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With the washing machine
breaking down it made for a fairly fraught packing session but eventually
we set off, car packed to bursting as ever, heading south. First stop
was the old familiar haunt of Penrith for petrol and an old favourite
tea-shop of the children for a quick sandwich.
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Next,
we visited the Rheged
Centre. Another old favourite and a great place to restock our paper
supplies at the Paper
Mill Shop. Only £5.99 for a large box filled with an assortment
of colours and thicknesses of paper. We now have three such boxes, each
as disorderly as the next. But it is a great way to buy your paper in bulk,
especially if you have budding artists in the family. |
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My
first view of the lakes for almost two years and the reflection of the sun
on the water was blinding. I had a strange sense of home-coming. Which for
various reasons was both comforting and surprising. It is strange the way
you realise you have missed something as soon as it hits you.A quick stop
to bask in the sunshine and it was onwards and over Kirkstone
Pass and into Ambleside
to stock up on the food (and essential drink!) |
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slight mix up with the supply of linen and towels was quickly sorted out
(well, relatively - no phone reception and the one in the house didn't seem
to work). However, after finding a nice little pub to eat dinner in we arrived
back at the house to find the linen had been delivered so at least we could
make up the beds. |
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On
Sunday we walked from the house towards a local disused slate quarry and
up Holm
Fell. The views were wonderful and gave us a great view of the area
we were staying in. While SO and I did the longer circular route back to
the house, SED and SYD wimped out and retraced their steps for the shorter
alternative. A quick drive around in the afternoon found last year's pub
of the year, the Drunken Duck. |
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Tuesday
was a busier day with a trip to Beatrix
Potter's house, Hill Top farm (including Mr Macgregor's garden!) and
a ferry across Windermere in the morning to explore the south end by car,
back to the Tower Bank Arms for a pub lunch and a gentle stroll around
Tarn Hows and
up a nearby little fell in the afternoon.
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there was a rugby match on tv on Monday and not one for wasting a morning,
I took the two SDs shopping in Hawkshead.
It was a lucrative trip for all concerned especially me, as I invested in
a Leki Makalu walking pole. I got a chance to try it out by climbing Lingmoor
Fell. The obligatory post walk drink was taken in the Britannia
in Elterwater. |
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It
never ceases to amaze me that when shown a fell in the Lake District I have
a compulsion to climb it but set me amongst some of the most beautiful hills
in Scotland and I don't have the same enthusiasm at all. Although maybe
the new pole will help. I really must do Ben
Nevis whilst I am still able. |
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Over
Wrynose and
Hardknot
passes on Wednesday we discovered by chance the little Eskdale
to Ravenglass railway. It was so tempting we couldn't resist a trip
on the little steam train. A drive down to Wasdale
and a short walk back along Wastwater
kept us busy in the afternoon. The return jouney took a bit longer due to
the traffic jam of sheep being herded to the nearby farm.This was the only
day it attempted to rain but at least we had a great coal fire back at the
house to keep us warm. |
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| Thursday,
for me was the best day. SO and I got up early and climbed Weatherlam.The
pole definitely helped on the descent and I would recommend using poles
to anyone who ends up with sore hips and "laughing
knees"! when walking. |
In
the afternoon we went to Brantwood
House, on Coniston, which was the home of John
Ruskin. It was the most beautiful day of the week. I only hope the photos
with my other camera develop. But this was the day the camera was dropped
and I think it did something strange. Will scan any that have turned out. |
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Friday was the day
we chose to leave (reluctantly). This was due largely to much compromising
and the fact that there was a rugby match starting just after the time
we were meant to vacate the house the next morning.. Leaving the night
before meant we would have time to enjoy a weekend on Loch
Ness and see the match (or at least those of us who felt the need
to).
We stopped in Keswick
to stock up on essential Kendal
mintcake (which tastes best at the top of a mountain) and to visit
the Pencil Museum . This is a
really interesting place and I'm not quite sure why I have not visitied
it before. Perhaps it was something to do with the shop which sells a
great variety of pencils, pastels and other drawing materials, thereby
costing me another small fortune.
We decided to give
the A9 a miss and took the west coast route - big mistake hitting Glasgow
at 4.30pm on a Friday, as it took over an hour to get through it and by
the time we got to Glencoe
it was dark, so not much scenery was visible. However, a relaxing weekend
was had up north, catching up with friends and family and even some retail
therapy to Comet
to order my new washing machine for delivery at home the following
week
And so it was back
home on Monday. I think we all felt refreshed for our holiday and every
one of us was sad to have to return to work/school. For me it was even
more strange that I wasn't able to do any post holiday washing until Friday
when my new (Zanussi
Jetsystem 1400!) machine arrived.
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between baking halloween cakes, carving out a pumpkin for a lantern and
planning my next art project, I managed to get it plumbed in and working
before SO returned home. (Well, I wasn't going to admit defeat to a man).
It is very strange how even a new domestic appliance can instill enthusiasm
for housework. I have a new toy to play with and it seems to work - let
it be known I am more than happy to share it with the rest of the family
members... And there ends another holiday! |
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