road not far from Derby.








The hall sits at the far end of a lake, and the public have no access (other than on certain charity open days in summer) but a public right of way follows the drive down to the lake and beside it for a while before turning aside.














Fortunately, unlike some of the Peak District over the weekend, it wasn't busy; just the usual dog-walkers in a couple of cars in the lay-by at the end of the drive.










It's a place we frequently visit but I don't think I've seen this wonderful bank of daffodils on the private side of the lake before. I rather wished we could have walked round there, or got a boat and rowed across for a closer look.

Nearer to hand I spotted celandines, wood anemones, and another clump of daffodils on the far side of trees

It might be a while before I can go out to anywhere I can't reach on foot but at least I picked a lovely evening for my last trip[ out.

Mothers Day

 I was expecting Mother's Day to be weird this year with everyone more or less staying at home, and it was, but we made the best of things.

 I'd received a card, the previous day, from my 2 year old grandson filled with his best handwriting or maybe a work of art (one from his mum is lost in the post but will hopefully arrive sometime this week), we had a long family video-chat, and of course I went out for lunch with my younger daughter up in Manchester last weekend. Presents are waiting for some intangible future date.




The day itself was lovely and sunny, so I spent it pottering round the garden and picking some flowers.

And to round the day off, I cooked myself an experimental cake. I have enough eggs at the moment but can't rely on getting more, and, knowing there's a way to replace them with the water from tinned beans, decided to try that method. I was a bit too impatient though and didn't cook the cake for long enough, hence its rather hollow centre.

Keeping Occupied

It's a week now since we decided to pull up the drawbridge and self-isolate, in an attempt to keep corona virus at bay. I could go out and about, but my husband is one of the people who regularly receive a flu jab and needs to be more cautious. We've perhaps been extreme, but better safe than sorry is my current motto.

At one level, it's hard to see what's been different about our routine - I've pottered about the garden, and husband's been to the allotment (it's empty midweek) - but on the other it's been a very strange  week. The whole situation seems so uncertain that I find I can't settle to anything for long. With the really vulnerable being asked to self-isolate from today, it's obvious that, no matter how much we'd hoped things would quickly turn round, we're in this for months.

If in doubt, or harassed about getting things done, I make a plan. It calms me, and gives me the feeling that I'm in control (even when I'm not). I'm hoping it will give some structure to my days, and positive things to look forward to, whether fresh vegetables or a new skirt. I'm trying my best to ignore the fidgety feeling that comes on when I realise this state of affairs is going to last for at least three months, that I won't be able to see my daughters and grandson in that time, or pick up the plans I had for summer. Mindfulness and concentrating on everyday things will be my way through this - small things such as bringing flowers and blossom in from the garden to brighten the house, and looking forward to family video chats most evenings.



A (not necessarily so cunning) plan to occupy me ...

continue my blogging here (if I have anything much to say) Usually I blog about where I've been, what I've seen, gigs, theatre etc.  Well, that will inevitably have to change. It won't quite be Pepys' Diary, but ordering my thoughts to make a sensible blog post helps calm some of the panic I feel from time to time. The next few months are going to seem incredibly long

get back to book blogging over at Our Book Reviews Online. My head's been too full of other concerns to read much, and definitely too full to think of anything to say about what I've read, but trying to get back to regularly posting reviews will give a structure to the weeks.

spend more time outside in the garden. Obviously being active and out in fresh air is good at any time but March is when the garden bursts into life, and it's time to really crack on with seed sowing - everything from cabbages to cucumbers to flowers. There's a certain mindfulness about the preparations for seed sowing - organising seed trays and pots, carefully scattering the seed, checking each day to see if anything's grown. It's definitely helped keep me focused and occupied, plus I feel I'm doing something positive and useful - soon I'll have salad leaves to pick, and by the end of twelve weeks, there might be peas and french beans. The last couple of days have been sunny, and even just pottering about, admiring daffodils and forsythia, seeing what will flower next, has helped settle my mind.

(one for my husband) the house had been getting to need some TLC, wallpaper repairs, woodwork painting, so the wallpaper paste and paint are ready for wet days.






I have knitting and sewing projects I've neglected, and one of my resolutions at the beginning of the year was to do something more creative. A lot of plans will have to be abandoned but that is one that needn't be.







Of course, we're not completely locked in the house (yet). Going out for a walk is considered a reasonably safe activity if you avoid other people, and at the moment my husband is still going to his allotment - if everyone stays on their own plot all should be fine, just no stopping for a chat. I'd hoped to go out to local National Trust gardens but the huge amount of visitors over the weekend, and subsequent closing of all properties, has put paid to that. I'm still hoping to find somewhere close to home, to drive to, park up, and check the coast is clear before risking a short walk, or just look at a different view for a few minutes.