Saturday/Rāhoroi
We travelled from Newcastle to Chesterfield by train. Here are a few photos from the train around Durham County, and including Durham Castle which we did not visit (we only saw the cricket in Chester-le-Street). The castle we were told is the biggest and in best condition in England (mind you, they all say that their castle is the best).
We were on our way to see Bill's great mate, Alex Letts and his wife Melinda. Bill and Alex went to Oxford together in 1982 and 1983. Over the years we have tuned in to their lives when we have visited England. He had moved to the Peak District in the Midlands in England three years ago for his business which is in Sheffield. He has just sold the business called U - it's in "unbanking" https://uk.linkedin.com/in/alexletts. He has three more years to manage it, and get the money he wants. He is an entrepeneur and he has got his next start-up idea on something new. We will stay tuned in for that too. Here is our wonderful 24 hours in the Peak District and Alex and Melinda's home.
The journey to his house - or what he pretended was his house. This is Chatsworth House where 'Pride and Prejudice' was filmed. JoJo, my sister who has watched the film at least 20 times, would have demanded to go there.
Arriving at his "other" house In Alport - a quaint village (or hamlet they call it, not as big as a village) with a river running through. Under the bridge is where the river is. (Ed. This is not unique to Alport bridges.) No eels, though we did see a trout.
It was a lovely afternoon, we all went walking over the Haddon Hill. The walk started by the river.
Then we went up a hill to a pub where we caught on the TV England playing against Sweden in the World Cup Soccer for a bronze medal - England lost 2-1. We also had a pint and much talking was had about anything and everything.
Then we continued on a loop back to their house. There are many paths the public can explore - all the land has been owned by three main families for hundreds of years, but the public have access to it all. Alex was working out where we could go. The views were stunning. The sheep even loved our company.
When we got back to the river I was interested in how the river had been used for milling lead during the industrial revolution 1760-1840. They built stone steps across the river so it would not flood and to channel the river. No regard for endemic species, and the lead sludge was put into the rivers, polluting them. This river has been restored since and it looked very clean.
Melinda had prepared supper (English for dinner) and it was simply delicious. We had champagne and wine, and caught up with Henry, the youngest of their four sons.
Alex delighted in finding photos of Bill on holiday in Ibiza with him (from 1981 - he looks a bit like Daniel our eldest I thought in this picture). Alex and Melinda have the eldest of their boys getting married in Ibiza in September - Fred Letts to Emily Weller (Lunar Loves Londo).
It was the best 24 hours. It was interesting to watch Bill and Alex together. Again I have never seen Bill talk so much.