As my friends will already know, the past week has not been a great one.....a poorly husband, job applications to complete, and never ending stress at work. I had looked forward to this Bank Holiday week end, an extra day off work and Paul and i had plans. Sadly things don't always turn out how you anticipate and with Paul being taken ill with labrynthitis, it was clear he wouldn't be able to go out with me at the week end. Thankfully he was feeling a bit better by Saturday, he was able to at least stand up and was eating again, but a day out at a food festival? Was never gonna happen! So after much thought, I decided to go on my own. Paul didn't want me to miss out, and in all fairness I think he wanted me to go and get sausages and cheese - he didn't want to miss out on the goodies. It turned out to be a day of reflection and quiet contemplation for me. A long drive, and a chance to think. My confidence has taken such a pounding in recent years, I needed to prove to myself I could do this on my own. And while I missed Paul so much, I truly enjoyed the day and my own company. 
It took me an hour to get there, I left really early and was there and parked up by 9.30am. So glad I went early, I was able to park in the National Trust car park, really near the entrance. The food festival started at 10am, so first I went to Hardwick Hall and had a cup of tea and some very nice shortbread. Then at about quarter past i walked back to the food festival. It was already very crowded, its certainly a very popular event. I spent a couple of hours there looking around the stalls, that's when I could get anywhere near them. Mostly I seemed to be doing battle with pushchairs, wheelchairs and killer back packs. I did however get everything I know Paul would love - HECK sausages, a variety of Lymm Farm cheeses, chutney, oatmeal biscuits, Ceylon Orange Pekoe tea (for my mum), curry spices and a large slice of red velvet cake. Not a bad haul for one so little.....there were times I wished I was a food taller, it was hard to get near some of the stalls or to see what was on them. I did also watch a cookery demonstration, where the chef made herb crusted salmon with a tomato, cream and vodka sauce (the sauce did not look visually appealing I have to say). The best part of the day was sitting on a hay bale eating a steak pie (delish!!) while listening to live music. I love people watching, and there were certainly enough people there to make it entertaining. By this time the sky was looking grey and rain looked imminent so i decided to head back to the car, drop off my shopping and then head to Hardwich Hall to explore the house. We have been before, but its a beautiful house and everytime you go there is something new to see - amazing tapestries, beautiful furniture and amazing artwork. I loved being there surrounded by such history - what a wonderful and at times tragic tale Hardwick has to tell. While Bess of Hardwick was a woman ahead of her time, and furnished a house to rival a palace, her grand daughter Arbella viewed Hardwick as a prison, albeit a beautiful one - like a bird in a gilded cage.
As I left Hardwick, the rain finally started to fall, never heavy but still wet enough to be annoying. Luckily though I had missed it, and was on my way home.
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