26th August, 2018........Blustery Bank Holiday of Birthdays and Families!

As I sit here typing this, the rain is belting down, the wind is howling, the air temperature is 12 degrees Celsius....yes...it's August Bank Holiday again!!! After a hectic but wonderful few days, we decided to put on boots and waterproofs and head to Furness Abbey (so atmospheric in this type of weather) and it didn't disappoint!!

William Wordsworth felt it too.....

Here, where, of havoc tired and rash undoing,
          Man left this Structure to become Time's prey
          A soothing spirit follows in the way
          That Nature takes, her counter-work pursuing.
          See how her Ivy clasps the sacred Ruin
          Fall to prevent or beautify decay;
          And, on the mouldered walls, how bright, how gay,
          The flowers in pearly dews their bloom renewing!
          Thanks to the place, blessings upon the hour;
          Even as I speak the rising Sun's first smile         
          Gleams on the grass-crowned top of yon tall Tower
          Whose cawing occupants with joy proclaim
          Prescriptive title to the shattered pile
          Where, Cavendish, 'thine' seems nothing but a name! (From At Furness Abbey 1844)

The beck isn't much better though, is it!! I walked right along it on the river bed!

We've had a weekend of family events- Frankie passes all his GCSE's, even getting some good grades, and he became sixteen so we had a big 'family and friends' meet up and it was lovely- thanks to everyone who came up to see him and us and made his birthday weekend special- he's busy making 'thank-you' cards as we speak!

Here he is four days old...….

….. with his sister when he was two.....

...and with some of the family at his sixteenth party!

Happy 50 something birthday to my sister today too (the blonde one at the front)! She was the blonde, popular. sporty one and I was the quiet, bookish one (on the far right)! No, my dad was not Roy Orbison!!!!

Thanks to my sister-in-law too for this lovely addition to my new kitchen (she did 'launch' the kitchen a couple of weeks ago by spilling a bottle of fizz everywhere!).

Lovely late wedding at Abbey House yesterday....Steve Hillman himself has asked me to draw your attention to the new address for his website.....

https://www.stevehillmanphotography.co.uk/

….check it out!! Here's the now 'infamous' wedding ring photo, one last time!!

12th August, 2018.....Cumbria returns to cool and green!

Early August has bought cooler temperatures to Cumbria and Furness, and some welcome bouts of  rain...... Ambleside's River Rothay is still looking quite empty...…

...we had to have our customary 'Apple Pie Eating House' summer visit earlier in the week....

…..thirty years since I left Ambleside after teaching training there, and the 'Apple Pie' was a tiny but very popular little café...it has really taken off now, but still as good as ever and well worth a visit if you are up there!

Mill Beck is looking a little more green and healthy again....

...as is the countryside around Furness Abbey

...so we put our boots on and went for an early morning 'dewy' walk....

...and a quick 'morning tea' at Abbey Mill Café....

...and a quiet 'creep up' on a heron who was fishing...

….never got a long lens when you need it!!!! Times are changing for the Hillman family..

…..the boy has left school, is going to college and has got himself a part-time job, and his own wheels....

….couldn't resist having a little go myself, for old-times sake...

...and the 'Northants' family branch will soon be moving much MUCH closer!!!!