I've just seen my future and it isn't pretty

Leanne and I escaped the house full of septuagenarians and the child for an evening of Made in Dagenham Yay. On our return home I find John and Lorraine in bed, watching Eggheads (a quizshow) on our laptop. Greeted with "hello dear, can you help us get it bigger, we've been having fun pressing all the buttons, but it just wont get any larger." There are some things you don't want to hear from your mother-in-law whilst she is in bed with her husband! Anyway, after making the screen bigger, I made a hasty exit from the bedroom.

But wait - what are they doing back in Derbyshire? I hear you cry. Weren't they on their way to NZ in the previous blog…well, yes. The poor loves were bumped from their flight and can't get another until next Tuesday; so back they came.

There isn't mushroom

We have had Leanne's parents staying with us, and for a couple of nights a friend from NZ and her daughter…all a bit of a squash. But cosy. There was one incident at 4 am of old man in underpants giving way to a lady of the house, both keen to have a pee. (I have to say, I was very grateful for the underpants as well as the first use of the loo)

Leanne's parents left today on the train to London, and leave a couple of days later for NZ. Getting them onto the train at Chesterfield was…entertaining? Stressful? Difficult? Challenging? Effortless? NOT the last one! You would think three cases and two adults could easily manage the task, but help was required. Lorraine first dispatched me to talk to the nice guard to recommend to them where to stand for the best access to carriage C. No help was forthcoming unfortunately. Then the train arrived. We shuffled them up to the required carriage, Leanne got on the train with some bags, I waited by the door after depositing the heaviest case on the train, 6 other people were trying to get on the train at the same time, then the refreshment cart person chose that time to come down the carriage - Leanne was trapped on the train, John was panicking, Lorraine had pottered off to find her seat, and I was left shoving the remaining passenger onto the train, and out the way so Leanne could get off! A little comedic perhaps, but took the edge of them leaving. They got to London without further incident, and all is well.

I had to go home and have a lie down, mind you, I do have a terrible cold, and now a cough to go with it - so grateful to have my own bed again. I blame the hygienically challenged new students for the cold, thay have been coming into the library with annoying questions to go with their germs - they seem to think we are only there to answer their questions.

Oh yes - for those mushroom lovers - it's the season - Mum keeps returning from the woods with giant boletus mushrooms and puffballs.

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.