Who says that England doesn’t have summer?? For most of today it’s been sunshiney!

First thing this morning I helped Debbie pick redcurrants, white currants, black currants and raspberries in their very extensive garden. That’s a new experience for me – never done it before! Such a delight.

Quite a lot found their way into my mouth as well as the bucket. The different coloured currants have different flavours and the raspberry flavour is amazing. I’d eat them three times a day if I could!!

After breakfast, Debbie drove Philip and I are to nearby Keddleston Hall.

We first walked for an hour in the beautiful woodlands around the Hall that was built in the mid 1700s.

Nathaniel Curzon wanted to show off Nathaniel Curzon, who he was as a person and who he wanted to become. He was landed gentry, but he really wanted a peerage, have a seat in the House of Lords and have political clout and influence. The way to get it was to build a magnificent house that would be impressive as a Temple of the Arts and to rival Chatsworth House.

You’ll have to look hard, but Philip is waving from the balcony.

There’s a theme running through these places and times. Bess Hardwick yesterday and Nathaniel Curzon today. They both wanted to look and be impressive to their peers and people. To wow people with lavish details and luxurious “bling”.

Funny how some things in life never change. That’s still a major theme for current lives and our cultures. To be noticed and impressive. “Look at me! Look at me!” A constant temptation.

Ostrich feathers on top of the four corners of this bed!

Most of the house is not to be lived in. There’s an east wing for the family to live in. Most of the house is built to “show off” and it’s by famous architects (like Robert Adam) and craftsmen to produce only the finest and best. Lots of restoration work is being done.

How much bling is enough? It was undoubtedly a triumph of a show-palace and parkland. And Nathaniel Curzon got his peerage. So.. job accomplished!!

Here’s the stables for the stud horses. Twenty-one servants and grooms for 48 horses – on call 24 hours a day. I hope the horses appreciated their vaulted ceilings and magnificent housing. The ordinary horses were housed in very ordinary stables.

I always find old churches interesting. Here’s Keddleston’s church with burials going back to 1200s.

The oldest part of the church is Norman – not long after William the Conqueror’s invasion of England.

These are the family’s oak box seats. They could easily go to sleep and no-one would know what they were doing! They could be doing anything!

After lunch at their house, Keith and Debby drove us out to the famous Derbyshire Dales. (A dale is a valley.)

Through not only farmlands, but farmyards where the dogs don’t even bother to bark at you. Glorious countryside with steep, steep descents. Sheep everywhere and the Dove River happily gurgling alongside us.

Keith who’s an engineer thinks the steepest descent we did was 1:3!

Lots of sheep and their lambs easily climbing the steep hills.

Lots of birdsong and we disturbed a long-legged grey heron fishing in the river.

We walked along the valley beside the Dove River – but didn’t see any doves!

Philip got stung by nettles on his hand. That was his new experience!

Then a slow ascent to the village of Wetton to the Royal Oak pub in time for dinner beside an open fire.

When we came out of the pub it was cloudy and very cool in the evening. Another walk back to the car and home. I think we walked about 4 1/2 hours today – but maybe I’m exaggerating! It was probably my favourite walk so far in Derbyshire.

It’s forecast to rain again tomorrow, but for today there was sunshine!