East Staffordshire

Not a hitch catching the train 🚆 from Kings Cross International station 🚉 So glad I wasn’t heading to Paris on Eurostar: the lines were so long and there were a lot of angry 😤 Parisians …karma I say! 😜😇🐌 Sorry 😞 Not sorry 🐸

I had a reserved seat 💺 which was a pleasant surprise because I didn’t do that when booking 🤷🏻‍♂️ Obviously not complaining though…

You know what? This trip took a shitload of reading, researching & revision. I spent hours comparing & mapping, googling and clarifying. I enjoyed every minute of it and it has paid off in spades ♠️ rewarding me with probably the best and most comprehensive, enjoyable and exciting holiday I have EVER had! I’m really chuffed it has been so full & fun. Not just jam-packed with fun activities but plenty of downtime & mindfulness too! 🕺🏼

Probably the only aspect I may have missed could be the “Queer” element. Yes, I could’ve spent more time on gay 🌈 apps or hanging around bars, but my life experience has shown me that often (not always) leads to time wasted and hollow emptiness so I don’t regret that for a minute! The couple of times I did partake was on my own terms and with a joyful, inclusive heart ❤️ 🧡💛💚💙💜 Many friends have questioned this aspect and I remain firm in my belief that my holiday has been no less enjoyable without it! To quote a bigger Diva than me: “…I am what I am…I bang my own drum 🥁 some think it’s noise, I think it’s pretty!” ✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻

The train 🚂 ride up to the Peak District was so comfortable and relaxing. Not crowded and no screaming kids or annoying people. I’d recommend it to anyone. Thanks 🙏 so much to Steven for introducing me to the App TRAINLINE. It has been invaluable in not only booking but extremely easy and efficient to organise refunds or changes also. It even organises the absolute best value ticket 🎫 Sometimes that may be a split ticket and you don’t need to understand what it means you need only be grateful for the internal program that works it out for you! I’ve used it in Italy as well and worked just as well there when actual station 🚉 staff were either not available or just assholes! 😜🐷

Steven was waiting for me at the railway station when I arrived which was lovely. It was so nice to catch up with him and Richard again. I was so excited to see the English countryside. It was so cute and beautiful. The landscape, the buildings, the history in everything was amazing. I could feel another element of this adventure building just by looking at the bunting and the flags all hanging out to celebrate the Jubilee! 🥰🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

Just look at the knitted 🧶 ‘caps’ for the post boxes the locals have made 🧶for the Jubilee celebrations! How cute is the one representing the Queen and all the corgis? Reminded me of my grandmother and how she used to knit the nativity scenes and jumpers for us. So country, so cute ❤️❤️❤️

Ashbourne was instantly welcoming & adorable! We had dinner in one of the local pubs (George & the Dragon 🐉) which is at least 300 years old, as are most of the buildings, or older. I tried many local beers 🍻 and I finally tried scampi 🍤 with mushy peas and home-made chips 🍟 So delicious! The people in the three pubs we went to were very friendly and I instantly felt ‘homely’🍺🥰 and at home 🏠

Richard and Steven’s house is lovely and extremely comfortable. It is like a little slice of luxury in the country! I’ve always loved the English countryside and this afternoon confirmed that! 🐄🌳🌻⛰🏠🇬🇧

They hold a football game where the shops and businesses board up their windows and hundreds of people come from all around to play this game within the entire town. To be honest, I still don’t quite understand it but it sounds very intriguing! I’ll learn more tomorrow!

Very grateful 😇 for this opportunity to discover more of the UK 🇬🇧 through the very fortunate coincidence of making friends with Steven a few years back through the social group I ran prior to Covid has come full circle to allow me this exciting new experience 🕺🏼❤️🇬🇧🥰🙏💪🏻✊🏻Les mer