17th February, 2019.....Spring is in the air!

We've had some lovely weather this week, and had to stare longingly out of the window at it...and finally, half-term is here and we can get some 'OUTDOORS'!

And BREATHE!!!! Talking of which, we had some fab 'Well being' training earlier in the week, from Hester Binge- http://www.educationguru.co.uk/about-us.php

..it was really interesting and I so wish someone had explained things like this to me in my twenties...kind of understand now the need to be out in nature in serene places- it's not just for vegetarian ex-hippies like me though!!

This little guy followed us along the Abbey path, whilst there were bird 'turf wars' up above...

Really, really grateful for a week away from work...it's been a brilliant six weeks since the New Year but SO intense.....

...met Rick Middleton from More Music

 https://moremusic.org.uk/education/music-leaders/rick-middleton/

…….and that was a bonus; joined in with The Lost words...….

….met wizards and owls.....

.

...and wore multi-coloured wellies...

….and had numerous 'up the Lakes' trips.....

….yep, it's all about walking, nature and music with us!!

2nd February, 2019...Freezing February has arrived!

Okay, we aren't part of the polar vortex but February has arrived with a bit of an arctic blast...Furness has had low temperatures and frozen snow, mainly gone now, but southern/eastern areas of the country have had a difficult time of it- being marooned on Bodmin Moor and having to spend a night in Jamaica Inn on a mattress- that's been the reality for some southern travellers this week! Sparking sunshine at Furness Abbey today though...….

...that was after a Hot Mango breakfast with family...

...great place for an informal breakfast meet! The SteveHillman camera has been out and about during this cold snap, capturing the area under its sheet of ice.....

Brrr!!!!It's been a busy few weeks for us with work, weddings and wedding fairs, but we've managed to have a bit of fun too....we met up with one of our favourite guys earlier in the week.....

...he is utterly brilliant, the kids were transfixed....and so was I!!

We also popped over to the opening of the new Dock Museum park, and had a look at the Tim Stead exhibition....

...and when we took some kids over to do the same thing later in the week, look who we bumped in to...

...he's very civic-minded, the new mayor!

13th January, 2019.....Stormy Sunday!

Christmas is but a distant memory (thank goodness!) and after a busy week at work we decided to brave the windy, showery weather and head to Furness Abbey.....

...and we got soaked!!

But it was looking lovely and atmospheric, as always....

….and it was warm and cosy inside Abbey Mill Café, with the wood burner blasting out!

We loved this little sign outside, in light of that very silly story about a Coniston café banning 'screaming children'...…..schools will be banning children next!!!!!!!

It doesn't mentioned 'well-behaved nanas' though!!

This was one from Christmas, when she was definitely being 'well-behaved' and posh!

Here's me and the boy looking quite posh too......FAMILY...

…...important for us all at the moment!

P.S. Don't forget to pop down and see Steve Hillman next week at this event!

2nd January, 2019...Happy New Year and a hard frost!

After the final 'family gathering' of the season, we couldn't resist getting up early and heading out to Furness Abbey in the minus two degrees early morning air temperature...…

...it was looking absolutely lovely this morning! We heard this little guy crying out in a tree...aren't they supposed to be hibernating....it was hardly moving?

So, we finally get 'Christmassy' weather, just as everyone is heading back to work!!

Happy New Year everybody!