"The Green Light"

Blessed with decent weather we settle in to life back on the farm 

Some are more settled than others and its easy to wander to the local of an afternoon!

After a very favourable consultation at the hospital Nina is told to get out there and do her stuff ("the green light")

Thats two crutches, a windy trail, one brave girl and a hell of a lot of grit and determination to try to grab back her former life

Very painful and of course slow progress but she's out there doing it. Some days far too much tbh leaving her in a wrecked state but all good for the muscles and bone growth

I take tea down to the brothers one day and get involved in dry stone wall repairs for a couple of hours

Back in to my late evening walking regime sadly still alone but listening to podcasts and planning future bike related tours keeps the spirits up

Part way through an evening's fun at Baz's van

The bike is loaded up and taken out in the Peaks to further improve my skills. No problems stopping for coffee and chatting with fellow bikers but really missing Nina on the back

She's been a real star sending me out on the bike and any opportunity is readily taken up

Her idea at this stage is to concentrate on building up her leg strength, follow the physiotherapy programme which includes visits to QMC and hopefully walk with the use of a stick

This is some way off but she's getting there. Any attempt at mounting the bike will be done when she can confidently stand on the busted leg and apply full weight. There's a set way of getting on and this needs to be done confidently come the day. The main issue we have is her muscles having suffered impact trauma and of course being unused for such a long time are weak. Her intensive physio will hopefully improve the situation

We drop in to a routine of going out most days armed with a flask and sandwiches and drive up to the High Peak Trail

Some beautiful scenery along the route of the old railway

A 'Walkers' lunch

Several car parks along the many miles of trails means we can visit different parts to break up the days

Not all hard graft....many evenings are spent relaxing on the sunny bench overlooking our temporary home

Making memories again but in a different way I suppose

Nina's mobile garden of which she's very proud!

Eat Out, Camp Out, Fly Out

August arrives and the Government 'Eat Out to Help Out" scheme kicks in

Either a cunning plan to pacify the nation during the kids' holidays or a huge folly who really knows but with a whole load of establishments taking on the deal we decide to indulge...  

The Gate, a local pub is our first outing and sees us eating evening meals at lunchtime bizarrely

Nice food and obviously cracking value

Would we return on another full price day and avoid the hoards seeking cheap meals and thus fall in to the government's way of thinking?....well yes actually as a table is booked for the following Friday evening when friends Simon and Mandy join us for a meal

"Who eats three eggs?" was a question asked of me on Instagram from Mick Byrne and the answer is ME!

A really nice bellyful courtesy of Little Lisa's Cafe in Clowne one day whilst killing time waiting for Nina finishing off at the hairdressers

Simon and Mandy arrive sporting a large box of Bradfield Brewery beers and stay a few days near us in their T4 camper

Always welcome and particularly so bearing goodies 👍

A few very pleasant days spent in their company again with much 'Fat Chewed' and the world put to rights

Loads of subject matter to keep us going and so much beer!

Within an hour of Simon and Mandy leaving Kev arrives for the weekend bringing along Alf his son

First time they'd tried the camping lark and brilliant to see them both having great fun together

Very soon after the tent is up Kev says Alf can't wait for a ride on the bike

He's after a scrambler bless him but looks comfortable on this tbh

A very careful trot around the local villages and Alf is buzzing....

Happy campers...

Gina gets involved in fire starting and along with Baz we all have a very pleasant evening doing kid's things allegedly in the open air

Next day Nina stays at the RV doing girly things and the boys are off exploring

Treasure Island was located some time later at The Jug and Glass in Lea

We bid Kev and Alf farewell knowing how much the lad enjoyed his camping trip with his dad. I have to say we've never met such a switched on polite kid like Alf who we thoroughly enjoyed having stay with us. Mature for his young age and possessing far more nonce that Kev and me put together😀

Next day we board a flight to Belfast with Martyn and visit Nina's sister near the Republican border in Strabane

Masks are now the flavour of 2020 and obviously essential on the flight and in the terminals

Not too long and the pilgrimage to the dark stuff is done

Whilst there we take in Derry

The Antrim Coast Road

and Carrickfergus