Father’s Day rolled around next, and Charlotte had arranged a spot of golf for Suraj and me at the range in Kettering. A fine opportunity to send a few balls soaring. Afterwards, the whole family gathered for lunch at Zizzi’s. I couldn’t help but appreciate the irony of dining Italian-style after the previous night’s match result!

Monday marked Nan’s 86th birthday, so we took her out to The Bell in Gumley for a celebratory meal. The place had changed hands, and the new management had thankfully replaced the old, pretentious vibe with a far more welcoming one. No longer were children, dogs, walking boots, or open collars met with raised eyebrows. The meal was lovely, and later, we spent a relaxing afternoon in the garden, sampling some splendid red wine from my very own vineyard.

The next day, Sue and I set off for a couple of days in Derby. We made a pit stop at Elvaston Castle, just outside the city, and enjoyed a leisurely stroll around its grounds. We bumped into a friendly local walking his dog, who kindly gave Sue a rundown on the castle’s history. The gardens were beautifully laid out, just the sort of place for a picnic, so that’s exactly what we did.

We’d booked a stay at the nearby Aston Court Hotel, and once we’d checked in, we set off to explore the city. We’d heard mixed reviews about Derby’s city centre, and, well, we could see why. There are some lovely spots, but they seem to be in the throes of a fair bit of remodelling, and the Council doesn’t appear to have a clear plan in mind. Unlike other towns we’ve visited, Derby seems to be making it up as they go along! And they’re rather enamoured with their local football team, the Rams, with tributes to them seemingly around every corner. Even the otherwise creative museum and art gallery dedicated an entire room to them.

In the High Street, we stumbled upon an unusual clock that plays ‘God Save the Queen’ in full every hour (just in case you forget what country you’re in). During the afternoon, I made an optimistic purchase of a raincoat (for a British summer, you understand), and Sue nearly bought a new top.

That evening, we walked to the Derby Theatre to catch the play ‘Catch-22’. It was a brilliant performance, although Sue seemed to nod off for a moment (or as she insists, “resting her eyes”) mid-way through the first act.

After a good night’s rest and a seriously hearty breakfast, we headed to Ingleby with a route I’d mapped out on my GPS. We parked the car at a local pub and microbrewery, then set off along the River Trent. Some parts of the route got a bit dicey as it hugged the river’s edge next to some cliffs, which eventually led us to Anchor Cave, a fascinating spot with its own intriguing story, adding a bit of mystery to our walk.

The caves that make up Anchor Church once formed part of the riverbank. It is understood that the listed monument became the home of an exiled monarch in the ninth-century. It was also used by Vikings and hermits before Sir Robert Burdett, who served as High Sheriff of Derbyshire in 1738, modified the caves so he could host dinners.

We took some time to explore inside before pressing on through a beautiful stretch of undulating countryside.

Our path took us through the grounds of Repton School just as morning break ended. Watching the children and teachers line up for lessons, we felt somewhat like museum exhibits ourselves, as the open-mouthed pupils stared silently at us, two outsiders in their pristine world. At over £10,000 a term, I suppose they don’t often mingle with the hoi polloi!

Next up was a wooded area containing around 60 Viking graves. The place was carpeted with dense bracken, and after some determined searching, we did manage to find one among the trees. Feeling rather like victorious explorers, we carried on back to the John Thompson Inn and Brewery, where we rewarded ourselves with a well-deserved lunch and a pint before heading back to the hotel.

In the late afternoon, we set off for Derby Gaol, on the far side of town, as we’d booked ourselves onto a Ghost Walk that evening. Unsure of where we were supposed to meet our guide, we thought it best to arrive early. Along the way, we popped into a couple of churches for a nose around, but despite our head start, we still had a bit of a job locating the somewhat hidden rendezvous point. Our landmark was the Golden Eagle pub, and, as we had time to spare, we stepped inside for a drink and entertained ourselves with some dominoes and Jenga until it was time.

As we gathered for the walk, we were joined by a group of bankers from HSBC, suited and serious, but clearly up for a bit of a thrill. The tour kicked off behind the Gaol, where, after handing over the balance of payment to a rather convincing jailer, we were shown the debtors’ cells and the dreaded condemned cell. From there, we wandered the cobbled streets, our guide recounting eerie tales of Derby’s ghostly past. He had a couple of “stooges” along too, who managed to pull off some effective jump scares, much to the horror of our high-flying hedge fund companions, including a particularly burly front-row forward who nearly jumped out of his skin!

We stopped for a drink in Derby’s most haunted pub, once a priory and later a hotel, where we descended into the cellars for more ghostly goings-on, all ingeniously staged, of course. The walk continued with a visit to another of Derby’s old gaols, complete with chilling stories to match. By the end, we circled back to our starting point and had a hearty meal of jacket potatoes, cheese, and beans, served right in the cells, fittingly enough, alongside our fellow ghost hunters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a fantastically entertaining evening, and we both slept like logs that night, undisturbed by any lingering spirits!

After an early breakfast the following morning, we set off back to Harborough without delay since I’d promised to help out at a charity function at Marston Trussell Hall by 11 a.m. On the way, we encountered an unexpected delay: a lorry fire on the opposite carriageway had gutted the vehicle completely. Two fire engines were on-site, working to manage the situation. Thankfully, our side of the motorway remained open, but the queue on the other side stretched back for miles. We just managed to pass through before they closed both sides for the rest of the day.

Once home, I quickly changed into my DJ, as requested, and headed over to the Hall. I spent the afternoon with Jim, Sean, and the hall’s owner, Peter Howard, waiting on tables for a ladies’ charity event. Despite threatening rain, the weather held up and remained warm, almost uncomfortably so in a DJ. We served drinks, brought out four courses, and cleared up afterwards. I managed to make it back home around 5 p.m. and settle in for the next England match, another instalment in the ongoing saga of their disappointments.

On Saturday, June 20th, I started the day with breakfast at the Angel, where I watched another New Zealand victory over England. In the afternoon, I spent some time mapping out several walking routes into my GPS. That evening, Sue, Sarah, and I headed to the Comedy Club at Harborough Theatre. To our surprise, Jim and Kate were already there! Jim had apparently overheard my plans over breakfast and decided to check it out himself. As always, the headline comedian was brilliant, while the supporting acts showed potential as “works in progress.” Overall, it was a night filled with laughter.

The following day was a Sunday, John drove from Bourne and picked me up for a couple of days walking around Bosworth Hall. Sue and I have stayed there a few times this year, and we both enjoyed exploring the Warwickshire countryside. After checking in, we had lunch at the hotel and then set off for a pleasant 6.5-mile walk during the afternoon. When we returned, we took advantage of the hotel’s pool for a swim, which was thoroughly refreshing after our hike. Dinner was a carvery in the hotel restaurant, complete with a complimentary bottle of red wine. Later, we ventured into town, found a cosy pub, and enjoyed a drink before heading back to catch some football on the TV.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After breakfast, we set off on a brisk 9.2-mile walk along a route I had plotted on my GPS, and took us through some lovely countryside before we again returned to the hotel pool for another refreshing dip. Later in the afternoon, we tackled an 8.4-mile route, enjoying more scenic paths, followed by yet another quick swim, and we decided to head out for dinner.

We revisited the pub we had found the previous night, but unfortunately, they had stopped serving meals just ten minutes before we arrived. The barman kindly recommended the town’s only Indian restaurant, and it turned out to be an excellent suggestion;  the food was fantastic and a perfect end to the day.

We checked out of the hotel after a hearty breakfast on Tuesday, and under a clear sky, we embarked on an 8.8-mile meander through the historic battlefields of Bosworth. It was all very picturesque and tranquil, quite a contrast to what awaited us back in Harborough. We rolled in at 4:30 pm, just in time to experience the full emotional rollercoaster of depression, dismay, disgruntlement, and utter despair brought on by England’s latest performance against Costa Rica. Honestly, it was as if they’d all forgotten how to kick a ball. John, ever the optimist, drove back to Bourne, no doubt hoping for better luck next time,  though I wasn’t going to hold my breath.

On Wednesday, Sue went to Ellis’s school sports day, while I took the opportunity to tackle the more domestic challenges, mowing lawns, hoovering the pool (yes, it’s as exciting as it sounds), weeding the allotments, and planting strawberries. All in a day’s work, really.

On Thursday, Sue and I headed out to watch Lucas’s school sports day. Now, I’m not one to criticise, but let’s just say I’m not exactly a fan of non-competitive sports days. And as for the organisation… well, let’s just say it left a bit to be desired. But rather than delve into the chaos, I’ll leave it at that. Let’s just say I could’ve organised a better event in my sleep.

 

NEWS IN BRIEF: Nan seems to be fully recovered from her tumble in Wales—proof that a little mishap can’t keep her down for long. Jamie’s currently battling an infected wisdom tooth, but his sense of humour remains intact: “I think my dentist is a comedian!!! Charged me £18 to tell me my tooth is infected and probably painful!!!” Classic Jamie. Meanwhile, Sarah appears to be thriving in her job and is on the lookout for a house or apartment in the Shepshed area. As for Charlotte, she’s having success at her allotment. Yesterday she kindly provided me with cabbage and broad beans from hers, because mine, of course, aren’t ready yet! How the tables have turned.