As most of you know, I do have a slightly unhealthy obsession with Pride and Prejudice.
Here's a little secret for you all.....
During high school, I watched the film adaptation (the Keira Knightley version of course) every single day when I got home from school for about a month. I'm pretty sure that Mr Darcy was the first man I ever had a crush on. His broody nature and damn fine hot pants had me wishing I was Elizabeth Bennett. I eventually moved on from this stage of my life and discovered that although men like Mr Darcy didn't exactly exist, there would always be a 'Mr Darcy' out there somewhere. Although, probably not quite as good a dancer...... Fact.
In order to get to Mr Darcy's crib we needed to catch the train to Leicester which went as follows..... Train from Portsmouth to London.... Two tube rides and another train to Leicester to finish the journey off. Luckily Jordan and Hope (slightly) are calm travellers because I am the kind of person that checks my ticket 5 times, likes to make sure I am at least half an hour early and am usually paranoid that I'm going to get the wrong tube/train, loose something vital or fall down the escalators. Thankfully none of the above happened over the weekend, phew. Hopes mum was there to pick us up from the station and we jumped in the car and journeyed to their family home where we were welcomed so beautifully. Automatically it felt so lovely to be there. Within a family environment where everyone looks after each other, and there's so much talking and eating and laughter.
Three of my favourite things.
So visiting Chatsworth house was genuinely a dream come true. Although we didn't get to go inside, just venturing around the surroundings was completely breathtaking (we're talking 105 acres of garden, and enough sheep and deer to keep the grass mowed so that the Duke and Duchess don't have to get the ride on out). Now, within this 105 acres includes three small villages, comprised of mainly original buildings and many permanent residents. We stopped for lunch in one of these that was built around a beautiful gothic style church, with small cottages scattered around either side it was picture perfect. After we were bursting at the seams we headed back out to explore some more Chatsworth goodness. Hope had previously given us the heads up about some local fudge that one of the cottage owners sold outside the house on a small stand, honesty box included, which made me feel like I was back at home buying apples on the side of the highway as the bogans revved past in their commodores.
But did the fudge live up to it's praise........ Hells yeah it did. Diabetic nightmare. Sugar coma. Buttery overload but totally satisfying. Besides, we had another four hours of walking to do. We burnt that food baby right off. Then put it back on later with some carrot cake and tea at yet another small cafe. Hey, when in England!
After walking to the top of the hill and taking in the magical view of the house below and the vibrant green surrounding mountains and valleys of the Peak District there was nothing to do but smile, and be grateful for all that was before me. Included in the grounds were two separate stables, one just above the house and another a further distance away which would have originally been for the working horses, a small animal farm which was created to bring tourists in and also provide accommodation for the Duchess's mad chicken obsession.... Apparently keeping chickens is her thing. Whatever floats your boat. I do need to touch on the stable situation because really, I've never seen stables like this before. We are talking a building big enough to be an apartment bloc. Yes, there was even a water fountain (ducks included) in the centre and enough room to keep about thirty horses comfortably. It's unbelievable to think that people lived such lives then and today there are some without homes at all..... I could not have asked for a more perfect day and the company only made it even better. I loves ya Sue and Nige x x
Sunday was home time but not before a sneaky visit to the local pub for an afternoon drink before we returned to the house for a traditionally English roast dinner, my first one since coming to England. Yorkshire puddings included it was delicious!
They do call cordial 'squash' here..... A little bit weird. And cream is a lot runnier, the perfect consistency for my mother but as she is well aware, in my opinion shaking the cream bottle is a NO NO. We managed to make it home without any trouble and I accomplished yet another goal on my 'to do' list.
April holidays are just a few weeks away and I hope to get to Eastbourne, Chichester, Arundel castle and possibly Brighton somewhere in those two weeks. If not all, at least a couple. It still shocks me that it's almost been three months since I left home, but I surprise myself as another week is crossed off and I continue my journey. I really needed this test and I will appreciate it for the rest of my life. Just as it has taught me to appreciate the people in my life and the opportunities I am given more and more each day.
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