March 17, 2026 by Mike Madden
Churches, Chillies And Chocolate
Peak Ramblings
Our regular walks around the hamlets of the Peak District took us to Great Longstone, a small village bordering Little Longstone and Hassop. It seemed quite affluent, with a lot of large manor houses and two pubs. I remember playing cricket there 40 years ago, though I could not quite remember where the cricket ground was.
There is a small old-fashioned village shop and a picturesque church, but not much else (apart from the two pubs). We headed for the church, and things took an odd turn. A lady walking her dog noticed Star Of Lady M on my jacket and wondered if it was for Star Of Lady Manners, the school just outside Bakewell. We explained that it was a racehorse and her ears pricked up. She was a racing fan, but mainly National Hunt. Then she invited us inside the church for a coffee.
Beware Of Ministers Bearing Cakes
There we met a walking group who were all very friendly, and I was asked to hand out cakes and serve coffee. The dog looked ambitiously at the cake. We sat around in the choir stalls discussing Whaley Bridge, the dam incident, and the difference between upstate New York and the city centre (one of the walkers was from New York). After a while our hostess handed out some pages. Three of the guests then read out a religious poem, a passage from the old testament and a passage from the new testament. The dog looked around intrigued, wondering when it would get some treats.
Sadly, it didn’t, and after an appropriate time we made our excuses and left. On the way out we met the lady with the dog again, and she recommended The Crispin for Sunday lunch. We made a mental note, with the Pack Horse at Little Longstone and the Eyre Arms at Hassop also on the list, both in the vicinity.
The Youlgreave Clock
The following week we went to Youlgreave and marvelled at the sheer number of churches in the village. Most of them seem to be methodist, with a few other denominations mentioned.
We were intrigued by a huge monument in the square, and I guessed that the numbers on the face indicated that it was an early example of a digital clock. Fortunately, a local woman put us right. It was actually where the townsfolk came to collect their water.
After a brief stroll around the graveyard we had lunch in a friendly cafe where I bought some local honey. On the way home we took a ridiculous detour because Sally wanted to see a stone that had faces carved into it. It was less than spectacular.
Sunday Lunches
We were quite looking forward to an 80th birthday party at The Anglers Rest in Millers Dale, another Peak District pub that promised a hearty Sunday lunch. The reality was quite different. The choice seemed to be roast beef or roast beef, and the food was average at best. It was certainly a friendly pub, but for Sunday lunch I would go elsewhere.
Which brought us to The Crispin at Great Longstone. This came highly recommended, so we made the rather long journey to celebrate Sally’s birthday. Again it was a very friendly pub, and nothing seemed to be too much trouble. The food was ok, with good portions of meat and potatoes, though the vegetables were a bit sparse. One big positive for me was that they had proper English mustard, not something out of a sachet. After the main course I had Bakewell pudding with custard which was excellent. Zac had hot chocolate fudge cake that he described as “the best ever”. High praise indeed. We would certainly go back, if only for the chocolate cake on the bar which Zac didn’t spot until he was already full.
We might not have gone to The Crispin, as Sally and myself were planning to visit either Monyash or Hurdlow on the actual day of her birthday. We left Buxton, but by the time we got to Pomeroy the snow was coming down so we turned back. Everything happens for a reason!
Village Variety
Next up on our travels was Longnor. This was an interesting stroll around, but I had an ulterior motive as Sally’s cousin came up from Kent to surprise her at one of the pubs. Not much more to say about Longnor, though the chippy comes highly recommended. Sadly we did not get to try it.
A week or so later we headed to Hartington. This is another very friendly village, and we spent quite a while talking to one of the clergymen. He was a big fan of Sunday lunch, with the Church at Chelmorton, the Bull’s Head at Foolow and the Pack Horse at Little Longstone all high up on his list of favourites, The Pack Horse was even worth the walk down from the Monsal Head if there were no parking spaces. Interesting that he did not mention anywhere in Hartington!
Its All Relative
One of the reasons for visiting many of the Peak District villages is to trace Sally’s ancestry. In Stoney Middleton there were very strong ties. We started in Eyam where we searched for what would have been the house of one of her relatives. We didn’t find the definitive building, which may have long since disappeared, but we did make a note of the many plaques commemorating the plague and the lives that it took.
Just down the road in Stoney Middleton we looked for Towngate. This seems to have disappeared, though there is a good description in a guide book of where it might have been. We asked a local who pointed us in the direction of a green door. Nothing to do with Shakin’ Stevens, so after a brief detour to the church and the Roman baths that may not actually be Roman, we headed up the hill to the mysterious green door.
Behind it there was a cobblers, and a lady sat at a desk somewhat startled at our intrusion. Sally looked forward to informing her that they were related, but she was not actually a member of the family that ran the shoemakers. However, she did have some extracts from the census hidden in her desk. Progress was made, but Sally would have to do some more research before she returned. When in Rome, as they say, and in Stoney Middleton the Toll Bar chippy is a must. We ordered fish and chips, and although it was expensive the portion was huge. It was also warm enough to sit outside which is always a bonus.
Breakfast And Baking
Back at home the kitchen has been busy. I tried a chocolate drizzle cake, which is the same as a lemon drizzle cake but made with chocolate. It is a lot more gooey than the lemon variety, and I am going to have to work at getting it out of the loaf tin.
I also made a full English breakfast. I was rather pleased with it, but there were complaints. Apparently the sausages should NOT have been put on opposite sides of the plate. They should always be together!
I made a Festival gateau, though the custard went slightly over which made it thicker than ideal. It was still devoured in just a couple of days. Of course, making custard means egg yolks, so I had egg whites to spare. Next up it was meringue with ricotta and blueberries This was surprisingly popular, with the savoury cheese offsetting the sweetness of sugary meringue. Definitely one to experiment with.
Chilli jam seems to have a growing fan club, so I made an extra large batch. Goes great with cheese, burgers, and especially cheeseburgers!
Of course, with Ole being back (see below) biscuits were a must. Chocolate digestives disappeared in double quick time, so now we have chocolate chip cookies.
From The Library
In publishing news I have completed the book of history and memorabilia for Whaley Bridge Cricket Club. It is rather expensive on Amazon and the Cricket Club get very little out of it. However, if you want one I can get authors copies at an advantageous price!
The sequel to From Tattersalls To Triumphs now has a working title of Win, Lose Or Draw (Everything Happens For A Reason). It is currently being edited and should be available in April.
Horse Matters
And speaking of horses, I received the contract from Tally-Ho Stud confirming the cover of Star Of Lady M by Starman. Things are starting to get real as she prepares for her career as a broodmare.
Her first cover did not quite work out as she ovulated several days late. This is perfectly normal, and she is being prepared for her next visit.
Meanwhile, at Willow Farm, MMM Racing paid a visit to see Percy’s Daydream. Our four-year-old filly is certainly looking a picture and should be ready to return to the racecourse in late April or early May.
Watch out for news of a potential new syndicate, with a very low entry price, later in the year.
Dubai Defeated
With Star Of Lady M off to pastures new we clearly would not have a runner at the Dubai World Cup (mad that this was even a possibility!) However, we decided it might be a chance to get some early sunshine alongside world class racing. It was all booked, and we looked forward to it. Unfortunately, things conspired against us. An MMM Racing member messaged at the end of February to tell me that our hotel was on fire, and as tensions in the middle east escalated it was clear that our trip was in jeopardy. The FCDO advised against all but essential travel, and KLM cancelled our outbound flight. The Dubai Racing Club kindly refunded our tickets (which were officially non-refundable), and now Emirates are offering refunds on our return flight. Just waiting for our accommodation to be cancelled so that we don’t have to claim on insurance.
Instead of the bright lights and blazing sunshine, we have decided on a day trip to Mount Coote to see Star Of Lady M. Very cheap flights from Manchester to Shannon which is just a 45 minute drive away. She might even be in foal by then.
The Adventures Of Zac
Zac returned to university after Christmas and once again avoided opening his results for a few weeks. When he did open them he excelled, though his course has now taken an interesting turn as he gets involved in more team work!
The team work began with mandatory attendance for five consecutive days in Sheffield. His car gave up the ghost and it coincided with a week when the train line was closed for repairs. So, he insured himself to drive my car to ensure he could get there.
On day 1 he commented about the difference between my powerful diesel engine and his Ford Fiesta, which worried me a bit. On day 2 he called to say that he had gone through a Ulez zone, and would he be fined? A quick Google search showed that cars are not affected by Sheffield’s Ulez, so that was ok. Meanwhile, I drove his car a couple of times and I was a bit alarmed when it started fish-tailing in 4th gear. I eventually dropped it at the garage and they were able to fix the problem. Zac seemed unperturbed, admitting that he had encountered the fault but didn’t know what it was.
Anyway, at the end of the week I was glad to get my car back, though I did comment to Zac that it now smelt of MacDonalds. He corrected me, pointing out that it was actually Greggs.
Anyone Need a Tow?
I have had my car since 2015, and it has given me very few problems. A couple of weeks ago I drove it to Worksop, where I met a man with a van as we collected some bar furniture. At Whaley Bridge cricket ground we prepared to unload, but the van got stuck. The man with the van asked if I could tow him out of the mud, and I was puzzled.
I didn’t have a tow bar, and I wasn’t sure if my car would actually be able to pull a van. The man then uncovered my spare, next to which was a small packet that I had never seen before. It contained several tools, including a temporary towbar. On the back bumper there was a disk that could be removed with a bit of persuasion, and then he screwed the towbar into this previously unseen hole. I towed him out with very little fuss, and I was quite proud of my achievements. I have been waiting in vain for more stuck vehicles to pull out of mud, snow or both.
The Wanderer Returns
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world Ole encountered Koalas, wallabies, snakes and sharks before heading to New Zealand. There he met dolphins and hobbits, but it was eventually time to return home. Unfortunately a war broke out, and his flight to Doha was cancelled. Other flights were available, including one that took in Fiji, Los Angeles, New York and Helsinki before getting to Manchester. In the end he opted for the more direct Auckland to Houston, Houston to Atlanta, Atlanta to Manchester. It all went off without a hitch, once he renewed his ESTA that expired some time ago. How our only problem is keeping the fridge full.
Putting On A Wristband….Priceless!
Last weekend we went to watch Nixie at her gymnastic grades event in Sheffield. She did well, though the competitive mums (including her own) questioned the scores to no avail. Anyway, the highlight for me was the man on the door issuing wristbands. He decided that as Sally was entitled to her NHS pension, she qualified as a senior!
A Special Day
Finally, it’s St Patrick’s Day. So breakfast included potato farls, and dinner was beef in Guinness with home made soda bread. This was all finished off with St Patrick’s Day cake, which is possibly my favourite of all cakes.
You can read the previous edition here:-