Derwentwater

Tuesday, 25th July

More writing, then persuaded Marcus to share a picnic by the lake. Unfortuantely some nasty bitey-things decided to share us as well so we both have lots of itchy bumps all over us.

Everyone Goes Home.

Monday, 24th July

Everyone has left. It is very quiet. I did some more clearing up and then got some writing done.

The Morning After The Night Before.

Sunday, 23rd July

At varius times dirung the day people kept disappearing to have a little lie down. I walked into town to buy some bread and biscuits. After all our visitors, it was good to have a bit of time on my own. It is still exceptionally hot.

Garaldine lamb-sits Chompette and Maple.

Tansley and Lizzie relaxing before party.

Shelia and me dressed as rain-cloud fairy.

Lovely picture of Jess. Taken by Axel.

Marcus as no-one has ever seen him before. Picture taken by Axel.

Axel.

Lyn Francis and Mike. Picture taken by Axel.

Lizzie & Tansley share a romatic moment - picture taken by Axel.

Ricky did some fire breathing.

I do a little dance.

Lizzie & Tansley nurse their hangovers.

A broken wing was all that was left behind and found the next morning on the wall.

Our Summer Party

Saturday, 22nd July
Party went much better than I thought it would, especially when I managed to drag everyone outside once it had got dark. It was still very warm and Marcus had bought lights which he draped along the pagola and lanterns to hang inside.

Shelia and Francis were the first to arrive followed by Lyn, dressed as a Dryad and Mike. Richard arrived, driving very fast backwards down our drive much to Sean's obvious discomfort - he was sitting next to the exposed 70ft. drop whilst being driven past people he had never met before wearing strange costumes. Ricky and Jess didn't dress up but we managed to persuade Jess to wear a cute pair of white wings, which she later took home. Marcus kept his costume a secret until the last minute and then surprised everyone.

Lyn got very drunk very quickly but actually that was alright because it made her very relaxed and funny. The fluffies were also invited; Lizzie getting changed into her very best ballgown for the evening and then getting drunk with everyone else later on. Our next-door neighbour sat up with us until 4 a.m. and showed us how to play the didgeridoo.

The little bat.

Cooking

Friday, 21st July

Donned pinnie first-thing this morning and have been cooking most of the day. Marcus and Axel spent the day in the kitchen discussing, Kabbalah, initiation and other spiritual things whilst I hovered behind waving wooden spoons and dishes.

I have made: flapjacks, a Victoria fresh-sponge, a vodka-jelly cat and Tiramisu.

Later on Ricky came downstairs to inform us that there was a small bat hanging off a wall-hanging in his room. Apparantly Jess was the first to notice it when she caught something moving in the corner of her eye. It stretched out its little wings. Towards evening it began to crawl out of Ricky's room into the hallway so Ricky ran after it and it crawled all the way up his legs and onto his shoulder. He then caught it in his hands and let it fly out of his window. Ahhh - isn't that just wonderful. Now he's missing it and wants it to come and visit again.

Looking back at Innominate from near the summit.

Summit Tarn - Haystacks.

Haystacks

Thursday, 20th July

It has been years since we have climbed all the way to the top of Haystacks. When we reached the summit I was assailed by memories from all of our previous visits: Nell bursting into spontaneous giggles on Scarth Gap, Marcus bursting into tears looking at Innominate for the first time, Ricky, aged six, laughing in the rain outside the bothay at Dubbs Quarry, me and a guy I met in Longthwaite Y.H. getting lost in the mist the first time I came.

It is a lovely walk - and not so difficult from the top of Honister. We took my mom on this route when she was sixty.

Visitors

Wednesday, 19th July

Liz came to visit. We sat alternatively in the shade of the Pagola outside and in the living room, where it is cooler. It is so very hot. I thought we might go a wee stroll, to stretch our legs, once it had cooled down but it was still baking at 5 p.m.

Just after seven Marcus came back from Liverpool where he had been to the airport to pick up Axel, a man who is studying with him. He also picked up Ricky and Jess from Lancaster on the way. So it is very crowded in our cottage and I have to cook for a lot.

Getting Better.

Tuesday, 18th July

Feeling a bit better. Did some writing. Want to get MA stuff finished now so that I can start novel.

Sick!

Monday, 17th July

Woke up at 4.30 a.m. and spewed my guts up. What the hell's going on? This is the second time this month - I'm never sick. Perhaps it is the heat?

Low Water.

Old Mine Workings.

Looking down to Goats Water from Goats Hause.

Dow Crag.

Cimbers on Dow Crag.

Coniston Old Man

Sunday, 16th July

This was a lovely walk, but so very, very hot. We were well-prepared with sun-screen and lots and lots of water. I am still not so keen on the last section of the climb that leads to the summit; it is very steep and slippy. It is the most interesting way up though, I think, with the old mine-workings littering the slopes and Low Water to stop and visit along the way. I wanted Marcus to experience the Old Man at his best. There is a great love amongst walkers for this fell and I must admit that coming back to these fells always feels like I am returning to visit relatives, the Old Man being a great, benevolent uncle of some sort.

Shopping with PMT

Friday, 14th July

It started before I left Keswick - at the bottom of our lane - when I changed gear from second to first without using the clutch. I then drove to Penrith. It is very difficult to stall my car (as demonstated by the gear-changing incident earlier). She tends to overrun. I did manage it though - twice as I entered the car-park. I then had lunch, walked around the shops and ended up at fancy-dress shop, where I bought some silver wings, a silver crown and a wand and a face mask. It was sometime before this that I realised that I had forgotten to get a parking ticket.

How relieved I was to find that I had not been spotted; so relieved that I started the car without realising it was still in gear. The car jumped forward, I was to far away to reach the brakes (I had not yet pulled my seat up) I held my breath, and I and my car ended up a few inches from the back of a gleaming bright red MGM sports car.

I still had to go to the Farm Shop at Stainton and Booths at Keswick before I could finally drive home and I was thinking that there was potentially a whole catalogue of disasters waiting for me along the way. I managed to get back without anything else happening however, only to find that I had been driving around all day with my passenger-door unlocked!

Spent the evening with Lyn and Talia, which was lovely. We had a lovely meal and then Talia showed me around their garden and we walked to the end of the mill-race drinking our coffee.

Levers Water.

Swirl How summit.

Ridge of Glaramara in the centre. Crinkle Crags and Bowfell (path down the Band clearly visible) - far left. The tarn in the centre of the picture is Red Tarn at the foot of Pike O'Blisco.

Scafells from Swirl How summit. Ridge in foreground leads to Great Carrs.

Grey Friar

Thursday, 13th July

Lovely walk from Consiton up to Levers Water and then up the Hause and Prison Band to Swirl How. Stopped to have lunch at the summit and then walked across to Grey Friar. Amazing views of the Scafells from Swirl How and then the Duddon Valley from Grey Friar. Looking at Seathwaite Tarn made me feel a little wistful: I have never been there - yet.

Whitehaven

Tuesday, 11th July

Liz's daughter, Bryony has had a stroke. It has been a terrible shock and we are all very upset about it. She is still in a wheelchair and cannot use her right arm or hand yet. We wanted to see her last week but I was still recovering from the tummy-bug-thing so thought I had better not risk giving her that to deal with as well.

She seemed quite cheerful considering what she's been through. I think it was because she had just arranged to go home. Liz is still suffering from the shock (she had to camp out at Newcastle Hospital for the two weeks' that Bryonny was there. She has recently suffered a small hemorrage in her eye, which I am wondering might be a small stoke due to all the stress.

Whilst we were waiting to go to the hospital we had a walk around the harbour at Whitehaven and saw Marra, a dolphin who has been visiting the area for several years.

Finsthwaite

Sunday, 9th July

Have just spent a delightful afternoon walking around the resevoirs at Finsthwaite, near Newby Bridge. It has rained most of the day so a walk was not looking too good. The trees kept most of it off us however and it really was very, very pretty and, I don't care if it's not true fellwalking, Mr. Wainwright, it is a really beautiful place and should be visited more often. I shall certainly make the effort to go again - the drive was not as bad as I thought it might be.

Beth in window before curtains.

Tea & cakes.

Gardens.

Gardens.

Me and cat.

Gardens.

Sharrow Bay

Friday, 7th July

Finally we got to put up black curtain pole in the living-room. It was very traumatic because Marcus hates anything to do with DIY.

Recoverd in time to go to Sharrow Bay for tea (a joint birthday present from a friend). Very luxurious place with magnificent views over Coniston Water to the Old Man. Lovely gift but, at the risk of sounding ungrateful, not nearly so nice as Rothay Manor. Food and seating much better we both thought. Beautiful gardens however - and a nice cat!

Tarn on Seathwaite Fell. Glaramara behind.

Scafell Pike from the path to Great End.

Esk Pike with Bowfell and the Crinkles to the right.

Esk Hause Shelter.

Langdales and Rosset Pike in heat haze.

Great End

Wednesday, 5th July

Walked up to Sprinkling Tarn and across the ridge of Seathwaite Fell. By the time I got back to Sprinkling Tarn again I had been walking for over three hours and really, if I'd done my maths, I might have realised that, going back then would have resulted in a five-hour walk at least. But I looked up at Great End and I thought, well I'm here now and so is it.

Eight hours it took me - eight hours! Can't walk now the back of my knees have gone all stiff.

I hadn't realised just how great, Great End is - another half and hour and I could have been on top of Scafell Pike!

Amazing views to Eskdale, Langdale and Borrowdale. Good to actually sit in the shelter at Esk Hause after having seen it in the mist during our Glaramarra Trip.

A walk through the woods at Loweswater.

Holme Force at Loweswater

Loweswater

Tuesday, 4th July

Mom has never been to Loweswater so I took her today. We walked from a small car-park to the northern tip of the lake via a footpath through a field. We sat in a small shingle bay at the edge of woods and read our books for a while and then walked up to see Holme Force.

Tea at Rothay

Monday, 3rd July

Took Mom to Rothay Manor for tea, which we had sitting under the trees in the garden. Couldn't have the tea (since stomach bug have been unable to drink hot drinks without feeling queasy). Had lemon tea, which was okay but anything after one and a half too much. Cakes were divine; meringues superb, the tiny eclairs just right and a chocolate and fruit crunch-like affair which was absolutely wonderful (I don't even like chocolate that much and I ended up having two of them)!

Brantwood House.

Path to the Jetty.

In the gardens leading up from the jetty.

Marcus in the Library.

Marcus standing in the turret in Ruskin's bedroom.

The turret room from outside.

The Old Man from Brantwood Huose.

Brantwood

Sunday, 2nd July

Took Mom to Brantwood. We looked around the house and Marcus had his picture taken in Ruskin's library. Afterwards had lunch at Jumping Jenny's and then I walked Mom around some of the grounds. We walked through the Philosopher's Garden and then on past Ruskin's Seat to the Painters' Prommenade and then up the small pool at the top. Marcus bought a blue poppy which we have planted at the back of the pegola.

In The Garden

Saturday, 1st July

Spent the afternoon working in the garden. Put some stones around the edge of the pond to neaten it and then did some weeding and planted the lilac bush. The new patio furniture, we bought last week was delivered yesterday and looks really good.

I was right about Mom and the weather. It is very hot. We have been eating all our meals outside - except tonight when Mom treated us to a meal at the Fish in Buttermere. Walked down to the lake afterwards.

Rydal Cave

Friday, 30th June

Had planned short walk for Mom today to see the swallows nesting in Rydal cave. Parked up at White Moss and had lunch outside the cave. The nest we had seen last Sunday was empty but there were some others. Had an ice cream from Mark at White Moss and then a drink at the Retreat in Rydal Hall. Lovely place to stop incidentally (the cafe outside seating area is by a small waterfall).

We caused a bit of a disturbance trying to reach cafe by a doorway which is no longer in use; my Mom bumping a metal pole, which had been put across the doorway and sending it crashing to the ground with a loud clang. This was just below a sign asking for quiet and respect for the place! So, sorry for that Rydal Hall, didn't realise there was another way through further along.

Walked back along lakeshore and then drove into Grasmere. Mom bought me a lilac for our new garden.

Mom

Thursday, 29th June

Another dentist appointment, this time for a clean. Research for novel then picked up Mom from bus station at 7.40. Mom always brings good weather so I am looking forward to some nice days out this week.

The Tongue, Mungrisdale - a strange haunting place.

Some sheep.

Bannerdale Crags with Blencathra to the right.

River Glendermackin at Mungrisdale.

Bowscale &Bannerdale

Wednesday, 28th June

This walk was done on a bit of a whim in that I decided at lunch-time that I wanted to go a walk. Started it at 2 p.m. and hadn't expected to be down before seven but was back at the car by six.

I have always had bad experiences with Bowscale. One way and another, over the years I have come to believe the place to be spooked in some way. It still remains one of my favourite places however. Today it behaved. I walked straight to the summit and then onto Bannerdale. Lovely walk, lovely weather.

Dentist

Tuesday, 27th June

Was very brave today, went to the dentist for a big filling. Afterwards met Marcus at Pedlars and treated ourselves to lunch.

Rydal Cave

Sunday, 25th June

Went to Hayes at Ambleside to buy table & chairs for our garden. On the way back stopped at White Moss and walked to Rydal cave. Several pairs of swallows have nested in the roof of the cave; you could see the babies poking their heads up out of the nests.

Writing

Thursday, 22nd June

People who are not writers often imagine that writing comes to the writer like an inspired utterance of the Gods; a medium chanelling some great unknown force. I always tell such people that actually, most of the time, writing is like sweating blood. Writing rarely flows, it has to be constructed.
However, since the discovery of this novel inside me, my writing has become like the dream. I am having to carry a notebook around all the time because sentences, ideas, dialogue is jumping out of my head left, right and centre. Last night I wrote until 2 a.m. I just couldn't stop.
How wonderful - I am living the dream.

A Novel is born

Monday, 19th June

Have never had such pain in my head as this before and I've had it pretty bad. Must be caffeine withdrawel as well as sinusitus - I haven't been able to drink tea since I was sick. It is so bad I cannot stand for more than a few minutes. Marcus has had to stay at home because I can't actually stand long enough to fix anything to eat and Ricky is at school taking an A level.

Upside of all this is as I was forced to lie down and do nothing for hours on end, I came up with the plot for a novel. It feels so right I can hardly believe it and characters also. Just need to decide upon the setting now.

Cive & Joan outside their camper van - Nellie 2.

Derbyshire

Saturday, 17th June

Visiting Derbyshire this week-end to see Marcus's Dad and his wife, who are on holiday there. Marcus drove us down on Saturday but I got very ill just after Buxton. Arrived at Marcus's friend's house and was sick in her toilet. Then I thought I was going to faint so spent the whole of the afternoon lying on frien's bed being sick in a kindly proffered bowl.

Sunday, 18th June

A bit better. Managed to get to the trailer site to see Marcus's Dad and his wife. He has just had an operation to put a stent in one of his arteries, which is why we wanted to visit. Can't believe how well he looks (better than me at the moment actually). Went for a meal at local pub but couldn't eat much. Felt bad on the way home again.