Where are the locals?

31 August 2017

Interesting conversation. One of the locals in Coniston commented, that locals live in only 3 in 10 homes in the village. Most are holiday lets/second homes. A third of these are pensioners. This means around 20% are locals who work. This isn’t good for the village.

Grey day in the lakes

31 August 2017

The weather forecast was drizzle most of the day, in reality a few spots, and I didn’t need to put my waterproof’s on.

Having said that it was grey most of the day. Did a little 20+ mile walk mainly low level.

Off from the campsite at 7:30.

Headed past coniston and up towards Tawn Hows, one of the pretty pretty places in the lakes. Despite being grey, it is a lovely place at 9am before anyone arrives. The dull sky’s didn’t spoil it for me.

Then off to Ambleside, weather getting better.

Finally off to Hawkshead and catch a bus back to Coniston. The bus cost £4.50 for a 3+ mile trip, bit pricey, should have walked it.

Quick trip to the Lakes

30 August 2017

Decided a few days ago to pop up to the Lakes for some walking.

Arrived just south of Coniston at 1:30, a quick cuppa and lunch then on the way out by 2:30.

Decided to do a quick walk up the ‘old man of coniston’.

Weather much better than expected, sunny with a slight wind…

Nice view of coniston water.

Made it to the top…. over 800m.

At the top.

Aidan’s 8th birthday.

28 August 2017

Off over to Mary & David’s for Aidan’s birthday. Great time with the family.

Lovely football cake, one of his big passions.

The lucky boy had an Xbox from Mary & David.

I think someone is trying to distract him from the new toy…….

Maria was also getting into the football theme.

Sloe hunting

28 August 2017

Last year we had difficulty finding sloe’s. Funtunately the landlord of the Artisan told us where you could find them near his house in cubley.

So off I went on foot, a little 7 mile stroll from home. It was a walk through an area close to home that I had not really explored, in effect a triangle going out from Ashbourne bordered by the A515, and the road going out to Rocester. It was a lovely area/walk except when I got to one field, clear sign into it, then I found barbed wire all around the edges. After about 30 mins walking around the field I reverted to plan B, and went back and went through a parallel field. Not impressed with this farmer.

The good news, I did manage to get a large bag of sloe’s which have been washed, and prepared for the ‘sloe gin’.

AGA eggs

27 August 2017

Always knew you could cook eggs directly on the AGA, but never actually tried it. However one of the people staying this weekend doesn’t like scrambled eggs, so it gave me the chance to experiment.

It was so simple place the silicon sheet on the cool plate, crack the eggs directly onto it. No oil/fat, close the lid and it cooked to perfection. Really impressed.

The Nottingham crowd

25 August 2017

Off to Nottingham for beer and curry.

Not a good start, a loud country and western singer had taken over nearly half the pub (Organ Grinder).

Not sure how it increases trade for the pub.

The beer was good, but the curry was better.

It was great to see Kaval, he has been going through a really hard time. Sadly we may not see him much longer, but his attitude to life is a true inspiration.