The homage to Amy Winehouse’s classic album is a pathetic way of distracting you (and me!) from the boring fact that I’m back at Topley End Farm near Blackwell in the Derbyshire Dales. Four times last year and off again this year … I guess the correct assumption should be made that I quite like it here!
I was due to be here one day earlier but the pooey weather on Friday made me put it back a day. It was easy for me to cancel and spend the day at home yesterday because, as usual, I really wasn’t looking forward to the trip. As always, it’s fine when I got here it’s just the act of getting here that turns me cold. Partly because it was always so exciting going on a Brunnehilda trip with Kim but also because it’s a bit lonely and stressful doing all the Brunnehilda travel processes in your own!
And it was a mixed journey. A great start to the day as I watched the Twinnies win their football match against Blisworth. 6 goals but only one MacArthur goal on the scoresheet! Lovely to watch them though - everyone played well. At the end of the game I rushed back home, picked up the dogs and headed for Welton Lodge Farm. To speed things up I had got the van ready and taken up the corner stays yesterday. This meant that, even accounting for using the motor mover to get her hitched, I was on the road at 11.20 - less than 30 mins from my arrival on site.
It was a good journey too. Ashbourne was quiet this time so we whistled through in just over 2 hours - arriving on site at 1.30pm. As always the site was quiet - just one other van. I tried in vain to back Brunnehilda onto the pitch. As usual, as I was struggling, I heard Kim in my ear saying “stop piddling about and get the motor mover on - why have a dog and bark yourself?”. So I did!
I got in the zone and rapidly went through the “set up” checklist. All was pretty much done within the hour - including a long chat with my neighbour. A young guy with his wife and 2 toddlers- from Holmfirth in Yorkshire. Nice lad.
Then it all went wrong. I couldn’t get the water to come through! After 30 mins of checking and messing about I realised the water was running out from the centre (underneath) of the van. I eventually found a valve that had been opened - I shut it. I think John (the guy who serviced it) must have opened it during the service. Ah well, as my old mate Gazzer would say … “every day’s a school day!”
So at just gone 3pm I was making a cup of tea and having a snack. I listened to the Cobblers commentary at Carlisle for an hour or so before getting packed up and out for a late afternoon walk.
I decided to do the short 5 mile walk I did last time. Down the farm track, across the A6, dropping down to Chee Dale and picking up the Monsal Trail.
It wasn’t too busy considering it was a Saturday in the Easter holidays. I was obviously not yet in the holiday mood as I found myself muttering under my breath to all the rude cyclists who failed to thank me for restraining the dogs as they peddled by. This happened so many times I eventually muttered myself into a better mood. Plus, they did start to say thank you later on in the walk. The dogs were very well behaved.
After a couple of miles on the Trail we dropped down to Chee Dale and followed the very full (and muddy slippery path) River Wye.
Then up the very steep hill and over the fields to Blackwell. Then it was a quick yomp back up to the A6 and Topley Head Farm.
We had a short stop half way up the steep hill - the dogs and I shared some Doritos and a couple of Twirl Bars. Along with caravan water valves, I learnt something else new today - my dogs don’t like sparkling water! They were clearly very thirsty but they completely refused to even try the bowl of fizzy water - who knew that?
The 5 mile walk took just over 2 hours and was a nice painless reintroduction to the Derbyshire Dales.
Fish pie, strawberry trifle and a Coen Brothers film - Blood Simple. A quick chat with Thom and Rach before hitting Brunnehilda’s big German bed and a bit of blogging while watching Match of the Day.
It’s going to rain tomorrow morning and I’ve got a leak from the kitchen tap - I guess that’s what I’ll be doing in the morning while I’m waiting for the rain to stop?!
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