Horses for courses

Chesterfield has a horse and cart for collecting the market rubbish. We were watching the horse whilst eating our lunch 'out' which consisted of leaning against the wall of M&S and eating our pastries bought form the bakers. We know how to live.

One passerby gave her a polo mint which was gratefully received, then came a young girl, she found some bits of leftover carrot on the ground, and fed them to the horse. After that things went a little downhill with horse and local resident relations. Every time someone came to stroke the horses nose, it would shake its head and and act a bit frustrated. One woman was just walking past and the horse went for her cardigan. I blame the sugar.

We went into Chesterfield to get me a haircut - but there was such a large queue at my hairdresser of choice, I gave up on the idea, it looks like I'm growing my hair, hopefully not as long as the Chesterfield horse.

The over 70s travel club (as Leanne call them), Leanne's parents and my Mum return from Tuscany this evening. We have had the house to ourselves, so it will be a bit of a shock - and then Kiwi friends arrive on Sunday for two nights - certainly a full house!

Pizza anyone?

Well, it's all go in Sheffield, the students are back in town. We know this because the streets are covered in empty takeaway wrappers and there are thoughtful looking youths hanging around on the street corners trying to out cool each other.

The best thing is, spotting the giant pizza box-wearing people dotted around the streets. They make me feel way better about my working life! I felt a little sorry for the two I saw on the way home from work this evening, it was teaming with rain, and the poor loves were sheltering under a tree to prevent their boxes getting soggy. Only £5.99 for any size pizza - not bad.

On the way to a lunchtime meeting, my colleagues and I had to run the gauntlet of the freshers frenzy. We didn't get offered any of the club leaflets, or goody bags. One hopeful started to offer us a paint-balling leaflet, took one look, and said come and shoot your er…colleagues, with a grin on her face. We didn't take up the offer, way too dangerous for a group of bespectacled middle aged librarians.

Maisie took this photo of dahlia at...guess where...Chatsworth of course.

OOOh look at me I'm on the Internet

Ok, I wouldn't normally blog about going to the doctors, but I feel the need to share.

The doctor's surgery we go to has a new fangled signing in system which is a touch operated screen. All you do is - touch the screen to start, the screen changes to months of the year, you touch your month of birth, then your date, then your initials - and hey presto it displays your name, which doctor (witch doctor ha ha - sorry northern humour returning) you are seeing, and what time - EASY.

I checked in and sat down. In wandered an elderly couple easily in their late 80's, they obviously each had an appointment,. The woman went first. She was touching the screen, and saying (quite loudly) "are you watching dear" to her companion. I loved it when her name appeared on the screen she said "ooh look at me I'm on the internet!" Bless.

After listening to them reminiscing about last years flu jab, it was my turn to see the doctor (sore shoulder).

The unrelated photo is of Savanna the dolphin and us in Dubai.

The lights are on, but there's no one home

Matlock Bath: Famous for illuminations, motorbikes, fish and chips and a cable car. It has the distinct feel of being by the seaside. There's only one thing missing - the sea. For Leanne's birthday, as the 'illuminations' have started, I thought it was a good idea to pop into Matlock Bath for an indian, and a wander round the illuminations. The illuminations are, I suspect, particular to the UK. What happens is - strings of lights are put in trees, cute scenes are recreated in lights, and people wander around looking at them in a awe.

At Matlock bath, the people seemed to be missing. And it appeared, so were many of the lights. I think I should have looked at the guide book before setting off. Not all the lights were there, and the boat show and fair was not up and running, only at the weekends. It was also raining a little. OK, I cant be blamed for the rain.

The indian was excellent, and actually the lights that were there were kind of fun. We loved the reflections in the river. There was a cute frog scene with it appearing to jump over the river.

AND - big news: Maisie started secondary school. She looks great in her uniform. We have been very proud parents all week.

Berry nice

We went on a great walk today along an old train track. Lovely sunny day, we were a bit disgruntled as the parking machine stole an extra 30p it wasn't entitled to. BUT the bonus was the blackberries, not the electronic sort - the eating sort. I'm hopeful we ate at least 30 pence worth.

Our other complaint - well manly Chess's complaint - we couldn't see the miniature sheep in the field. Chess had a good look, but nothing jumped out. There were a few Lamas in the said field - maybe the miniature sheep were lamaphobic or something.

Maisie and Leanne had a great time in London last week, still waiting for the guest blog...a small summary: Maisie said she liked to visit, but it stank and she wouldn't want to live there. Leanne said London was hot and smelly, but full of excitement and interest. I stayed at home to catalogue books, and felt a little green eyed.