Listening to the owls song part 2

Wednesday at Willersley was our Christmas day which of course would not have been complete without a visit from Santa.

We had a traditional turkey lunch which was delicious and a buffet at teatime. I was going to go out for a walk but decided on a lie down instead. We had entertainment in the evening a group of singers called Friends in Harmony, I thoroughly enjoyed it so much so that I forgot to take any photographs.

Thursday our Boxing day we had another walk into Matlock for a walk around the shops and a lovely cuppa in Costa. The evening entertainment was put on by all the Turkey and Tinsel people we had a varied evening with comedy poems and songs and some traditional Christmas songs and poems. Not forgetting Ralph's comedy routine. I sang a song "Whose are they are they your fathers?" in operatic style and then sang "All the Way" by Mo Wilkinson, a song that has the gospel message in it, because that is what Christmas is all about. The truth of why Jesus came.

Friday morning I waved everyone off, I was staying a couple of extra nights so that I could relax after the busy days and evenings we'd had. I walked along the river to Matlock and came out at Ley's park where they were having a Victorian Christmas weekend. It was wonderful there was lots to do and to see. Massive tents with all kinds of craft and things in, I could have spent a fortune but what fascinated me most was the falcons and owls, I did manage to get some lovely photo's, you could pay to have your photo taken with one of the birds all the proceeds went to charity, anyone taking a picture of the birds was asked to drop a donation in the bucket.

The one in the top corner just screeched and screeched but the rest were very quiet. After walking round and buying a few bits I caught the bus back to Willersley to a lovely evening meal and an early night. I had to changed rooms for the extra two nights but even so I could still hear the owl's hoot as he let everyone know it was his territory, I think it must have been a tawny owl because he sounded just like this one. 

Saturday I walked around the grounds of Willersley fungi hunting and I did manage to find some.

And then off again for a walk along the river there had been a frost and everywhere looked so lovely, when I got to the river it was steaming as the suns rays were on it.

After a quick walk through Matlock I got a bus to Bakewell I wasn't there long as it was getting late, I was getting tired and my feet were aching. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and even went on a trip down memory lane when I caught a Hulley's bus back to the hotel. I used to catch those buses forty years ago when I stayed with my mum and dad at Cliff College. Of course they have modern buses now but they used to be real bone shakers :) And the thing about Hulley's is that they go all around the houses up the hills and down the dales, it was lovely I saw geese, lama and ostrich in the Derbyshire countryside!! Forty years ago I would have seen the geese but not the rest.

Of all the things I have seen and done on this holiday I have to say that one of the highlights had to be hearing and seeing the owls. People can be territorial, they say that an Englishman's home is his castle. I am very grateful for my little castle but I'm not territorial about it after all as a Christian I'm just passing through I have a home waiting for me that far surpasses any castle here. I am grateful for what I have but I am even more grateful for what God has done for me through His Son Jesus Christ in order that I might know forgiveness and have everlasting life, now that is something worth hooting about!!! 

Listening to the Owls song

This year was my fourth year at Willersley Castle, three years for Turkey and Tinsel and the second year I went for Christmas, (I said I wouldn't do that again as I came home expecting another Christmas :) ) I arrived on Sunday to my favourite room which has a wonderful view

and as dusk fell there was that wonderful sound again, the owls hooting in the distance, it really is a wonderful sound I find it so soothing and most evening I left my window open so that I could hear them, I do love owls but it is very rare that I would ever be able to see one so I was delighted when on the last day of my holiday I went into Matlock and someone had a display of owls and falcons at the Victorian Christmas Weekend

But I'm getting ahead of myself, Monday the people arrived who come by coach and it was lovely to see familiar faces and catch up. There were new faces too and Ann and I soon became acquainted and spent sometime together on walks. Willersley isn't too far from Matlock and you can get the key from the reception and take a wonderful walk through the grounds and by the river and come out at the gate at Matlock Bath which is what we did before continuing on the Matlock and a hunt round their wonderful charity shops. We both found a few bargains and so we got the bus back as our feet and bodies were rather tired and weary. A wonderful dinner awaited us and we were soon refreshed and ready for the evening activities, making Christmas decorations, I made a sun-burnt penguin, there wasn't a black and so I coloured it red and a couple of baubles too, it was a lovely relaxing evening. 

Tuesday was our Christmas eve and we spent the day on a lovely trip. The weather was lovely, the sun was shining and it was quite warm for the time of year. I for one was quite disappointed that I didn't get my longed for snow, never mind there's always next year! We called first at Carsington Water and had a lovely walk through part of the grounds,

After this we went on to Ashborne Methodist church for homemade soup and roll, it was delicious, I had tomato and basil, and then there were lovely homemade puddings, I had homemade blackberry and apple crumble. Someone had worked very hard for us and they made us feel very welcome, the

church building too inside and out was very impressive.

We went on then to a garden centre which had all kinds of beautiful decorations, and gifts, it was wonderfully decorated as you came in.

A couple of hours later and I'm sure for some of us a few pounds lighter in our purses we came out to a glorious sunset.

After our evening meal we had a carol service  remembering the reason for Christmas and why it is a joy for all Christians and therefore a celebration of God's love and grace to us. The last carol being sung in the "well".

More to follow.......

Turkey and Tinsel at Willersley Castle Hotel

I have had a wonderful Christmas which actually for me started on the 12th of December when I went away for five days, it was only a few miles away at Cromford I stayed in the Willersley Castle Hotel http://www.christianguild.co.uk/willersley/ for their Turkey and Tinsel 2 break. I didn't even know the place existed until a few months ago when I went to Matlock and found a gate with their name on so I did some sleuthing (searched the web) and decided to book myself in.

It was wonderful, the place is charming, clean, warm (a little too warm for me I had to turn off the radiator and open the window :), the staff were extremely friendly, polite and courteous and did all they could to make your stay comfortable and memorable. Our host Marion was a delight she had laid on all sorts of things for us, I arrived on Monday and settled into to my room which had a lovely view of the Derwent and all the hills etc. Every morning there was devotions and every evening apart from the last Marion gave an epilogue.

Tuesday was our Christmas Eve and we had a lovely coach trip to Castleton, then Bakewell

and then on to Chastworth to see their decorations,

Willersley had provided us with a packed lunch which was lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed the decorations but was much happier out there in the grounds although I didn't see much of them what I did see was wonderful.

Fountains, the cascade and even a squirting willow tree!!!!

They are in the process of putting gold leaf on the windows, wow.

After tea we had a quiz which surprisingly the team I was in won, well actually it was a joint win :)

Wednesday was Christmas day and after breakfast and devotions we were given a gift from Willersley. We had a three course Christmas dinner, I had the traditional turkey and Christmas pud. In the afternoon we had a lovely lady, Yvonne Wilkes come and show us how to make decorations, bows, and how to wrap a present properly.

She was the person who had done all the decorations for the hotel, they really were lovely.

Christmas day tea was a wonderful buffet. At some point but I can't remember when we were taught by Marion the 12 days of Christmas with actions, hilarious. 

In the evening we had three gentlemen and a lady from an operatic society called Bright Reflections who came to entertain us it was wonderful. Memories came flooding back of when I was a child listening to my mother sing and of the records she used to play on the old wind up gramophone.

Boxing day saw most of the T and T's go to Cromford with a guide from the Arkwright Society apparently they had a wonderful time but I missed them so I had a walk around Cromford,

http://st-marys-cromford.co.uk/index.php/about-st-marys/

I found the bookshop and just couldn't resist and bought a couple of old story books,

http://www.scarthinbooks.com/

After lunch we joined together for more of Marion's quizzes and a couple of turns by ourselves, Edward who has a lovely tenor voice sang, I sang "Holy Child" and Caroline read a poem called the twelve days of Turkey, fabulous. In the evening some of us went to a pantomime at Buxton Opera house, they had a wonderful time. I shall always remember with great affection the fellowship and friendship of my fellow T and T's and I hope that maybe next year I will be able to return but of course nothing in this life is certain.

But one thing I am sure and certain of that even though we may never meet again here we shall meet again in glory when we shall be forever with the Lord, what a glorious hope and future we have who are born again by God's grace.