I first discovered Hope two years ago when David and I went to Scotland on a songwriting course. We'd got bags of time so we decided to meander across the Peak District and take in the views! My trusty 'Good Pub Guide' revealed a pub in a small village called Hope that looked really nice so we decided to make our way there and have lunch.

I loved the idea of a place called Hope - it's just so hopeful! To find there was a station there called Hope Station just seemed too perfect for words. You know, getting off your train at Hope - excellent. David even wrote a song about it after the songwriting course! Oh, and just look at the views!

I've been back to Hope today, on my journey from Coalville to Manchester to see a client, and felt no less enamoured of the place. I still think it'd be fantastic to live in a place called Hope and found 'The Cheshire Cheese' to be a wonderful, hospitable pub once more. A yummy lunch with Ewan and Ginny was grand. I took them on more-or-less the same magical mystery tour that I'd taken David on two years ago, up the side of Ladybower reservoir and across Snake Pass, the highest mountain pass in England I believe. I couldn't believe the water level in the reservoir - now I understand the drought warnings - the level was 30-40 feet below what you'd expect at this time of year. I just love that area it's so wild and wonderful.

I hate the travelling that goes with my job - being away from home, staying in scary places with a horse's head in the lobby, not seeing David, the dogs and the rest of the gang but just occasionally......... a journey like this one makes a difference to how I feel about it. I think a nicer car journey would be difficult to imagine - two fantastic people to share it with and wonderful, majestic scenery. What could be better?