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Gardening

Gardening – Spring

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I wouldn’t say that the Winter has been particularly bad, looking back on my gardening diary we had 7ft snow drifts in 2014 in South Derbyshire but I do think it has been a long one. For the first time in 20 years we had snow early in December so after stop – start with […]
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Dining Out

Dining at The Red Lion

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It had been one of those days when the mellow mists and fruitfulness of Autumn were being replaced by the damp drizzle and frostiness of Winter. The spirits were in need of a lift and what better way than with the prospect of comforting food, good beer and someone else doing the cooking and washing […]
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Dining Out

Dining at the Sanam Tandori Tandoori Restaurant

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Consistency is essential in the food industry, we go back to places because we enjoy what they present. The beauty at the Sanam Tandoori Restaurant,  King Street, Alfreton is that the chefs have remained the same since they opened over twenty years ago. So we go confident in the knowledge that we will get what […]
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Dining Out

The High Peak Bookstore

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“Can I come?” I would ask when my Dad announced he was going to ‘Foggy’ Bagshaws to pick up a part for his car. Moving forward half a century, it’s quite a bizarre feeling to be sitting in the High Peak Bookstore (formerly Bagshaws Garage) at Brierlow Bar on the Ashbourne to Buxton Road talking […]
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Dining Out

The Blacksmith’s Loft

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A traditional Sunday lunch is still a firm favourite with me. What could be better than roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, fresh vegetables and a boat of gravy all accompanied by a glass of red wine? So when Victoria, a Director from The Blacksmiths Loft, Blacksmiths Yard, Sadler Gate, Derby invited us to try their new […]
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Featured

WHO SAID THAT? COMPETITION

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Win a meal for two in our WHO SAID THAT? COMPETITION There have been many famous ‘quotes and sayings’ throughout history. All you have to do is tell us who said them. Fill in as many as you can and send your answers to: Who  Said That? Images Publishing Ltd, 5 Keypoint Village, Keys Road, […]
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Lost Houses

Errwood Hall

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When I was young, especially when visiting relatives in Ireland, ruined country houses were virtually commonplace. Tax, bankruptcy, pessimism and misfortune led many owners post World War Two to abandon their homes and live somewhere cheaper to heat, and generally more convenient. Contents were sold and most often the house pulled down, but many were […]
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Dining Out

Kedleston Country House Boutique Hotel

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Stepping over the threshold at The Kedleston Country House Boutique Hotel I realised that the last time I had been here was with work colleagues, some sadly no longer with us, for happy hour in 1989. In honesty I didn’t recognise the place as so much has been done to make this a truly splendid […]
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Featured

Neil Heldreich – Celebrates 30 years in business

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Derbyshire has always been home to fine craftsmen and one of them, furniture restorer Neil Heldreich, is celebrating his 30th anniversary in business. It’s a milestone reached thanks to help from the Prince’s Trust, which this year marks its 40th anniversary. Traditional furniture restorers and French polisher, Heldreich, based at Hollington, near Ashbourne, has come […]
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Lost Houses

The Knoll, Littleover

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I have tramped the streets of Littleover many times over the last decade, canvassing or delivering leaflets, and have often wondered, when entering Knoll Close from Swanmore Road, on the south western slopes of the village, whether the inhabitants were aware of the reason for their street’s name. The street itself was built in the […]
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