Where are you looking?

I have had a wonderful time today, this morning my son-in-law Mark took me for a ride on his motorbike as a birthday treat. My birthday was actually last Saturday but we couldn't do it then as we were both too busy, I had a wonderful birthday too, my family came in the morning and we had lunch together and in the afternoon I went up to the Salvation Army in Ripley as the ladies from the home league were being treated to a pamper afternoon by Esther Johnson who has a business selling Forever Aloe Vera products. Esther is the daughter of Pamela who is our Home League leader (not sure what the official title is), Pamela wanted to say thank you to all the ladies and gentleman for all their weeks of hard work practising for the Home League weekend. I had a face mask and my nails done, when the facemask was off I was quite relieved as it just got tighter and tighter until I couldn't move my lips. I suspect Esther put extra around my mouth she knows what a chatterbox I am. All the ladies thoroughly enjoyed themselves and commented on how soft their skin felt afterwards. So all in all with my presents, my family gathering and the afternoon of pampering I had a wonderful day.

And so it continued today with this great bike ride with Mark to Buxton through the Derbyshire Peak district, the scenery was awesome, sometimes we would go through what my sister Pamela calls, tree palaces and then come out into wide open spaces with fields on either side with sheep, lamas, and cattle. It is so good to see so many cows on our farmlands these days for so long you wouldn't see any because of the awful mad cow disease, I love to see them especially the long horns. There were quite a lot of babies with their mothers who were lying down on the ground chewing the cud. The sky was so blue, the sun was shining but there was a chill wind, but I didn't mind it was so glorious, and with all this wonderful scenery I couldn't help but think of our Creator and to praise Him for all this beauty. Mark treated me to a late breakfast at Morrisons which was delicious and afterward we stopped for a few moments at Wye Valley to take in the scenery and take some photos before we set off again for our ride home.

 We had stopped in a layby and there were quite a few cars parked most of whom were enjoying the view apart from one couple who sat in their car one reading a paper and the other a magazine!!  I guess some people just don't see what I see it reminds me of all the people who search here and there for peace and happiness they look everywhere except where it is. True peace and happiness can only be found in knowing God, how can we know God? Through His Son Jesus Christ. 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

You cannot find spiritual truth by searching and looking in the world nothing matches up to it. I don't know if there were any pictures of scenes in the magazine the lady was reading if there was they certainly would not match up to the real thing that was staring her in the face but which she chose to ignore. When we came through Matlock there was a craft fair on so after Mark had dropped me off I went straight out again to get the bus to Matlock I wanted to get a picture of this chap.

I wasn't the only one hanging around in Matlock :) This guy was deceiving the people of course this was for entertainment but as I said earlier so many people are seeking and being deceived.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father expect through Me".

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.......