One Fine Day

... in a pretty wet week up north :(

Ullswater  often misses out to Keswick, Windemere et al when touring the Lake District but it is well worth the extra few miles north - it is, after all, the second largest lake in the park. This time last year it was in full autumnal colour. It is on the change but still mainly green. 








At the south end of the lake is Pooley Bridge. A picturesque little village centre with a wonderful cafe - Granny Dowbekin's Tearooms - that does delicious home cooked meals.


Follow the path from the village car park to the walk down to, and around, the lake. The old ferry boats can be seen plying their tourist trade from the pier opposite - or better still take a trip round the lake.

Leaving Pooley Bridge lakeside via the small bridge and heading toward Patterdale you pass the entrance to the amazing Aira Force. For the energetic the walk/climb up the Force is amazing - with a nice log tea room at the base for refreshment on your return. For the less energetic turn right just after the entrance to Aira. At the brow, after a steep incline, is a parking place adjacent to a path with a walkway down to middle force from where you can take the easy walk to high force.

  

Chelt Lit Fest 13

Yes it's that time of year again but this time we have gone, arguably, for the quality rather than the quantity. Easing in gently with Ian Rankin - of Rebus fame - and Linwood Barclay. I came across Linwood, an American born now Canadian writer after I had exhausted my usual authors stocks. On Kindle I turned to Harlan Coben who, in turn, recommended LB. A prolific writer with a colourful background.

Today started with a heavy debate about the effect of equality on social mobility, chaired by  Andrew Neil the panel consisted Polly Toynbee, Alan Johnson and David Davies. Polly got the best ovation for a spirited defense of Early Years and Sure Start, David Davies got a tick for opposing university tuition fees (more robustly than any LibDem I feel) but to be honest it felt more like tinkering round the edges than confronting the 'inherent contradiction in capitalism'!

Onto something much lighter :) Jack Whitehall + Dad made a great pair, each a great raconteur with completely different styles. A set amiably held together by Nick Hewer.

... finishing tomorrow with the inimitable Derek Jacobi

Not Quite Autumn Gold

Returning to Highnam Court for their annual 'autumn gold' it felt more like a summers day with much of the flora still a lush green - with only a few signs of seasonal change.

The damp grass abounded with fungi which Marion tells me is a good sign of an organic, pesticide free environment.

The estate gardens, lakes and tree carvings make it a must visit but whilst there don't miss the local Holy Innocents church with its amazing internal decor. 

' The Holy Innocents Church, Highnam, is a Grade I Listed Building, one of the most significant Victorian churches in the country. It is situated with the other community buildings on the outskirts of the village. The church was commissioned by Thomas Gambier Parry the owner of the nearby Highnam Court, and was consecrated in 1851. The architecture is gothic revival style, and the church is decorated throughout with frescos painted by Thomas Gambier Parry. Hubert Parry, his son, inherited the estate and is best remembered for his musical setting for Blake’s poem ‘Jerusalem’ and much other memorable church music'.

Approaching 60

Marilyn and I had just had a lovely long weekend in mid Devon, near Tiverton, in the Rascal

...when disaster struck - twice, The front heater matrix in Rascal had been playing up, finally went and flooded the cab floor. At the same time the sciatic nerve in my back went n left me painfully immobile! The very nice man from the AA fixed the first the chiropractor is working on the second. All this in the run up to Marilyn's big birthday :-/

Still, in the words of the immortal Bard all's well that ends well :) Loaded up with focused resolve, back cushions and heavy duty painkillers we headed off up to Nottingham to meet up with Ms Aunt Val and friends from Loughboro' for a hilarious murder mystery up the Trent on the Trent Lady. Sherlock was brilliant in the face of much adversity n barracking. Some of the passengers got to play parts (including Marilyn, Joe n Sue) who really threw themselves into it. Given the small galley the crew dished up a fine meal after a wonderful complimentary drink that tasted of almonds n marzipan :-p

After a good nights sleep to overcome the effects of copious wine we dropped Val off in Solihull and M and I headed for a restful weekend at an intimate spa hotel complete with birthday massage, hot tub n pressies.

footnote: Both the Rascal and I are slowly on the mend :)

Carlisle Capers

Just back from the, unusually warm, north visiting Sis. There was much gardening and fencing (not the epee/foil sort :) But there was time to fit in a number of garden visits ...

High Head Sculpture Park
Located just outside Penrith this sculpture trail, featuring the works of local artist Jonathan Stamper, is a popular venue for Cumbrian contemporary artist to display their works. Still some work in progress there are hillside trails and a river runs through it. There are unusual sculptures and a life size stone circle. High Head also boasts a health spa, holiday cottages and an accessible cafe (try the pumpkin soup - amazing!)

Castle Kennedy

Castle Kennedy is part of the Stair estate containing Lochinch Castle, the remains of Castle Kennedy, both the White and Black Lochs, very large monkey puzzles n wild rhubarb and perhaps the most stunning lilly pond covering what seems like quarter of an acre.

 Glenwhan Gardens

Situated on a hilltop in Dunragit it is, perhaps, one of Scotlands newest - yet expansive and picturesque - gardens and heathland walks. 300 feet above sea level it overlooks Luce Bay, the Mull of Galoway and, on a clear day, the Isle of Man. Due to the close proximity of the sea and the warming gulf stream a wide variety of plants flourish here. The garden is built around small lochans created by damming boggy areas of the site.

Fun n Sun sur mer

Just returned from a great break. You may remember from last years post our friends from back in Leicester days, Dave n Sue + mutual friends Garry n Marguerite uped stix and moved to France to a beautiful Atlantique coast village next t' sea. 






As well as the delights of French cuisine, and a memorable wine tasting session, there was culture and music abounding.

You may remember last year, as part of the music festival organised by the Communaute d'Aggiomeration Royan Atlantique,  we discovered the Rastrelli Cello Quartet . This year it was the turn of concert pianist Adam Laloum playing Schumann and Schubert quite effortlessly and with great panache. In contrast, at a jazz cafe in Royan, the string jazz trio Bruno Debord Swing Home Trio blew us away. 








For good measure there was also a trip to Cognac thrown in. After a trip round the picturesque historic town we choose to tour one of the smaller producers Cognac Otard. A sizable converted chateau with hundreds of barrels of aging cognac in perfect conditions. Strange fact, most of the walls of the cognac producers are coated in a thin black film. It is a very specific fungus, that does not harm humans or the brew, but lives only off the fumes of the cognac - our Sue reckons it would be good to be reincarnated as a cognac fungus :) Otard might be small but is very select - it's top of the range 'tear drop' ltr would set you back just under 3,800 euros!

 

 

There are so many beautiful places in the region. One that stands out especially for the streets of hollyhocks against sun bleached cottage walls, is Talmont sur Gironde and the Eglise Sante-Radegonde.

but all good things must end, so until the next time adieu

and bon chance