Late this morning I set off for the Chatsworth estate near Baslow in Derbyshire. On a normal run it takes about half an hour to get there from our house.
I had picked this destination for two reasons. Firstly, I wanted to see the grave of Frederick Cavendish who was assassinated in Dublin in 1882 - you may remember that I recently saw his marble monument in Cartmel Priory and blogged about it here. Secondly, I wanted to take a nice long walk in Chatsworth Park which boasts a thousand acres of pretty countryside.
Missions accomplished, I was back at Clint's boot by three o'clock. I took my shoes out and untied my boots then absentmindedly I shut the boot lid before tying my shoelaces. Bad move! My keys were in the boot along with my backpack and wallet and now the boot was locked along with all four doors.
Oh no! What could I do? I was parked in the estate village of Edensor close to St Peter's Church where three hours earlier I had photographed Frederick Cavendish's grave. No money. No phone numbers. No jacket. I needed to phone home in the hope that Shirley would be in and willing to drive out to Chatsworth with Clint's spare key.
I looked over the adjacent garden wall and there was a silver-haired man kneeling on his lawn, weeding one of his borders with his back turned to me.
I called to him and explained my predicament. Did he have a phone I could use? Very kindly he agreed but at first Shirley did not pick up. Maybe she was out. I tried again ten minutes later. Still no success.
I went back into the church for another look round and there I met a visitor from Virginia, USA. She had primarily come to see the grave of Kathleen Kennedy - sister of JFK. Incidentally, she is buried very close to Frederick Cavendish.
I went back to the elderly man's house to use his phone once again and this time Shirley picked up. She drove into Edensor forty minutes later. In the intervening time I had been chatting with my new friend - Barry. Turns out he had been a greenhouse keeper and gardener at Chatsworth House for over thirty years and as an amateur enthusiast he had developed great knowledge of both bellringing and the maintenance of church bells.
I will be sending him a "thank you" card and a book of postage stamps in gratitude for his willingness to help me out. He even invited me inside his estate cottage for a cup of tea.
I bet Clint and Shirley's car have been laughing their inner tubes off about it and keeping all the neighbours awake. Shirley needs to buy you a lanyard for your birthday.
ReplyDeleteLanyards are my favourite cars!
DeleteNever ever...., well you learnt a lesson. Still, some social interaction made the best of it.
ReplyDeleteIt all turned out well thanks to my new friend Barry.
DeleteI had the same issue just a few minutes ago doing a post on my spot. So I went to the folder on the computer that had the photos, right click the photo, select copy, and then paste it into the Create A Post window. You have to do one at a time but it worked.
ReplyDeleteI just hope this isn't the new way to post.
The problem seems to have fixed itself now Bob.
DeleteI imagine that you make friends everywhere you go, you're just that kind of person. I'm glad things turned out so well. Now if only you had a mobile phone. Hahahahaha
ReplyDeleteThe mobile phone would have also been locked in the car.
DeleteLocking your keys up in the car is maddening. It's your fault so you're mad at yourself. Does it sound like I've been there?
ReplyDeleteBeen there. Done that. Got the T-shirt.
DeleteI'm so glad you got hold of Shirley, you might have had to spend the night away from home with her worrying the whole time.
ReplyDeleteBarry could have given me a bed for the night.
DeleteI know you have always resisted, but you need to get a mobile phone YP and keep it on you. Glad Shirley came riding to the rescue .
ReplyDeleteMy backpack was in the car. My jacket. My wallet. I guess my imaginary phone would have been as well.
DeleteA kind man! I find that most people are kind and friendly when you ask them for help directly and specifically, like in your case to use their phone. Instead, when people are approached for money, they often clam up and pass on, not wanting to support someone (or a cause) that in their eyes is not worth it, or because they do not trust their money to be really used for an honourable purpose.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are beautiful, as always! You had perfect weather for your outing.
The weather was grey at first but then it brightened up.
DeleteOh dear, that sounds very much like a senior moment YP! Thank goodness you found a kindly helper, and Shirley was willing to drive out with Clint's spare key.
ReplyDeleteSomeone will point out that a mobile phone would have been very useful in such a situation, but it would probably have been locked in the boot with everything else. I know mine would!
What I would have done with the mobile phone would have been the same as what I did with Barry's house phone and yes - it would have been locked in the car too.
DeleteLucky you, having a look inside an estate cottage.
DeleteI am afraid I only saw the downstairs Jean. Barry keeps it scrupulously neat and tidy. His wife died from MND ten years ago.
DeleteI've long wanted to see Chatsworth but we haven't done it yet. Are dogs allowed? In any case, hopefully our visit will involve less drama than yours! Maybe since you often drive into remote areas you need one of those little magnetic boxes that conceals a key on the underside of your car? Do people still use those?
ReplyDeleteI don't think I will be repeating this mistake in a hurry Steve. Dogs are allowed in Chatsworth Park but not in Chatsworth House. I hope you get to see it one day. You could stay in the village of Baslow and walk to the stately home or get a bus or taxi there from Bakewell where accommodation tends to be more reasonably priced.
DeletePS: If in Bakewell, you must have a bakewell tart. It is what I was told, and I didn't argue with it. I am so very glad that I didn't. I also got marched right out of the tea house and got a stern lecture about tips. I left a tip, and my daughter was SO upset. "WE believe in paying people a living wage."
DeleteI didn't know Bakewell was a place. I always thought it was just advice for the chef! "Bake this tart well!"
DeleteThe kindness of strangers who become friends for a moment in time
ReplyDeleteIt's like a baton to pass along as I probably said before.
DeleteSmashing photos. I can't think of many phone numbers because they are stored on my mobile phone.
ReplyDeleteDo they have "999" in Ireland?
DeleteGood old Barry.
ReplyDeleteI think I made his day less lonesome.
DeleteI lost my keys once and had to call my son to save me. Since then, I keep my keys in my pocket when I am out hiking so they are always with me. And I always wear something with 2 pockets when hiking - one pocket keys and one pocket cellphone!
ReplyDeleteI thought a cellphone was something you gave to prisoners in the state penitentiary.
DeleteOuch! I have locked myself out of a vehicle a number of times but none in the past decade or so. But that is thanks to technology. My car will only annoyingly beep at me and not lock if I try to lock it with a key inside.
ReplyDeleteI wish that mine had that facility Ed but this is the first time I have made this mistake.
DeleteDo you know anything about the Russian cottage in Chatsworth Park ?
ReplyDeleteYes I do. "The Cottage was built following a gift of a model of a Russian Farm to the 6th Duke of Devonshire in 1855 from the brother of Tsar Nicholas of Russia. The Tsar and the 6th Duke had become friends following the Duke’s visit to Russia in 1816 when he served as the British Ambassador to the Coronation.
DeleteAn exchange visit in 1844 was planned but unfortunately, the Tsar had to cancel his visit. Instead, the Duke was sent an intricate model of a Russian farmhouse as a reminder and keepsake, from which became the inspiration to build Russian Cottage."
Yikes. But for all the exasperation of the day, you really had some fine interactions with good folk.
ReplyDeleteYes. It all made for an even better day Debby.
DeleteGood people are everywhere.
ReplyDeleteEven in Alberta, Canada Mr Stewart!
DeleteAh, with the photos added I enjoyed the second read even more.
ReplyDeleteI've just been looking at a photo of some Parasols that we found on this day a few years back. They are a real favourite of ours. They are Lady M's preference.
ReplyDelete