I drove over to the place I’ve started referring to as the Homelands. Thoresby Park. Not been there in quite a while. Don’t think I went there at all during last year. Don’t think I went anywhere last year.
My Thoresby blog started 2006. It was my first choice of a place to go after retiring in 2006. It provided a lot of fun and adventures between 2007 and 2020. Sadly, today it bears no resemblance to what it was then:
Access to the lakeside, gone.
Ability to stroll through the village, or drive past Woodyard, gone.
Art Gallery, gone,
Souvenir shop, gone.
There is literally nothing to do there now but have a coffee in the courtyard, and maybe walk back and forth to the churchyard. Again.
Below: My Scottish grandparents lived a while at the rear of Thoresby Hall Courtyard. He was head gardener until, homesick, they returned to the highlands. Long ago she would always have a “piece” (cake / sandwich), ready for me. Today, at least it's a quiet place to sit and sketch.
