As the global pandemic started to spread and the first cases were being reported in Ethiopia it was time to think about what to do. Emma’s school announced it was closing and all the advice seemed to say that the Ethiopian health care system couldn’t cope with a substantial outbreak. With reports of them having one ventilator in the whole country and no one knowing how to use it, we thought it was wise to get out. We were planning on going to our home in South Africa but they soon closed their borders. With hindsight this was a blessing as they had a strict lockdown with no booze for 3 months and the country is still off limits, so we would have been stuck there. The whole world was starting to lock down so we headed back to the UK while we still had that option. Problem was, where to spend lock down? We couldn’t stay with parents so we booked a holiday cottage in Buxton so we wouldn’t be too far away from family. We picked Fern Farm Holidays Cottages and initially booked for 3 nights, who knew that we would end up staying 4 months !
It turned out to be an inspired decision as the cottage was perfect and the owners Dave and Louise treated us like family. The farm is a riding school with 3 holiday cottages on the edge of Buxton. The location was great as it was a short walk to the town and also lots of walking options out the back of the farm. When you were only allowed out once a day for exercise we stuck to the walks near the farm at Solman’s Temple and Grinlow Wood and then ventured further afield up onto Axe Edge Moor and into the Goyt Valley. The scenery was beautiful and it was good to appreciate the area near where I grew up. It really helped that the weather was incredible in April and May and we had strange thoughts that we could live in the UK, but once the lock down eased and the weather turned in July we soon dismissed those ideas. Emma was working hard every day doing online teaching and I was in charge of hunting and gathering both for us and my mum and dad who were shielding.
Once Emma had finished the school year at the end of June and you were allowed to travel more we bought a book with 50 walks in the Peak District. So we ventured further and I think we completed around 35 of the walks. The Peak district really is a lovely part of the world but with it being so nice it brings in the crowds, however we generally managed to avoid the throngs. The biggest downside was passing so many lovely country pubs without being able to pop in for a cold pint.
We managed to see our family on several occasions during lockdown and most of our friends, socially distanced of course. So despite it being an awful time we are glad that we got out of Addis and spent the lock down in the Peak District. Thanks to Dave and Louise and the family including Olie the cat and Basil the grumpy dog ( he has an incredible talent to grumble and bark at the same time, especially at people wearing rucksacks!) at Fern Farm who were brilliant. We enjoyed a few socially distance beverages with them and we will definitely pop into to see Ollie and Basil when we are back in the UK. If you want a break in the peak district I would highly recommend staying with them.
http://www.fernfarmcottages.co.uk/
