Week 24 - 24 Mar to 30 Mar

Monday 24th March – day 149

Another day of strangely and rapidly changing weather patterns meant that we did not rush to leave our warm dry caravan this morning. Plus the fact that there is now a muddy pond outside our door, making getting to the car a truly unpleasant experience! We enjoyed a leisurely sort out of the admin pile, and a long investigation of the bird life in the field. After much binocular focusing and bird book page turning we had to come to the conclusion that amidst the starlings and rooks there were a flock of fieldfare – very satisfying. However by early afternoon, the reality that this was a bank holiday, and we should be out enjoying it – that and the sun was now beating down – we decided to drive over to Belton House (owned by the NT) just outside Grantham for a visit.
Apart from the fact that just as we switched off the ignition key the heavens bailed out another

bucket load of snow and hail, which we decided to sit out, we were so pleased that we had decided to come. The National Truss so know how to do it, everything is perfect - the setting, the lawns, the pathways, the house, the paintwork, the afternoon teas, the gift shop ……………………. it is all just so English and so delightful! We enjoyed our stroll round the informal gardens very much, the daffodils and aconites were in full show. Like small children we had a go in the hedge maze. (Fortunately the hedge only came up to the shoulder so I was able to keep an eye out for Chris in case he got lost.) Before heading for the house we also made a detour to the church which was more a mausoleum for the Brownlow and Cust families, with more ornate marble per inch than stone work. From the church we wandered through the formal gardens with a cornucopia of beautifully topiaried bushes and grand fountains to get to the house.
Unfortunately we had left it a little late to do justice to all that the house had to offer, and after two lengthy conversations with a pair of very friendly room stewards, we found ourselves galloping through the last few rooms with heads down trying not to make eye contact with the stewards in case they delayed us further and we missed our afternoon tea, and that would never do!
Feeling warm and satisfied in every way, it was time to go home, (everyone else had gone a while ago).
A final delight - as we made our way back to the car park we were delighted to be joined by a herd of fallow deer who had returned to the oval in front of the house for their supper now that the crowds had departed.

Tuesday 25th March – day 150

We are leaving Lincoln today for a two week stay in the Peak district, where we hope – if it ever stops raining - to give the car a rest and really get some walking miles done. I have to say that whilst I am excited about moving on, I am more relieved to be leaving soggy old Threekingham.
Poor old Lincolnshire may be filled with delightful little corners, but we have failed to find most of them, but what we have found is water- dykes and ditches everywhere, with the roads raised feet higher than the surrounding fields (which has made driving a careful business) There have of course been some lovely high spots, Stamford and Lincoln being right up there, but mostly I think we shall remember this part of the country for it’s flat wet and unchanging landscape, interrupted only by the local one or two carriage trains snaking through the flat lands carrying folk to and from Skegness! It must have been a very good service as, which ever town we were in, we found ourselves sitting at some level crossing or other!So 80 miles and 2½ hours later we arrive in Hope Valley. We are filled with anticipation of all that is ahead of us, until disaster – all so those long anticipated hills that surround us prove to be the most effective barriers to receiving any signals from the outside world…… loosely translated as …….. no TV and no radio….. DISASTER! Fortunately we can still get internet signal so can listen to the Archers at least – so not all is lost!

Wednesday 26th March – day 151

After much patient searching by the technical expert, we have discovered that we can get analogue reception, but not digital so we think the problem may be the TV, so we are taking it to a repairers in Buxton for a check up!
We drove through the Peaks to get there, and had to first glimpse of this walker’s paradise – wild and wonderful! We spent most of our time in Buxton searching for TV repairers, Both of which, would you believe it, were closed all day Wednesday, so we didn’t get to explore it properly, but a quick look assured us that it is worth returning to, particularly a Pandora’s box of a shop called Maggie May, which was selling the most fabulous old box, and a little Arts and Crafts chair… we may have to go back!

Thursday 27th March – day 152

The weather is more hopeful this morning so we give the old Land Rover a bit of a rest, and don the boots/kagools/waterproofs and gaiters to prepare for a days rustle up the fells.
For our first trip out we took a popular route that takes the walker, (after a rather steep first ascent to Lose hill) along a well prepared path (thanks to the National Truss) from Lose hill along the windy ridge to Mam Tor (Mother Hill - on which early settlers built a fort) via Hollins Cross. Then it is on down the other side to Edale, in time for a pint of the “Ramblers” guest ale “England’s Glory” before catching the local two carriager for the 6 minute journey back to Hope. Fabulous, is there a better way to spend a day!

Friday 28th March – day 153

Another downpour today and our porch is beginning to look like the same mud pond we left in Lincoln!! So a morning in doing, cleaning, repairing and waiting!! By 3pm we had given up hoping for improvement and set off for a look at historic Eyam, famous for putting itself into quarantine during the 1665-6 plague. It was well worth the visit and took our minds off the miserable weather for a while, as we contemplated the horrors some of the villagers went through as whole families were wiped out in weeks. The photo is of the graves of the Hancock family who farmed Riley Hill. The mother buried 8 members of her family within about 2 weeks, then fled to live with her remaining son in Sheffield, how tragic is that.
On a much brighter note, Eyam is in a very beautiful part of the Peak District and from our view point we could look across the valley to Froggatt, a lovely escarpment that is calling to be walked along – let’s just hope it stops raining long enough!

Saturday 29th March – day 154

Bright morning, but guess what……. Rain returns by noon, so no walking today again, but off to see Chesterfield’s crooked spire and Bess of Hardwick’s fabulous residence Hardwick Hall.
We stopped first at Chesterfield, and apart from the spire there was little else that took our interest. We did pop into the indoor and open markets but there was nothing to tempt (which is just as well as we have no money to spend!) So back to the car and on to Hardwick, we had not packed sarnies so decided to lunch in the refectory first. We were very relaxed over lunch knowing that we had plenty of time to stroll round the new Hall, so you can imagine our surprise when we rounded the corner and found the front door firmly locked – what were these part timers thinking about, was this the National Truss’s half day? No in fact it was now 4pm and we had been SO leisurely over lunch that we had missed the closing time – you wouldn’t believe that I know!
Fortunately for us the National Heritage team had more staying power, and was still open so we were able to enjoy an audio tour of the old Hall, but it was a bit more alfresco than frescos on the wall in this building! Well it looks like we will need a return journey here. Mind you if the weather doesn’t improve that will be the main stay of our visit to Derbyshire, what with Chatsworth, Bolsover, Haddon, Peveril and Kedleston to visit, not to mention the caverns. I think we should have booked to stay here longer!

Sunday 30th March – day 155

Well, despite another appalling weather forecast we woke to glorious sunshine, so not much discussion about what we will do today as Froggatt is calling! It is only a short drive across the Peaks from Hope so the ol’ car is having a holiday too!
We parked near the end of Froggatt Edge, and set out across a very popular, and well laid out pathway that runs along the edge of this two miles ridge, offering magnificent views down over the valley across to Eyam and Grindleford. The sun was warm on our faces, and at last we could begin to hope that spring was round the corner. We dropped back down on to the road at the end of the ridge, and made the return journey through the village of Froggatt, and through the woods for the final leg. Spring certainly had arrived in this sheltered village and this Heather bank glowed with colour.
We arrived back in the car with enough light (now that the clocks are in British summer Time) to take the circuitous route home, so that we could take a look at Monsal Head, which is rather like Symonds Yat. It too was lovely and offered the adventurer many paths, all ripe for wandering down, but not tonight I fear. Our last stop was Ashford in the Water, a very pretty little village filled with daffodils and evening sun, before we drove back through this delightful landscape of pale stone cottages and pocket handkerchief sized fields that patchwork the hillsides.

Wk 23 17th to 23rd Mar

Well, from the sublime to the rediculous, or from the fabulously craggy to the mind numbingly flat, that was this week - Lakes (via Clitheroe) to Lincoln - in retrospect not a great idea, but geographically necessary!!!

Monday 17th March – day 142

We are leaving Norfolk today, after our Lakeland interlude, it would be lovely to revisit some of the north coastline and explore more of its atmospheric salt marshes, but it is onwards and upwards again for us!
Down the A17 yesterday, and back up the A17 today - and it didn’t look any more interesting looking the other way, flat, flat, flat and wet! However the journey though tedious was easy and we had made it to Donington in Lincolnshire by 4pm, for another farm stay and again in splendid isolation, but we expect company soon as the Easter weekend approaches.

Tuesday 18th March - day 143

We are off to visit Skegness today to see if it is as bracing as the posters indicated! First stop Boston though as we have to drive through there on the way. The centre of town had the most historic charm obviously, but also the largest parish church in Britain, which they call the stump, no-one knows why, they just do!! The ceilings were, as many before them quite beautifully painted, the attention to even the smallest detail must surely have been done to Gods glory although we are also really enjoying them. After Boston we drove on to Gibraltar Point just beyond Skegness to picnic and to walk through this strange national nature reserve by the sea. It was indeed bracing and several layers were needed to keep out the elements, but we were prepared. What we were not prepared for though was the difficulty in finding the sea! We knew it had to be there somewhere, but we could not access it across the marshes, though we did find a nice warm lookout shelter, the first of several, as there is some serious bird watching to be enjoyed around here. However we did find another route and we were soon back by the water, which again we had all to ourselves, searching for oyster catchers and sea shells – joy! We had yet to see Skegness itself though and dusk was drawing in so we would be seeing it lit up – may be its best view. It was all we expected, a neon, brash, fantasy land of amusement and adventure, what we had not expected was just how much of it there would be; and how many static caravan parks there were, and for just how far along the coastline they ranged. For miles we passed a melange of manmade, plastic and artificial fun factories in the shape of Fantasy island, Butlins, and Coral Island, there were more electric light bulbs per square foot than most major towns ………… and we could not face getting out to see how bracing it was!

Wednesday 19th March – day 144

We woke this brilliant sunny warm spring morning to the sound of much baaing, and on view just outside our caravan were a real mothers union of ewes and their very frisky lambs having an animated group discussion, unfortunately the meeting closed before I could get to the camera, but we did catch them departing, though we are not sure who took the minutes! Today we are off to check out Lincoln, but have a few admin chores to catch up on, so enjoy the morning in our farm field.
We drove through Sleaford on the way to our destination which was charming indeed, we didn’t stop this time, but think we will need to go back. Lincoln was lovely, particularly round the cathedral. It was set on top of a hill, and surrounded by characterful cobbled streets (a bit of mix of York and Gold Hill Shaftesbury) descending down to the city centre. We of course lingered in the cathedral to view its delights, not least of which were the most evocative set of “stations of the cross”, and a quiet area for prayer, filled with huge candle sticks. We sat awhile in the nave, whist the choir made angelic music in preparation for evensong, before we left to explore the environs, and a slow walk back up “Steep Hill”

Thursday 20th March – day 145

Back to miserable weather, we had planned to go for a walk in the Wolds (are now desperate to see a hill!) but the foul weather outside keeps us prevaricating until well after lunch, until finally we make the decision to go out in search of excitement! Unfortunately it needs to be free and dry, so NT property Belton House at Grantham wins the vote. Unfortunately pre bank holiday queues and a detour to Sainsbury’s for bread and milk (and hot cross buns!) meant that there was not enough time to really explore the house, but by now it looked like the skies were clearing so we headed off for historic Stamford. We were so glad we did, the rain held off for most of our two and a half hour stroll (including a cup of tea!) up and down old and narrow cobbled streets, past endless number of churches, over bridges and by water meadows, it was so charming that it was only the drawing in of the evening, and camera exhaustion (Chris now had a blister on his finger) that caused our holt.
Friday 21st March Good Friday – day 146

Woke to a very windy abut sunny morning, buckets and boxes scattered across the camp field, but all easily retrievable. After breakfast we are going to St Matthews Church in Boston to be part of the Good Friday events, so off in the car in good time, only to be brought to a dead stop outside Boston in a great queue of traffic stretching into the distance, here we sat for a good while! Not to be daunted we switched to some side streets to try and circumnavigate the traffic, but as usual this was doomed to fail. Time passed and we very soon realised that we would never make the start of the service, in fact it could have been nearly half way through by the way the traffic was moving. Sad at heart we pulled off and headed towards Sleaford for a walk round after our drive through the other day. On the way we found a huge derelict maltings store, these are so extensive that they are too large for conversion to any other use. Unfortunately Sleaford did not live up to its earlier promise. We did have a look into a local church there but they were also in the middle of a service but with no external signs of invitation we went for an unsatisfactory cup of tea - what no Earl Grey! So Helen a lemon burst(!) and I had PG, (sadly even the tea cake failed to live up to inspire).
A couple of small delights found on returning to the car, were a small side alley and the smallest jewellers’ shop we had ever seen. It could have not been any deeper that 6’ and 12’ long, flanked on one side by a wide water filled drainage dyke, and access to the first floor was by removable ladder. By now the promised rain was heavily upon us so back to the car and a return to the caravan, for once so early in the day that we had time to play scrabble, and yes Helen did win, convincingly, and I was left with a 10 point Q. There will be a return match.

Saturday 22nd March – day 147

What a weird and wonderful day today has been, having recently had a long discussion about the increasingly dire shape of our funds (or the galloping approach of the lack of them!!!) the increasing burden of the price of petrol (top price noted this week - £1.20 per litre for diesel- yikes) and the frequency with which we are having to refuel – at least once a week- let me work that out for you … yes we are spending £400 plus per month on petrol alone, no wonder there is no beer money left!
So today we decided to make the 200 mile round trip to Middleton Cheney to visit Audrey and Gordon. And once we got there we were so glad that we did. Getting there though was a bit of a surreal experience as every 10 miles we seemed to pass through extreme weather changes – brilliant blues skies that had us reaching for our sunglasses one minute, and horizontal snow storms that had the wipers running at double speed the next. The change in weather was as frequent as the stripes on a zebra and we were starting to feel quite seasonally bemused!
Anyway we arrived at Fernleigh fashionably late (no change there) but with good reason this time, and stepped back into a time warp. It had been a decade since I had last seen the house and Aud, but neither seemed to have changed, Gordon is thinner now, but otherwise it was all comfortingly much as I remember; including and particularly the wonderful warm welcome and excellent lunch that was prepared for us. We spent a lovely afternoon with them, and stayed until about 5pm as Gordon was tiring, so then took our leave. As we were driving out of Middleton his nibs proclaimed “Betty (his lovely and long suffering secretary) lives round here I’m sure” so with only a little detective work (he has a nose like a blood hound!!) we rounded the corner of Betty’s drive, and were thrilled to find both Betty and daughter Sharon in and ready with the kettle. After another interlude of different reminiscences we made the return journey in a more settled climate.

Sunday 23rd March – day 148

It is true to say that the weather forecast had promised snow to the south and east of the country, and it is also has to be said that I was wakened in the night several times with an unusually cold nose (one thing we have always been in this caravan is snug and warm) so I should not have been surprised at 8am when I first lifted the blinds, to find ourselves in a winter wonderland with snow at least 3inches deep! It took some doing to get Chris to go outside and sort out the water, and it was only the promise of wearing my pink wellies that persuaded him - but he was again the hero of the hour as he went and dug for our water barrels! As we set off for Sleaford to share fellowship with the New Life church this Easter day, we were a little disheartened to realise that the snow was melting fast in our already soggy field, and it is now a really squelchy scramble to the car. It is a good job we are leaving on Tuesday as we are slowly sinking into the quagmire and all around is slushy brown! Yuk!
The celebration at New Life was fab, and we set off in joyous mood to find the Wolds. The journey was a bit like the one we had yesterday, intermittent snow storms and sunshine. We find the Wolds pleasant but without a map were unable to pick out a walk route, so headed off for a last glimpse of the sea as from Tuesday we will be inland for a month or so. We arrived at Saltfleet in the sunshine, walked along the seas edge in sleet and hail for part of the way, a very stingy experience indeed, and ended the walk in sunshine – I think we looked a little steamy as we made our way back to the car! The journey back took us down through Lincoln’s seaside mecca, and again we were reminded of all its nefarious joys, but swiftly through as we had to be home in time for the final episode of Lark Rise to Candleford – joy!

Wk 22 10th to 16th Mar

Monday 10th March – day 135

The weekend is over Tim is gone to Argentina and it is another rainy day - good for planning routes and booking campsites! Which is what we did, from dawn to dusk (well mid morning to tea time!) we weaved our way around Scotland charting courses and seeking out residencies. The lovely painters kept us company and the kettle never cooled.

Tuesday 11th March - day 136

Busy day, and sad day today, busy because as well as the painters we are being joined by the carpet fitter, who is replacing the bedroom carpet – the final chapters of the loo disaster! And sad because it is the last day that the painters are with us, and after tea time there will be no more local gossip and lively banter!! Cheerio till June chaps!!
Wednesday 12th March – day 137

We wake up to a wet miserable day again, so can spend another day of planning again without fearing of feeling that we are missing out! We sat in our warm kitchen walking the intrepid walkers turning their collars up against the driving rain – is this the same smirk that locals have every time they meet a sodden tourist!!!

Thursday 13th March – day 138

Although it is just as wet today as it has been the rest of the week, we are now stir crazy and need to get out (obviously still tourists after all!!)
It is too wet to able to get out for decent walk but we drove over to Keswick, down beautiful Borrowdale - glorious in its dampness, with raging torrents of water tumbling down the fells on all sides! Honister too looked wild, and the sheep resolute as we drove through, past Buttermere and Crummock to walk round Loweswater. We had the only dry spell of the day as we plodded round this the smallest of the three lakes in almost complete solitude.

Friday 14th March – day 139

Last day and after a morning of cleaning we set off for an afternoon of nostalgic indulgence! We start with a half at the Brit (must consider the bladder) and walk from Elterwater, up to Loughrigg, round the Tarn where we stopped in a new favourite stop to eat our sandwiches (whether we were needed them or not!) down through a truly spring Lakeland scene of banks of wild daffodils bobbing their heads in the breeze, to Skelwith Bridge (loo stop at Chester’s) and along the river back to Elterwater, bliss, with a final cuppa etc. at Lucy’s before setting off for a weekend of fun and frolics at R’Als

Saturday 15th March – day 140

After a leisurely get up – is there any other now a days, Al and I go to Mitton Hall for a v-e-r-y l-o-n-g lunch, just long enough to put the whole world to right. We take a quick trip to the wrinklies to check they are still standing, and on home for a little rest…. before we all go out for supper to the Lower Buck! Ma had made a couple of cakes so pud was a slice of home cooking.
This is a proving to be a tough year, will we ever be able to set off again…. No……. let’s not think about it yet!
Sunday 16th March – day 141

All too soon it is time to leave Al and Vic’s to head back for Norfolk ready for making the journey to Lincoln. The journey is boring but easy, and only the stop at Sainsbury’s for provisions cause a delay in our return. The evening is mostly spent unpacking and sorting, but we still had time to catch some of the new BBC drama The Passion – FAB, and the final episode of The Last Enemy - equally fab but traumatising and depressing because it feels so close to the truth!!

Wk 21 3rd to 9th Mar

We are here in our flat for the next two weeks, but more for work than fun alas!!

Monday 3rd March – day 128

A day of business not pleasure today, the hall and stairs are being decorated and the lovely Gary and Greg started this morning, and will be with us for most of the time we are here.
We tried to make ourselves scarce and went into Kendal to buy new carpets (for the damaged ensuite) and shower curtains. We managed a L’Oreal moment at the Brown Cow at Winster, We ordered sandwiches, but what arrived was a feast on a plate – a little light supper I think!

Tuesday 4th March - day 129

The Gas Man cometh today, - and stayed for almost two hours trying to reassemble the boiler that he had taken apart to service – dreadful Worcesters – but he did a fab job and now we have no drips from the unit and piping hot water from the taps again!!
In the afternoon we took a trip to Morecambe - via the truly delightful back roads through the Lyth Valley to Arnside and Silverdale, stopping at Arnside Knott for lunch – just so that I could have my eyes tested for free! Once I had been checked out (and passed) we went on to check out Morecambe, which failed to inspire (except the statue of Eric (Bartholemew) which almost brought a tear to the eye – and many happy memories!) although we did enjoy a walk down the prom before going home for Haggis yippeeee!

Wednesday 5th March – day 130

Hairdresser and car service today, followed by admin and IT stuff - it almost like we are back in the land of the nermal – boring, boring, boring! (Our painting companions though kept us good company throughout the day though.) By mid afternoon we were getting stir crazy, so sporting the new flaming red highlights (not sure that is what I asked for!!) we set off for a walk along Under Loughrigg, over the stepping stones and back into town. It was truly lovely to be out and we returned refreshed, and with faces not quite as red as the hair!

Thursday 6th March – day 131

Day of purgatory!! We are here in the most beautiful part of England, and we are just not able to get out as we have too many jobs to do. So after a day of admin yesterday we spent the whole of today in front of the laptop and attached to a phone trying to plan and book the sites for the rest of our holiday. We started badly as we had forgotten the immanency of Easter and could not readily find a camp site in Lincoln. We did get there however, and in the end got as far as Scotland before the eyes, ears and grey cell packed up for the day!

Friday 7th March – day 132

Can stand no more of doings, so are off for a long walk! Went for out to walk for several hours. We parked up by Wray Castle and walked down by Windermere until near the ferry, where we climbed up and walked along the tops to Belle Grange, Arthur’s Wood and finally the back roads back to the car. The bottom path was fairly busy, but we had the top path to ourselves – actually it was not really a path today but rather a flowing stream, following the recent rainfall! Once back at the flat there was a bit of clearing up and cleaning to do (as most of the hall was still in the twin bedroom!) to be ready for Tim’s arrival.

Saturday 8th March – day 133

Tim and I went to Leeds today to show him his other Uni choice. The journey down the A65 was lovely, and from Skipton onwards it reminded me of all the journeys I had made from home as a student. The journey back also worked its way to the heart strings as it feels more apparent that the A591 will be our road back home soon!
Leeds was heaving and wet as it was raining hard, so we only managed a quick trip round the shops, found the Art College and St Georges, and a cuppa at Costas, before making the 2 hour journey home to a srummy roast chicken magnificently prepared by Chef Minton!

Sunday 9th March – day 134

Sadly Tim is leaving us straight after brunch, in order to get packed ready for his flight to Argentina on Monday. We have had a lovely time with him, but that is it now for the next 4 months, as he will be with Latin Link until July. Once he had left it was heads down again for more jobs – oven cleaning/bath re-masticking/paint repairing etc! Our reward was the anticipation of Lark Rise to Candleford 9but only for one more episode).

Wk 20 25th Feb to 2nd Mar

We start the week in Norfolk, and finish up in Ambleside via Clitheroe, what a pair of globe trotters are we!

Monday 25th February – day 121

Today has been a day of little joys and surprises. The first was the weather, it should be raining but the sun is shining! We are touring the north Norfolk coastline from Holt to Heacham. The first stop was historic Holt to look for a post office, amidst other things. It reminded us a little of Malmesbury, pleasing to the eye and comfortable with itself! Morston which we had not considered stopping at and was both a surprise and a joy, the Quay was a lovely jumble of old wooden moorings set in the marshes, definitely worth stopping for. Through Stiffkey to Wells next the Sea. Unfortunately we were not drawn to explore Wells, so moved on to Burnham Market, where we met our next two joys, first a windmill (now a holiday home owned by the National Truss – worth remembering) and then Burnham Overy Staithe a little corner of English rural idyll. We lunched at Burnham Market, a very upmarket little town with a river running through it – and a lovely fishy shop.
Next stop was Brancaster Staithe where we parked up to walk off our lunch, along the edge of the marshes – pleasant but not so inspiring as previous marsh walks, however we did come across the piece of machinery that answered our questions about how the reeds are harvested, which was enlightening. On finally to Heacham as dusk is falling (of course) and another short and bracing walk as David Bailey tries out his tripod techniques!

Tuesday 26th February - day 122

Today is our last day in Norfolk before driving north for a couple of weeks. The sun is shining again which is a bonus. We are visiting Ely, via the historic market towns (so the book says) Swaffham and Downham Market, so with camera, sandwiches and anticipation off we go!
We got out and had a wander round Swaffham, but little inspired – even the church was closed. Neither did Downham so we did not stop there – eager to see Ely!! But we took a detour - that looked interesting on the map – to find a lovely spot to have our sandwiches. And indeed it was interesting- a hundred foot wash –a river a wide span of marshland flanked by another river sitting serenely on a pancake flat landscape. You could hardly call it beautiful, but there was something stirring about the expanse of it all, especially when gazing at it under bright blue skies. Then we were off to Ely, to the enormous Cathedral that stretches out and completely dominates the little town which has earned the right to be called a city because of its centre piece. We had read that the ceiling work was beautiful but that was a complete understatement, the ceilings were magnificent!!! And the doom in the picture we were told was not fitted to the roof, but set on top of it, but as it weighs over 40 tonnes there is little fear that it will blow off! The stone carvings were extravagant, the ceilings painted in the naves, and as in Norwich, the bosses had been given the creative treatment and a row of medieval angels looked down at us!

Wednesday 27th February – day 123

A bright sunny day for our journey north, we spent the morning packing up and moving the caravan into store, and were away by noon. It was then that we turned on the radio for company to hear that there had been a significant earthquake in the middle of the night, and the epicentre was in Lincoln – 40ish miles away – and we slept through it!!!
The journey was long and tedious and crossed miles of flat uninteresting terrain, but eventually we arrived in Clitheroe, with just enough time to wash our faces and leave for supper at the Calf’s Head Worston.

Thursday 28th February – day 124

Dull day, rain on the way, but did not arrive in time to stop us from going for a refreshing walk along the river bank from Waddington to Grindleton and back, after a morning of chores. The air was lovely and still but the ground was soggy under foot, and there were three pairs of pink cheeks and very muddy boots when we had finished!

Friday 29th February – day 125

Leaving Clitheroe today for the flat and the rain has arrived in force! No delays on the journey though and we were in plenty of time to get to the Solicitors in time to pick up some papers ready for a meeting about the flats at Lowfield in the morning. The trip to Booths for the food shop was interesting though; Lake Windermere was a white water swirl, with spray scudding across the surface, and tree debris all along the road. We were ready for the rain, but the strength of the wind surprised us a little! The sight in Booths itself amused as well, as we all ran in from the car park right outside, looking like we had been pulled through a hedge backwards, there were some who were clearly not enjoying this undignified experience. But not us, we were intent on filling our basket – what a bill, Morrison’s next week!

Saturday 1st March – day 126

Meeting this morning to discuss parking issues and setting up a management group; we think it went well, but the proof of the pudding will be when folk see the bill for the work that we have agreed.
Too wet to go out later today, so much enjoyment spent having a lazy time – and Chris catching up with SEVERAL John Wayne movies (that is why I am in the kitchen typing this!!!)

Sunday 2nd March – day 127

Taking our three types of Bread and Butter pudding (yes home made) to Ali’s today to surprise Mum for Mothers Day, Hannah also joining us so that is my treat! We were not required at Green Drive for an hour after picking Hannah up, so we had a little time luxury at the Emporium whilst Chris went off in search of flowers – good man!! We had a lovely afternoon all together, Al and Vic showed their true aging colours by thinking that it was chic (yes really) to offer us a fashion parade of them wearing their winceyette night shirts (yes really!) Be still my beating heart, it took a while before I was able to face lunch, but the wondrous spread that they lay before us - but I gave it my best efforts!!!!!
We dropped Hannah off at the station by 6.30pm and home for Lark Rise to Candleford.