Borneo, Haddon Hall, Debbie’s 50th, Eden Day Spa…

Our daughter Ruth is back from Borneo, having had a wonderful time. She has promised to write a short account for our blog, so watch this space – we won’t pre-empt her news. Here is a photo of her waiting to dine at the captain’s table!

We can’t compete with cruises but last Friday we enjoyed a splendid evening with some fellow DRCS friends and supporters, at Haddon Hall. Matlock Rotary organised an ‘Evening Extravaganza at Haddon Hall” with all proceeds being shared between three local charities, one of which was the DRCS (Derwent Rural Counselling Service). The dress theme was ‘Dress to Impress’ and you must admit we did pretty welll?

To our disappointment most the other guests had obviously not taken the theme to heart but we felt pleased – and just a teeny bit smug – that we had! We haven’t yet heard how much the Matlock Rotary are going to dinate to DRCS but our party – all involved DRCS supporters – were very glad to support the event.

Throughout the weekend we have had the delightful company of our daughter Ruthie hot from North Borneo via London where she works, and Douglas and Beverley, two very good friends who used, a long time ago, to live in Parwich but Douglas’s work has taken him from here to South Carolina and now North Yorkshire!

They too were here for the weekend, the excuse being to help our friend Debbie ‘American Deb’ celebrate her 50th. Of course our Australian contingent, Sara, Derek and Tom, couldn’t be here nor Nick who was working all weekend; Allie Webster flew back from the states just in time to be at her mother’s birthday celebrations, barely – but successfully – escaping the hurricane .

Apprehensive?

Totally relaxed!

The final little bit of personal activity to report is a trip today to the Eden Day Spa at Hoar Cross Hall with Debbie, Allie and five other of Debbie’s friends, to continue to celebrate her 50th birthday with a day of self-indulgent pampering ‘treatments’ and swimming, saunas, steam rooms, massages,  facials even ‘nail treatments’ etc.

I hasten to reassure, we didn’t all do everything but we had the greatest fun and finished the day feeling totally self-indulged and relaxed (and quite exhausted, strangely!).

Thus ends our August Bank Holiday weekend news roundup: not a typical weekend by any stretch of the imagination!