Bluebells and Black Cats

 

I don't know about anyone else, but with all these bank holidays I keep losing track of my days. On a regular week I would have been at work by now, but with an empty day ahead of me, I have thoughts of being very productive and getting on top of the housework before I'm back at it again tomorrow. In reality, I expect I will procrastinate and find myself wondering how on earth I managed to waste a whole day :) I won't be too hard on myself , however, having spent much of yesterday working in the garden. I managed to get the grass cut and dug out the five large shrubs, which sadly didn't survive the extremely low winter temperatures. I also greatly reduced the size of the holly tree, so how I managed to escape without so much as a scratch, I have no idea. On another dry day, I will get the borders dug over and then I need to plan what to plant in the available space.

Over the last few days I have been dipping in and out of The Coronation coverage. As always, the pageantry and ceremony appeared to be flawless, and the parades were nothing short of spectacular. Although I have mixed feelings about the event, there is no doubt it made for a memorable weekend. I also enjoyed the Coronation Concert much more than I thought I would. 

Last week, we went for our annual bluebell walk. It really is beautiful there and being a little off the beaten track, we usually have the woods all to ourselves. 

The afternoon had started off rather dull and overcast, so it came as a pleasant surprise when the weather began to brighten up, until we found ourselves being able to cast off our thicker layers of clothing and enjoy the warmth of the sun. 

The woods are filled with native bluebells as far as the eye can see.

With paths meandering steeply up the hill.

I never tire of visiting these woods, especially at this time of year. And on that afternoon a good dose of fresh air was just what I needed. I've been feeling under a bit of strain recently, and getting outside in nature instantly calms me and enables me to relax.

And I should be able to relax even more, going forward. Getting the roof work completed was a huge weight off my mind. And although I still have more work to be done on other parts of the house, this was the issue I was most concerned about. 

I have also received the feedback on my course work, and I am very pleased (and relieved) to say that I have passed! When I first signed up to do it, I hadn't realised that I would be taking on more hours at work, so it has been quite a challenge to fit everything in, but I got there in the end. And talking of work, there is going to be quite a shake up there. For the better, I hope, but what this will mean for me and my hours, I am unsure at the moment. Time will tell.

I have previously mentioned a black cat who comes to stop by my house each day. He has since become rather persistent, and even though he is a full male, shows no signs of aggression; he is not hungry and clearly not a stray, so it is still a mystery as to why he likes to hang out with us. Boo quite likes him. Mog is indifferent. Neither of them show signs of being anxious that he is around. He does occasionally come inside the house - if I happen to leave the door open, or if Boo sits too close to the cat flap (it is chip activated) but I had no idea as to where he was coming from. Last week, having woken up to find him in the house yet again, I decided to put a paper collar on him, and less than half an hour later, a very apologetic lady rang me to say he actually belongs to her and she had been wondering where he had been spending so much of his time. It is still a mystery as to why he visits here, but at least I now know his name and where he comes from, and I can also get in touch with the owner if I have any concerns. Having said all that, I have a feeling that the visits may desist once she finally takes him to the vets ✂

Back soon. 

J. X

April Catch Up

It's been a while, and I hadn't intended to leave this long between posting, but I've been caught up with work, studying and attempting to manage the work being completed on the house. I am very happy to report that he dripping tap is now fixed, I have a radiator in the downstairs bathroom, and the bedroom window has been replaced. Yay!

As I type, there are men busily working on the roof and chimney, so I should actually be watertight come next winter. Now, I just need to find an electrician to replace the extractor fans, a joiner to box in the new boiler, and then arrange to have some new flooring fitted, none of which are urgent, thankfully. Then, once all of those have been completed, I can hopefully get on and decorate. 

In amongst the chaos, there has at least been time for more pleasurable activities. A few days after our walk up Blencathra, we visited the lovely little village of Downham. From there we walked up Pendle Hill, which has been on my list of things to do for ages. It is somewhere I have often driven past over the years but never actually had the opportunity to climb, until now. It was another bright and sunny day, and being a bank holiday weekend the summit was exceptionally busy. Fortunately for us, the way up from Downham was very much the less frequented path, we even spotted a deer on our way back to village. Downham itself is delightfully quaint and after a quick look around, we treated ourselves to some ice cream and sat down by the stream for a short while, before driving home again.

 

That afternoon we made some Easter nests. I always enjoy making these, although they never seem to last very long in this house :)

The following day, we left the car at home and went to Bowness-on-Windermere. Now, this isn't somewhere I would usually visit, especially on a bank holiday weekend, as it is often so busy with the many tourists who are naturally attracted to the area. Although, on this occasion, it didn't seem overly  crowded.  As always, we took our lunch with us and there were plenty of available benches where we could sit and eat, as well as enjoy the views. The pier and boats looked to be very busy however, so perhaps most of the visitors were out on the water.

The weather on Easter weekend had been rather glorious, so it came as no surprise that the temperatures dropped again during the week, and although overcast, it did remain fine for our trip to London. This time we visited the Sky Garden, which gave us a birds eye view of the city; Horse Guard's Parade, where they appeared to be making preparations for The Coronation; and to Chinatown, where we bought the most delicious cake from the bakery there, except it didnt make it home with us. Though Lily's favourite place would have to have been M&M's London, which is the world's largest sweet store, selling over 100 different types of M&M's in every colour of the rainbow. We did remember to bring those home :)

This last week I have been out running twice, and I am thrilled to report that my back was completely fine. And it is also reassuring to know that my legs still work :) Now that I have a little more time on my hands I hope to be going out more regularly, as it is the one exercise I really enjoy.  

Back soon. 

J. X  

 

Blencathra

 

As luck would have it, I chose a rather glorious spring morning for our 100th Wainwright. It had been forecast to be dry and sunny,  but whenever heading out on the fells I always check, and then I check again before setting off. On this occasion the forecast was correct. Not a cloud in the sky, and the fell tops could be seen from miles around. 

An early start meant there was ample space at the tiny car park in the village of Threlkeld, and we didn't see a single soul as we began our walk beneath the trees, and up alongside the beck in the direction of Blease Fell.

There are many different approaches to the summit, but over Blease Fell is known for being the most straightforward and safest route - no challenging 'edges' for me, thank you very much! Also, the views in this direction are rather wonderful. 

On this occasion, I even remembered to take along one of our painted rocks. We hid it on this cairn. 

After a long climb, and a lot of pauses to enable us to take in the views, we were rewarded with the summit of our 100th Wainwright. Yay!

We have not yet reached half-way in our efforts - for anyone who isn't aware, that will be when we've climbed 107, there are 214 Wainwrights in total - but arriving at triple figures feels like quite an achievement. I had hoped we might have reached the half-way mark already, but the weather during the winter months can be an added challenge, and I know my limitations. Anyway, we're not in any rush, the fells aren't going anywhere, and I would much rather we take our time and enjoy the whole experience. 

After a celebratory bar of chocolate at the summit, we retraced our steps back to the car park, stopping part way down the slope to enjoy our picnic lunch. Even though it was still only 11.30, we had eaten our breakfast earlier than usual, so it seemed perfectly acceptable :)

Now, which one shall we climb next?

J. X

Spring Sunshine

 

I can't begin to explain just what a difference this change in the weather has made to my wellbeing. The last few days have been glorious, and after an intermittent start it now feels like spring is finally here to stay. In other exciting news, I now have hot water! Being able to get into my pyjamas, straight after a shower feels so satisfying. And to those of you who have been in the same situation for much longer than I have, but without complaining, I stand in awe. 

Last week, the final Warm Space, although still fairly quiet, was attended by all the regulars. I made chocolate brownies once again, and I was gifted a picture, which had been painted by one of the lovely ladies just for having baked all their cakes over the last few months. Wasn't that kind? It is on the mantel for the time being, until I can decide where I want to display it. 

School is now finished for two weeks, so I'm hoping to enjoy some slightly less hurried mornings. I do have some tradespeople turning up on at least two of the days, and there will be a short trip away at the end of the second week, but I'm sure I will find a balance somewhere in amongst the chaos. And then, before I forget, I also need to complete my coursework.

Following some incredibly cold temperatures over the winter, the garden is looking rather worse for wear. Until now, it has been far too wet to have been working outdoors, but the grass has now been treated to its first cut of the season, and I think this week I will at least get the soil dug over and any dead plants removed. Sadly, this appears to be the majority of them, so I think I will be starting again from scratch. Thankfully, my small apple trees and blackcurrant bushes appear to be unscathed. But the container pond needs a good clean out, and again the pond plants will need to be replaced.

Boo has started going outdoors now, and is loving his new found freedom. He has made a new friend who turns up every morning just to see if he wants to go out to play. The other cat is almost identical to Boo, aside from the fact he has white whiskers. Mog chooses to let them get on with it and appears relieved to be left alone finally, having little time for juvenile shenanigans. 

On Sunday, we went for a short walk in the woods. There is an abundance of wild garlic now, and it won't be long before Bluebells begin to make an appearance. We gathered some twigs and have since assembled our Easter Tree, using the little crocheted eggs I made back when Lily was still so very small. How time flies. 

J. X

Slow Progress

 

I would love to be able to sleep as contentedly as these two. Enjoying a comfortable, warm bed, no bills to pay, and not concerned with what to eat for dinner every night. 

I am still having several issues with the house, but I am, at least, making some progress. The plumber should be arriving early next week to fix the taps and fit the new radiator, and the new window is booked in to be fitted on the Thursday. I have been assured a roofer will be around at some time in the next few days to find out what the problem is, and to give me a quote for any necessary repairs. As if all that wasn't enough, the gas engineer turned up last Wednesday morning, only to advise me that the part I needed for the boiler was now obsolete, meaning having to get a whole brand new one! This is now sitting in my hallway waiting to be fitted on Friday, until which time we have heating, but no hot water. It has been challenging to say the least. 

In happier news, it would seem spring is gradually beginning to show itself  here in the north. There are lambs in the fields, wild garlic is carpeting the woodland floor (I really need to go and pick some), and I have enjoyed seeing my washing blowing on the line on more than one occasion this past week. I'm still not entirely convinced that Wordsworth was in this part of the world when he wrote his Daffodils poem, as the only ones I've seen lately have been entirely flattened by the winds and rain, as opposed to 'fluttering and dancing in the breeze'. Thankfully, the weather does appear to be improving day by day; and now that the clocks have changed, we can look forward to some lighter evenings once again, which are always much welcome after the dark winter months. 

Mother's Day was lovely. I spent the morning relaxing at a nearby leisure club. I swam, went in the sauna and jacuzzi. It was quite a treat. After lunch I had my nails done, then I took my 'nail technician' for a bike ride down to the river. 😁

Yesterday, we spent another happy morning orienteering in the woods. Our times could be faster but our map reading skills are definitely improving, and we found all the markers. It was rather muddy underfoot, so after having had a good clean, my boots are still drying out. There are many more events planned, so we will have to try and see if we can pick up our pace.

For the Warm Space last week, I baked a Plum Cake. The recipe is here if you would like it. This week will be our last one, which will feel a little strange, although I am looking forward to having that time back, so that I can focus on completing the rest of my course work. It has taken a back seat recently, while I've been trying to get on top of everything else, and I really don't want to be late submitting it. I think I will bake chocolate brownies for the occasion.

Back soon.  

J. X

Winter Is Loosening Its Grasp

 

This is the time of year I yearn for.  After a long, dark winter, the hours of daylight are gradually increasing, the early mornings are filled with birdsong, and the air is filled with a delicious, earthy scent, as the sun begins to warm the land once again. We are not out of the woods just yet, as the forecast is showing some light snow over the next week, but I feel certain those bitterly cold, wintry days are behind us now and that any more frosty mornings will be fleeting.

One bright day last week, we took a walk from Keswick, with the intention of hiking up Lonscale Fell. It was a lovely morning and as we climbed the steep path up Jenkin Hill, I decided on a 'slight detour' to our planned route, and we finished up at the top of Skiddaw! We had completed the most challenging part of the walk and as it was one of those rare days when the summit wasn't shrouded in cloud,  I thought we might as well make the most of it. We descended via Lonscale Fell, so we did, in fact, accomplish what we had initially set out to do, it just took a little while longer :) Our next fell will be our 100th Wainwright. Still a long way to go until we complete them all, but cause for a small celebration, I think. 

Some time off work has been very welcome, and this week I've spent most of my days at home. I hadn't really thought of posting until now, as my days have felt rather mundane and of no particular interest, but in small ways I have been quite productive and for that I am grateful. I've spent some time studying and tackled several modules of my coursework, caught up with the housework and finally cleared out my wardrobe. I now have two more bags to take to the charity shop, although that will be a job for another day. 

Pancake Day was acknowledged, and in typical fashion, I probably won't eat any more again until next year. 

The Warm Space will be continuing for another month, and although I have given myself this week off, I will be back to baking again on Wednesday. Last week, the Bakewell cake proved very popular, and I am now even receiving requests :)

On Wednesday we spent a fun morning orienteering. It was an organised event where families could have a go at different activities, learn new skills and complete various challenges. We did quite well, considering it was our first time, and I've already signed us up for another event. Lets just hope the next one is somewhere a little less muddy - I still have our boots to clean. 

On a more personal note, I feel my back is completely fine now. I have yet to go for a run, which as I have said before will be the real test, but I haven't felt so much as a twinge while I've been out walking. This is such good news, especially as we head towards spring, and I am looking forward to spending more time outdoors. Yesterday, as we walked through the woods, there were signs everywhere. The snowdrops are all out, catkins hung from the tree branches and I even spotted my first wild garlic.  

J. X

Camping

 

As I sit here, looking out of the window the sky is grey and the drizzle is persistent. It is a miserable kind of day. Spring seems to be dragging out, and as ever I long for the long hot days of summer. 

This time last week we had just returned from a weekend camping, when thankfully we experienced some much brighter and warmer weather.

For her birthday this year, Lily decided she would very much like to stay in a camping pod. And after a lengthy search online I discovered what appeared to be the perfect site, and not too far away, given that we would need to travel there on the Friday evening once I had finished work. With limited time, it was a bit fraught having to rush around packing up everything we needed, but fortunately I had remembered to write out a comprehensive list of items the day before (who doesn't love a good list?) and we arrived at the site just before the farmer and his wife were ready to sit down for their dinner.

*Our accommodation for the weekend.* 

The site itself was lovely, and I would say even better than I had expected. The pod looked out across fields full of sheep and lambs, with access to the river and a great play area, where Lily spent much of her time with newly made friends. It was so relaxing just to sit and enjoy the views. Rabbits ran in the fields, sparrows flew in and out of the hedgerows, and I even heard my first cuckoo of the year.

On the Saturday morning I awoke nice and early, so I could enjoy my coffee, sat on the bench in front of our pod. I wrapped a blanket around myself, as the air was still cool at that time of the morning but the sky already showed promise of a bright sunny day ahead. We had already planned to walk along the river to Lacy's Caves, then on to the village of Little Salkeld, returning via Long Meg and Her Daughters Stone Circle. About 7miles in all. Then perhaps a swim at the nearby pool in the afternoon.

The caves are made up of five chambers, which were commissioned to be carved by Colonel Lacy, of Salkeld Hall, in the 18th century, allegedly for entertaining guests.

Further along, the path ran alongside the Settle-Carlisle line, where we unintentionally disturbed a deer which had been sleeping in the long grass, close to the track

Long Meg and Her Daughters is a Neolithic stone circle, made up of 69 stones, with a diameter of 350 feet. Long Meg being the tallest at 12 feet high. 

At this point on our walk we had begun to feel rather hot, and so it was a relief to be heading back towards the pod. The rest of our route took us through fields and along wooded tracks, bringing us back alongside the river at the bottom of the site once again. After a delicious lunch of sausages, cooked on our small camping stove, I spent the rest of the afternoon reading my book while Lily played with her friends again. We decided not to go for a swim in the end, maybe another time.

In the evening we were joined by big sister and took a very scenic drive over Hartside, towards the delightful little Market town of Alston, startling another deer on the way, where we enjoyed a fish and chip supper. Eventually returning to the pod to light our campfire, toast some marshmallows and drink hot chocolate, as Lily declared it her, 'Best Birthday ever!' 

J. X