Left for Buxton at 11am on Friday, rather nervous at a forecast that seemed to indicate we would have trouble getting back. Too pessimistic, as it turned out. Stopped nearly an hour at Cambridge Services, then had to divert because the M1 was closed, so went up A1 – missed a turn because it was badly signed and went up to the A57, then through Staveley and Chesterfield.

Deadly slow: thousands of speed cameras, but they didn’t need them because the drivers were so snail-like. Eventually reached hotel at 4pm. Quite crisp and bright after a very soggy start. Hotel has reduced size of rooms and is still redecorating; so not ideal. Dot had trouble with paint smell throughout, and we should probably have asked to be moved at the outset. But great view from the room as always. Fair bit of snow on hills. Dave and Julia had arrived earlier and were having coffee in town when we arrived.

Excellent meal – steak. But had a very bad night with stomach gas. Powdery snow overnight, but nothing significant. After breakfast we went into Buxton and had a look inside the university dome. Impressive. Then a bit of shopping – Dot bought some bowls – and tea/coffee at Charlotte’s Chocolates. After a bit of discussion and rethinking decided to drive to Lyme Park, where we repeated the 3.5-mile walk of a couple of years ago, over to the Macclesfield Canal. Very muddy in places, and a light drizzle developed. After a snack we returned to he hotel through low cloud above Whaley Bridge. Not a bright outlook, and Norwich 0-0 against Fulham. Improvement on 5-0 loss on first day of season, but lack of goals worrying.

Good fish and chips for supper, followed for second night running by port in the Evetts’ room. Slightly better night, but didn’t sleep much after 5am. More snow this morning as we headed to station to  catch 10.29 for Manchester. As we neared Manchester  snow disappeared, to be replaced by rain, which persisted for rest of day. After coffee we caught tram to Salford Quays then walked to The Lowry. Saw film, talk and exhibition: all fascinating stuff, but by now Dot was beginning to feel ill with symptoms of a cold. Returned by tram to Manchester Piccadilly and caught train back to Buxton: full, but not as full as the one in the morning. Happily we got seats both times. Carriage quite cold, and snow appeared as we neared Buxton.

Walk back to hotel was icy in sleet and snow. Dot and I had shower and bath respectively, then supper. Had been geared up for steak, but there was none left, so I had ham terrine followed by linguine: Ok, but nothing special. Got into bed very early, passing up  the opportunity of more port. Snowing outside.

Plenty of snow lying in the morning, and we had the usual excellent breakfast before leaving just after 10.30 for the drive south. Road by hotel quite slippery, but once we got on the main road, there was no trouble. Interesting to see on the way back how it had snowed in some areas but not others.

Got some petrol at Morrisons in Buxton and drove via A6 and A610 on to the M1, where we stopped for coffee in a near-deserted service station near Nottingham. Then on southwards, across areas where there had been no snow at all and others where there had been quite a bit. But it was all fading away. Stopped again at Cambridge Services, where Dot was feeling so bad she had a Kentucky Fried Chicken, and of course I had to have one too to keep her company. It’s the salt, apparently. Still quite like the taste.

Arrived home about 4pm. In the evening I went to a DCC meeting and delivered the financial report. The rest of it was all a bit hazy, as is today. I’ve been food shopping and have never seen Morrisons so full on a Tuesday. Odd. We’ve cancelled the Tuesday Group tonight, of course.