Old and New England with Scotland.The cripples on tour.

[drron]

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Now this group of OAPs waiting for the bus didn't realise how important they would become for me.I crossed the road and was standing on the footpath about where the front of the blue car is taking a photo across the street.This likely lad who has his shirt off and tied around his waist revealing his tattoos comes up to me and says "Cash point" I really didn't know what he was talking about at first but after he said it 3 times I answered "sorry I haven't seen any."He says"No I am taking you to one."
I quickly replied I have never used a cash point.True actually and quickly backed up into that group of older persons and he left.I went back to the car where mrsdrron was waiting.But back to the pics-

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Now I knew times were tough in Britain but surely they could afford to get the Old Bill new quarters!

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It was a lovely fine,warm Sunday.There were crowds at all the places as well as lots of bus tours-we were lucky at the Hathaway house sneaking in between busses.There was also a food and wine festival.With my experience as well we decided now just to get to the hotel a little early.The good and the bad of Britain in a little over an hour.

 

[drron]

Damn you Erkpod.I feel I have to keep up because of your real time reports.Not too bad as this brings me to just being 48 hours behind.
Hilton have been doing pretty well.I really wasn't expecting much but apart from our rooms-long way from lifts when requesting close and pretty lousy views the recognition really isn't that far down from diamond.Here as well as the waters there was a gift basket with nuts and jelly beans,2 free drinks,free wifi and full brekkie in the restaurant-Apart from those on mrsdrron's points they have all been booked at Senior's rates.So the room-

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Note the lovely view.Here there were 2 rooms further away from the lift than ours so an improvement on Swindon.Once again we had dinner in their restaurant.Exactly the same menu as Swindon but a little dearer.We used our free drinks to sample the South African Sav Blanc and a French Chablis.Decided that was our last taste of both.Mrsdrron had a panko crusred salmon-overcooked.I had Haddock,chips and mushy peas.With a glass of Nobilos and a cider-53GBP.We were told that the dining room was open until 10pm but at 8pm they started turning people away.Just as well we like eating early.
Breakfast was quite reasonable.

 

[TomVexille]

Sounds like the lad tried to mug you :shock:

 

[QF WP]

Attempted robbery by Gen Y - taking you to a CashPoint. You were very fortunate, drron. When you said the pensioners were important, I thought your medical experience was going to be called upon, so got a surprise.

 

[parsonstrish]

I still don't understand meaning of cash point. Going over Nov & will b travelling by car, is it something I need to be aware of?

Enjoying your tr, as always. Thinking of mrs.dr.ron & all that walking n outlets,etc, a real inspiration.

 

[drron]

Cash point just means ATM.

 

[Princess Fiona]

What an unpleasant experience
Apart from that loving the photos, looks like you are having a spell of great weather !

 

[Flashback]

What an unpleasant experience
Apart from that loving the photos, looks like you are having a spell of great weather !

So clearly not in LON as there is plenty of rain here! :mrgreen:

 

[drron]

Monday and the skies are overcast but at least dry.We go through Warwick to the Royal Pump House.200 years old and to pump water to the surrounding spas.An interesting city Warwick-

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And an odd couple-

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Then made our way out of Warwick towards Coventry-

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[drron]

So to Coventry and once again Google maps and tourist maps bear no relation to the actual road system.Fortunately Coventry Cathedral stands out.

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Didn't find the statue of Lady Godiva and getting out of Coventry none of the road numbers added up so I just headed the way I thought we should go and miraculously came to directions to the Battle of Bosworth which was on my original list but not on the trimmed down version.So that next.

 

[drron]

So here we are out at the Battlefield surrounded by farmland and the parking lot is a pay and display.Well I didn't.Left mrsdrron in the disabled part-no one else there and I went in.I made a good decision deleting it from my itinerary.530 years after the battle and obviously the place looks different.Artist's impressions of the original battlefield had no trees.So here it is-

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The rain then started so we made our way to the Hampton Inn Derby.Now although we had the directions this was awfully hard to find.We got to the loading zone they talked about but it was outside a Holiday Inn.Turns out it shares the building with the Hampton Inn whose entrance is at least 50 metres from the road.The reception is on the top floor.So I go up and check in as I went out to find the place.Another night on mrsdrron's points but they allowed me to checkin for her.You basically get everything anyway at a Hampton.Diamond would hopefully give you a river view though.At least our room was reasonably close to the lift.

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So just a shower which is detachable and the amenities in the multi use containers.And note our beautiful view!

 

[RB]

Gooday Ron, reading this and notice you are online. Enjoying your report as usual. Currently in Spain but leaving it til I get home to post a report

 

[drron]

So the view from reception the next morning when checking out-

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After checkin we decided to head out to the Denby pottery but got caught in a great traffic jam so gave up.The good news though was we got back to the hotel a fair bit later.Now you park in the nearby Westfield mall and the hotel validates your ticket at a cost of 7.50GBP.However at present there was a special on at the car park-2GBP for overnight after 6pm.I didn't get my ticket validated.
It is still light to ~ 9pm so when we got back to the hotel I went for a walk around town taking photos and then was to find something for dinner.The restaurant downstairs says it has Italian,American,Japanese,Mexican,Chinese and Indian cuisine.Not surprisingly it rates at about number 270 on Trip Advisor.Sadly no other place close rates higher.So to the pics-

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I came across this restaurant which appears to be a chain.The name certainly put me off.

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[drron]

Hi RB-hopefully you are having better weather.Poured here today and tomorrow's forecast no better.
So back to the back streets of Derby

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Then I came across this-

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[drron]

Outside a theatre I found this-

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I have no idea whether I have seen someone famous or not.but lots of fellows in penguin suits and women dressed to the nines.Anyway,back to Derby-

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And even Florence Nightingale gets a mention-

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So by now it was time to find dinner.Now there is a foodcourt at the Westfield and some advertised they were open until 2000.However all those were closed at 1900.I noticed an ad for Pizza Express upstairs.Asked if they do takeaway.Yes but you will be waiting an hour,No I wont.Then noticed across the way Wagamama.Not busy and take away Pad Thai and pork ramen within 10 minutes.And at 18.75GBP probably our best meal yet.

 

[markis10]

I have no idea whether I have seen someone famous or not.but lots of fellows in penguin suits and women dressed to the nines..

Its Nev Pierce, editor at Empire magazine Empire Magazine | Film Reviews, Movie News and Interviews and Derby University Vice Chancellor John Coyne. The event is the degree film night showcasing films done by the students.

 

[drron]

Tuesday and I went up to the 4th floor and had brekkie-actually much better than the usual Hampton fare with all the usual hot choices apart from an egg station.I then took some yoghurt and a muffin down to mrsdrron.
After that I checked out.The hotel will validate your Westfield parking ticket for 7.50GBP.However we had got back late and at the moment there was a 2GBP special for overnight.needless to say I didn't get my ticket validated.Mrsdrron had to wait downstairs until I got the car.Then we headed to Royal Crown Derby which is quite close to the Hampton-

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Then it was to Denby pottery which was just a little detour.It really is the village of Denby and farmlands surround it.A huge place though.

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We then drove to Chatsworth house.Most of it a really beautiful drive especially through Matlock.We stopped there and picked up some supplies from Sainsburys.
Next-the Chatsworth Estate.

 

[zig]

drron glad to hear that you survived the mugging attempt unscathed. Enjoying the TR and photos as always.

 

[get me outta here]

I love those owl tiles at Denby.

 

[jukebox333]

As usual, really enjoying your report Drron - esp the photos. Safe travels to you and MrsDrron.