A Wee Party

Saturday, 20th August

Fairy cakes went down very well with youngsters and the not-so-young youngsters (ie. teenagers) - along with all of my vodka! A sedate, nice evening I think, most of which was spent entertaining Joel and Asher, our friend's two children. We are glad because it has given us plenty of practice for our next onslaught of visitors: Marcus's brother and wife and their two children, who are arriving on Tuesday - more fairy cakes definitely!

Cooking

Friday, 19th August

We have friends coming to stay tomorrow and a sort of mini party - so I have gone mad cooking. I have not baked for what seems like years and found it surprisingly fun. I made a banana and walnut loaf, a tiramisu and loads of fairy cakes (these should go down well with the kiddies I hope).

It was like being little again - I got to lick the spoon.

Looking back at Holme Fell summit.

View from Holme Fell looking down to pool.

Ivy Crag and Holme Fell summit seen from the pool.

The soft ferns and silver birch trees soften the craggy landscape.

Pan's Place

Little Langdale

Holme Fell

Wednesday, 17th August

I have been getting up with Marcus in the morning so that he could drop me off somewhere on his way to work (he drives all the way through the Lake District). It will save me the drive, I thought. Well it did. He dropped me off on the turnoff to Holme Fell quarry, just past Yew Tree Tarn and up I went. Holme Fell is one of my favourite places but I have never actually climbed to the top, having climbed Ivy Crag, which is next to it but not the official summit.

Ankle did not hurt too much on the ascent; the occasional wobble made me say, 'ouch!' But here is where my confusion comes in - It was about ten'o'clock when I made my down to one of the pools at the bottom but I didn't reach Elterwater (about an hour and a half away) until 2.30. I didn't spend a great time resting so I don't understand where the time went. I decided to wander about a bit - go look at bits I hadn't been to before but even giving that it was still a long bloody time. Maybe I found a time-warp. Holme Fell is a very magical place so it wouldn't surprize me really.

The two-hour wait for the bus was a bit of a bummer especially after the afternoon pint. Giving that I don't really drink much alcohol it was all a bit much and by the time I reached Ambleside, I had a splitting headache. Strong coffee and a painkillier soon shifted it.

My ankle hurts now. . .

Say hello to the elephant!

Blackpool Tower

Blackpool

Friday, 12th August

A friend of mine recently told me that at the age of ten she decided that Blackpool was a place she never intended to visit - ever - and she never has. One can see why I guess - Blackpool can be very tacky at times but I have ever so many fond memories of the place, which is why I enjoy re-visiting from time to time.

We were booked into a themed-room guest house, which I found very embarrassing because the whole idea (written in great letters on a sign at the front of the house) reminded me of some sort of brothel! The room did not however; with twin bunk-beds in front of the lavishly decked four-poster showing its intention of being a family room really. It was quite fun waking up to the silky ceiling and the large wooden, painted elephant under the window.

My ankle held up well. I managed to hobble down the North Pier (I bought candy-floss) and in the evening even made it as far as: Funny Girls. We love this place - wonderful DJ and marvellous dancing - great fun. We were too tired for night-clubs later than twelve so we trotted off back to our silken tent and fell straight asleep.

Looking across Grasmere from the top of Nab Scar

Top of Long Rigg

Me wandering off, whilst I still had the use of both my legs!

A sheep says, 'hello'

Trying to eat the camera!

Fairfield Round

Sunday, 7th August

About two years ago Marcus sat bot upright in bed one morning and declared that he wanted to do the Fairfield Round. He didn't know where it was or what it involved apparently, but he had heard about it and wanted to do it. We tried a few months later but were held back at Heron Crag by a storm. Today we succeded. It is a very long plod, is what I remembered from when I did it alone one frosty January many years ago. I had long hair then and the wind blew strands of it into my open mouth as I puffed and panted my way up Long Rigg. By the time I had reached Fairfield summit the edges of my hair were frozen stiff. Today we had no such problems; it was hot on the way up and breezy along the tops. Eight peaks in one day.On top of Fairfield we met a sheep, who ended up nicking my crisps; put her nozzle right in the bag I was eating from. Also tested M's camera to see if it was edible - results above.Had a nasty fall on the way down and twisted my ankle. Managed to stumble back to Rydal however, meeting all the people we crossed on the tops. Had a drink at the Badger Bar but then began to panic because ankle was having pins & needles and I wasn't sure if this meant it was worse than I initially thought.Despite fall, I did enjoy this walk but it is a slog and I think I much preferred doing it with someone else rather than on my own!

Nenthead Mines

Thursday, 4th August

Did lots of driving today - for me. Had to go to Penrith to take our plastic bottles for recyling (nowhere else in Cumbria - really)! I bought some shears to do the garden with also. Then off to Penrith for some other stuff and then to the supermarket on the outskirts of Penrith (for other stuff we can't get where we live) and finally off to Lynne's at Melmerby. She drove us to Nenthead where we spent an hour wading through freezing cold ankle-deep water exploring an old mine. Lynne kept putting her torch up to her face and making spooky noises; the effect spoilt by her then giggling of course. She had brought two dogs: one hers and the other a friend's, who I have taken on a walk before. Lynne's dog is not very well behaved and as we walked around the water wheel on the site, I couldn't help but smile as my lurcher trotted placidly at my side on a loose lead whilst at the side of me Lynne was playing tug-of-war with hers. The tables turned however when we decided to let them loose in the woodland walk and mine wandered off for about ten minutes whilst we made ourselves hoarse calling for her.

Misty picture of Derwentwater from Carlside

Good picture of the top of Dodd from Carlside

Carlside

Tuesday, 2nd August

Ever since we climbed Dodd from Mirehouse last year and I saw the little stile on the left leading, well upwards into the mists of Skiddaw, I have wanted to go and investigate. It looks very steep and slippery but wasn't too bad at all. It was fun watching everyone scramble up the scree to Skiddaw but my route took me over Longside and Ullock. I wasn't looking forward to getting down the very top bit of Ullock, as I had difficulty a long time ago climbing up it. I did what I usually do when faced with steep scree and rocks of a descending nature: I sat on me bum and very carefully slid. It is true to say that I have come down many of the Cumbrian fells that way. I walked through the woods back to the Sawmill, just in time for a cup of tea and a coconut flapjack - mmmm!

I am pleased to say that one of my, 'going up fells I have not done before in order to tick them off', has finally been a success - I enjoyed this walk immensely. Also had fun sending photo messages to Marcus on my new phone. He read one out as he was in a meeting at work: Hav summited but brought rong map so good is not foggy - love B XXX And another to inform him that the peregrine chick has fledged- I saw the three of them for the first time this year. They fly over where we live sometimes dive-bombing the wood pidgins.

The very sparkly 'Sit-outer' - surprizingly one of my favourite pieces.

The elephant

Living Wood Sculpture

Ambleside flower & Craft Show

This kind of reminded me of a scene from the 1940's.

Grizedale Forest

Sunday, 31st July

Grizedale Forest is changing: no more art I think. Instead there is tree-top navigation, which I think might interest Ricky. Also more bike paths being made. We walked on one, which was not yet complete and it was lovely. A much more interesting way to the other side of the forest than the official walking road. It was a nice day, nice weather and a nice walk. We had no idea where we were going, just kept following the path. How surprized we were to come across the elephant, painted on the rock. From there we knew where we were. Grizedale is a magical place for me. It has been a long time since we have visited it. Strange to see, Living Wood surrounded by so much bracken. This has brought back many memories; of all the people we have brought here before.

Visited Ambleside flower and craft show, which was at Grasmere, and did country show type things. Bought a book about Herdwicks (research for novel) and a hand-crafted necklace (for which I have nothing that will go with it). Somewhere in one of the tents, we also aquired some banana sauce and some herb mixtures to make salad dips! We got carried away really!

Rydal

Sunday, 24th July

I really cannot believe that I have yet another head cold. Streaming eyes, sore throat, earache. Marcus thinks it might be hayfever but I think I would have had it before it were. We walked from Grasmere to Rydal Hall, along the back way, which was quiet and pleasant. Had a cuppa at Rydal Hall teashop (fast becoming one of my favourite places to have tea) and then went to pub for lunch. Hope we feel better soon.

Writing

A few days later

Having survived summer school at Uni and discussed several plot-lines with Francis, I have decided exactly which novel I should begin. I have started making lists (always a good start, I find) of what I need to do and in what order. I am going to begin with research and have arranged a couple of interviews with NT wardens - here we go!

Sty Head

Tuesday, 12th July

I wanted to take Francis somewhere where he could see the high fells without having to climb them and Sty Head is very good for this. It was a boiling hot day - one of the hottest so far this year I think, and we made very slow progress up the first part of the climb. Once we reached the plateau however, we found that a delicious breeze was funnelling down the valley. By the time we reached the tarn it had started to cloud over and we wondered if it might rain. I took Francis to the top of the Wasdale Head path and he enjoyed seeing the valley below.

Lodore

Monday, 11th July

Drove to Calfclose Bay and sat with Francis by lakeside. We went very early and had the entire shore to ourselves. It was cool under trees which grow almost to the edge of the water. We read our books for an hour or so and then walked to Lodore. Francis had not seen the falls before.

Watendlath - again

Sunday 10th July

We like Watendlath, we really do. It is a nice longish flatish walk with the added delight of a tea shop and tarn at the end. Marcus is still poorly and felt dizzy most of the way back. It was an exceptionally hot day. An old farm dog made friends with Francis, sat in the shade with him under a tree.

Francis's Visit

Saturday, 9th July

Some men are really good to shop with aren't they and some are not. Marcus is sometimes good, but mostly not. This is because basically he hates shopping and wants to get it over with as quickly as possible. I don't enjoyit much either but I work to a different system to Marcus: first I gather my options, then I go for coffee and consider them in the light of how much money I have to spend etc. and then I go back and try on whatever caught my interest. Very messy I know but there you are, it works for me.

Anyway, as it turns out, my freind Francis is a great shoppper, a perfect delight for any female who wants a friend to go shopping with. Very patient and positive and with good style-sense.
Well done Francis!

Lancaster University

Sunday 3rd August - Saturday 9th August

I have been extremely nervous about this whole summer-school lark from the beginning. All those new people to meet and being away from home for a whole week on my own - not to mention the driving. It's strange because a few years ago I would have relished the whole idea. That's what happens when you get ill I expect - anyway - It all went very well as it happened. I missed two morning sessions owing to a migraine and lack of sleep but did manage the rest, although Iwas scared to death most of the time. I was unusually unsociable also - everyone went to the bar at night and I stayed in my room reading. I am not used to having people round me all day so I was quiet. I also stuck to my own diet, rarely eating the meals provided. As a result I have lost another two pounds in weight, despite not having done any exercise for seven days.

I did meet Pops for an evening meal out in Lancaster and, at the end of the week, picked up Francis to bring him back to Keswick for a few days.

I feel very bolstered up about my writing again now and am confidently re-writing and editing stuff with the aim of getting myself an agent. It was particularly interesting for me discovering how other writers write. The four tutors on our course all gave workshops and readings and this helped me to discover more clearly what is the best way for me personally to write.