This post was originally named ‘a Brilliant Time in Bradwell’ but what with one hospital and another, I couldn’t quite bring myself to do it.

It felt like a long, hard slog from our post-Christmas break to our post-Easter break. But nevertheless, it was worth it to know that we had 2 whole weeks off, and 10 days in Derbyshire, which is one of our favourite places.

We arrived in a village called Bradwell on Saturday afternoon in 2 cars (more on that to follow) and had our usual hunt for the cottage itself and then the key safe. But we soon were inside and found a cosy, comfy cottage which was just big enough for the three (and a half) of us.

We quickly decided that we’d have a day off church on Sunday and go on a steam train instead! It was a beautiful sunny day and the half an hour drive to Rowsley Station felt like nothing at all. I put on Starlight express and sang most of the way, explaining the plot to Nathan as we went. We then got the red steam train to Matlock where we spent a wonderful fortnight last year. The sun shone as we played in the park and we even found a minature train to ride on! We travelled home in the sunshine after a gorgeous afternoon.

Now, Monday was quite different. We had a trip into Bakewell, which was as beautiful as ever. However, we were very much two on Monday and I had the thought ‘8 whole days until she’s back at nursery! How will we survive?!’

The redeeming features of the day were a walk to the local wool shop, Woolful, a trip to the park and Nathan’s spag bol.

On Tuesday we went to Eyam, the village where the people quarantined themselves when they caught the plague. It was a brave and selfless act, and one inspired by a sermon! The vicar said we are here and here we will stay, greater love has nobody than to lay down their life for their friends, or words to that effect. What a preach! I can’t ever imagine having the courage to preach something like that.

At the museum, there was dressing up and Sophia donned a cap, waistcoat and apron. She didn’t really see herself as the plague girl she was supposed to be, but instead thought she was a baker and sang ‘pat-a-cake’ all the way round the museum! Not their usual background music, I’m sure…

Wednesday was a day of toddler swim in Bakewell and exploring Tideswell. There wasn’t really much open in Tideswell apart from the pub, which served lovely food, and a beautiful church. The church, however, had a sign in it which, for me, encapsulates all that is wrong with the Church of England.

I mean, what?! Here’s a church, trying to be the heart of the town and a warm space for their community, and they literally aren’t allowed to be. It’s a big old listed building, so there will be rules that govern what changes can be made to the space. There are two sides to every story, of course, but it seems that the Church of England red tape is blocking this church from having a working heating system. How disheartening for the worshipping community and people who give of their time and money to make the church run.

On Thursday, we had a lazy morning and the Nathan went off in his car to do the rehearsal for Saturday’s wedding in Cheshire. Me and Soph entertained ourselves for a bit and then drove to Matlock to see my friend from Uni, Rosie. We shared hot chocolate, cheesy chips and churros and when it stopped raining, we headed for the park. It was here that things went downhill.

We were, once again, playing in Sophia’s favourite playpark. She was, once again, pretending to run a cafe (or caffee as she calls it) at the bottom of the climbing frame. There was another child crawling through the tunnel behind her. She turned, tripped over said child’s feet, and smacked her head on the corner of the squared climbing frame leg. Initially, it didn’t seem worse than any other trip. I scooped her up and held her to me. It was only when I looked at her face and I saw the blood running from her head to her chin that I realised how bad it was.

Rosie was amazing. We mopped Sophia up with babywipes until it stopped bleeding and came up with a plan. We put her in her pram, got to the car, and drove to the nearest hospital, thankfully only 10 minutes away, thankfully, with an emergency department that was still open.

The staff were brilliant. We were triaged and seen so quickly. The Doctor said that as it was such a big and deep wound, he wanted to send us to see the plastic surgery team at Sheffield. A scary conversation to have, let me tell you! So we called Nathan, who by this point was 10 minutes away, dropped Rosie back at her car, grabbed a Macdonalds and left Nathan’s car round the back of the park.

The next few hours are a blur, but basically it stopped bleeding enough for the staff to ascertain that it was probably a skin wound rather than the gash it first seemed. We waited for five hours, making friends with some other families, colouring in cardboard sick bowls and watching cartoons on the TV. She was eventually cleaned and stere-stripped up, and then ready to go home just after midnight.

We were told to take the next day nice and slow, so we did. But by lunchtime, Sophia was asking ‘where we going today?’. So, as she was keen, we decided to go and pick up Nathan’s car from Matlock which was… right next to the park. Sophia ran straight back to the climbing frame and carried on playing as if nothing had happened. It was me who needed a sit down on a bench, having flashbacks to the day before!

Next it was Saturday, and Soph was more than well enough to go to the wedding. She donned her pink dress again and had a lovely time getting to know some other children, dancing, having tasty food and enjoying the music.

Nathan did a great job too, getting to bless the marriage that had taken place quietly a few hours before. He got to do all the fun bits of a wedding without any of the responsibility of the legalities!

The next day was our last day. I made the mistake of mentioning this in the morning and was met with two thundery faces staring back at me. Eventually, we got moving and went to Pavillion Gardens in Buxton, yet again making friends with a couple of families at the little soft play in the cafe. A sunny walk with ice cream/coffee was just what we needed to round things off.

The next day, we went home and treated ourselves with a trip to B&Q to buy the paint for Sophia’s new room. More of that next time!

It was a lovely holiday with some real highlights and surprises! Derbyshire continues to be one of our favourite places, and Sophia is already asking about the next holiday house.