Cheery's path to fulfilment - finishing the DIY, looking after myself, appreciating the garden 🌻

Mrs_Money_Penny

Have have a lovely day. Sounds busy you’ll sleep well tonight x

Greying_Pilgrim

Cheery - when you go to the EH sites, ask for the audio guides - they are little hand held devices that you can use (and I think there is the option to use your headphones with them, if you have some).  They are free, and you get prompts as you go around to start/stop them - plus they often contain additional information about what you're looking at/what would have happened at certain points in history.  Very informative, and at no extra cost to visitors.

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

Good tip, thank you! 

Already regretting buying guides - I suspect i probably could have found an old one in a charity shop before I went... and I could have certainly waited to see if the first was worth it before buying the second, but, as usual, I am being a fuss pot! 

Oddly enough I slept pretty well last night once I'd nodded off - was quite warm, really didn't need the hot water bottle 😂😂

beanielou

Enjoy your day. 

Cheery_Daff

Thanks beanie 😊

I have had a fantastic day! 😃 One historical site this morning, then another this afternoon, walking 3 miles each way between them on a long distance footpath. Just about had time to do everything 😂😂 

Greying - thank you for the audio tour tip. They were brilliant! I'd refused the one when we went to the Welsh castle a few weeks ago, but I'll always take them from now on, they really enhanced the experience 😊

This afternoon's place was spectacular, very impressive, I was quite taken with it (possibly because I'd walked there while listening to an old radio adaptation of the final Lord of the Rings book, so it felt like I was arriving somewhere mythical 😂😂) Anyway, no idea why I'm being so secretive about it - it was Rievaulx Abbey. Definitely worth a visit in my opinion.



The receptionist was a lovely young man who persuaded me to take up an annual EH membership through a combination of general excitement, charm, wit, refunding both entry fees for today, and the offer of either 20% off or an extra 3 months (I went for 20% off).

So I paid £57 for the year - but I've had refunded the £19 odd I paid for today, meaning only an extra around £37. He also recommended I visit Brodsworth Hall on the way home, which I will do - entry for that would be £14.50 even booking in advance, so that, plus a visit to Haddon Hall (which costs an extortionate £26 to get in) will cover my annual membership and anything else is a bonus 😊

Other spends today:

* £5 insoles for my boots - they're not walking boots, just my normal knee high knocking about in boots, rather old now. An excellent idea to get cushioning insoles before I set off as the path was very stony and my poor feet are feeling it now even with the insoles!

* £9 lunch

* £12 two lots of tea and cake

* £5.50 cider at the hostel 😂 You have to buy on site rather than bringing in. What I actually wanted was a bath, but in the absence of that, a shower and some cider had to do 😂

Oh, and guidebooks for each place. They're substantial - 50 odd pages each and very nicely done. I've enjoyed reading them this evening, and they provided info over and above the audio guide so that was worth knowing, although I probably won't fork out elsewhere. I don't feel the need to keep them though, so I'll donate them to the hostel in the morning - both places are very close so hopefully others will benefit 😊

Right, I am utterly worn out, and despite the D of E group chattering in the dining room below my room, I strongly suspect I'll be asleep within 2 mins of turning my light off... 😂

Tomorrow will bring a walled garden (I've got a discount with the 2 for 1 card I got from the Gardeners World magazine earlier in the year) then this other EH place on the way home 😊 Mr Cheery, as expected, has been rather caught up in his musical stuff and the place is apparently a tip 😂 but he did remember to put the recycling out (although whether they will collect it is another matter, I've had to report a missed collection the last couple of times - we don't put it out for a couple of weeks and they clearly decide we've died and don't need a collection any more 🙄😂). 

Oh, and the plumber came this morning to replace the flue. He'd told me a couple of hundred quid - and has given Mr Cheery a bill for £400 😱 £200 parts, £200 labour, so it's possible i misunderstood.  Mr C checked we'd paid him for the service last week and the emergency work in January and he said no - but I did pay that the same day he did the service, so need to check he's not charging twice for the same thing.

Anyway, tedious life admin can wait!

Cheery_Daff

Oops, I'm getting my old halls mixed up 🙄 Haddon Hall isn't English Heritage, it's Hardwick Hall (which is £19 so still expensive). Haddon Hall is £26 - but I do get 2 for 1 entry with the Gardeners World card anyway so hopefully I can persuade a friend to tag along for a half price trip! 

Greying_Pilgrim

Cheery

2 things;

a)  EH membership also gives you free car parking at most EH places (you get a card sticker with your membership bumpf)  Either you will have one in a 2024/25 handbook (did you get given one?) or it will come through the post.  If you were given a handbook, attach the car sticker to your windscreen as it will immediately start saving you £3 car parking charge.  Also, once you're settled ensure you apply (via your online membership portal) for a second car sticker so that it doesn't matter which car you turn up in. But you do have to be displaying a sticker to get the free car parking.

**Edited** - actually, the parking stickers are on a separate sheet, not in the handbook for EH - I was getting mixed up with NT, where they are in the handbook.  Soz!  

b)  **EDITED** - I was talking utter rubbish here about Haddon hall and Hardwick Hall - it's the 'new' and 'old' Hardwick Hall's that English heritage and NT have come to an access agreement over - NOT Haddon Hall.  Sorry!  Haddon Hall is purely NT.  Sorry again!

So glad you've had a great adventure thus far.  Boo to the plumber bill tho.  I remember you mentioning that in your diary a couple of weeks ago, that you hadn't paid him at the time, but you were paying him then, to get all ship-shape and  before he did the next work for you.  Def. worth a check.

Greying X

Elisheba

Sounds like a lovely little break, Cheery. Before silly dog I did enjoy a good YHA trip, but as you say their private rooms leave a wee bit to be desired! I've just caught up with your diary after a break from the boards. I love the idea of having a whole month off - is that just because your in education and need to take it off, or was it a deliberate decision?

Greying_Pilgrim

Cheery - I have edited my previous post as the info I wrote was incorrect.  Sorry!

Greying X

themadvix

Can I edit again, a bit off topic, but maybe useful for someone reading? Nearly all NT car parks now require you to scan your membership card at the parking machine and get a free ticket now. This ensures a) people aren’t just passing out the stickers (not sure if they still do them even - less plastic not to) and b) they can see what is being used.

 Sounds like you’re having a fantastic time Cheery! Definitely do not think at all about the mess/tedious admin while you’re out enjoying yourself!