After the Amsterdam experience, I finally got the message that travel is not my passion. Being a semi-sensible human I cancelled trips booked to Vienna, Barcelona and Venice. I still wanted to do something as a break from the routine was required. A change of scenery can be vital in gaining some perspective. So the bestie and I booked a few nights in Derbyshire. The plan was to explore and then have a leisurely visit to Chatsworth house. Ah, the best-laid plans…
When we arrived, we both found the hotel a little strange. After a short walk in the grounds, we decided to stay one night instead of two. I rang the husband to explain our decision and then ten minutes later called to say we were on our way home. Something wasn’t sitting well with the bestie and the key phrase of “leg it” was uttered. So she drove us back to Liverpool for brews, cheese on toast and Great British Bake Off.
The next day we hit the road again for Chatsworth. The best wanted to see the 500 Years of Fashion exhibition before it ended. She was right, it was fabulous. The clothes were so much more than frivolities but part of our social history. One visitor wasn’t so happy, shouting at the staff “I didn’t come here to see silly clothes, I came for the ginger jars”. It takes all sorts.
Every time I visit places like Chatsworth I want to get home and read more. It’s on my list to revisit my biographies of Bess of Hardwicke and the Mitfords. The house is imposing and simply reading the map makes you fully aware of the scale of the place. It’s massive and packed with people. At times it was a bit of a crush but it’s heartening that people take an interest in the history (I was earwigging to the conversations on the way round.)
For an indoorsy sort, my favourite part was the gardens. We only had time for a wee peek at the rockery and fountains but a return visit is planned with the dog. Fresh air, beautiful surroundings, the bestie, the hound, does it get any better?