Four of us met outside church on 4th September and decided to do a local walk, starting in Old Whittington, but before we were able to set off, we were asked to take a photograph of the family who had just experienced the baptism of a mother and child in church. This task was given to Julie (our walk photographer) who then decided to nip into church to buy a bag of plums for Mary.
We eventually arrived at Glasshouse Lane and parked up before a discussion began regarding eating outdoors or in the car, outdoors was preferred, and we were told we would be able to eat in 40 minutes. Mary had to check she had her car keys as when we did this walk last year (see Sept 2021 edition) Steve had to drive her back to church as she thought her keys had fallen onto the pavement. They hadn’t as they were in her rucksack all along, but by this time she decided to go home, and we did the walk without her.
We started to move off, but Julie realised she hadn’t taken her walking pole from the boot of the car and neither had Steve, so he went back to fetch them. Within five minutes, Julie found that she hadn’t picked up her phone either but shrugged her shoulders and carried on.
Soon we were in a field of horses, one of which took a liking to Steve and started following him, so we left him to it. We entered a wood and travelled over a field where a dead rabbit was lying under a hedge with not a mark on it. In another wood, one of our party needed a comfort break, but after a decent interval didn’t re-join us, which necessitated Steve and Julie looking for her and Evelyn being instructed to “wait there!” Eventually she re-joined us.
Panic over we continued and found a hedgerow with blackberries growing in it. After spending time picking them as well as eating a good number, we crossed further fields. We walked past Ash Lane Farm, West Handley, a 16th century house with a magnificent, thatched roof with a scalloped design.
Over an hour into the walk, we finally reached our lunch spot where we had a much-needed rest whilst eating our sandwiches and admiring the view across to Chesterfield.
Continuing along a lane we came across a house, seen last year, which still had toy monkeys hanging from an iron frame at the front gate.
The final part of the walk was on pavements and uphill, so a bit challenging but we reached the car and despite all the setbacks enjoyed our time together.
If anyone wishes to join us; we have fun and know what we are doing even if it sounds as if we don’t, then meet us outside church at 12pm with a packed lunch on Sunday 2nd October. You will be made very welcome
Evelyn Lowe & Steve Franks