1st February, 2015...tea, scones and walking the Nile!

Wow...where did that blast of freezing cold air come from! Thursday was BITTER! And the poor Steve Hillman bride yesterday....not the best day to be wearing a wedding dress...fur bolero or not!

 

 

Lovely down at Furness Abbey this afternoon though..and very busy!

 

 

 

 

This was the view from right at the top of the amphitheatre...it's like we are living in the Alps!

Some hungry birds down here today!

 

Abbey Mill's Jackie was run off her feet...but happy with it!

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sure there's a bit of 'explorer' in me somewhere. I would have been happy to Walk the Nile with Levison....what a program that was!! Often, those 'trekking' programs look 'set up', with lots of cameras and body guards in the back ground, but his was incredibly scary at times, and some of the countries he walked through were depressingly mired in conflict, often not of their own making. Fantastic, though sometimes grim, viewing!

 

 

 

Afternoon tea 'chez Hillman' today, though I fear I have made too many scones again!!!

 

 

 

 

And then we walked up to the golf course to take a look at the stunning views from there of the Langdale Pikes.

 

 

I went Youth Hostelling in the Langdales in a snowy February when I was about eighteen. We laugh about it now because the gear I had was a Peter Storm cagoule and leggings, and a pair of Army and Navy Stores boots. You just wouldn't do it now!!

 

 

 

Steve Hillman really annoying with that camera....Mrs. G is that you?!!!

 

 

Black Combe and Millom looking lovely from up here.....

 

 

....as are the first snowdrops of the year!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25th January, 2015....Stunning photography at Furness Abbey!

A strange week of weather....Hawcoat had some snow on Wednesday morning but there wasn't any in town. Some beautiful sunrises and low winter sunshine, frost and todays gloom. The perceptive camera of Steve Hillman has captured it all.......

Stunning!!! We've been asked by lady who writes a wider Barrow blog if she can use some of our Furness Abbey photographs, so that's plenty for her to choose! Gloomy down here this weekend though....

We had a chat to Abbey Mill's Jackie about plans for The Abbey Tavern now it has been purchased by English Heritage. It will be incorporated into the fabric of the existing museum, but not for at least two years. In the mean time, it is becoming more and more run down...it's such a shame...

What about Wolf Hall...!! That was the best bit of 'period' TV I've seen in ages. The characters told a stand alone story instead of having to re-tell the history (in case you didn't know it), and Mark Rylance was stunning as Thomas Cromwell. I loved the little OCD touches...him straightening the table cloth and wiping the goblet!! I don't know if Thomas Cromwell himself visited Furness Abbey during the Dissolution, but he would be kicking himself now knowing he missed the Abbot's grave and treasure!

I met up with my long-time friend from Canada on Tuesday afternoon. She left Barrow almost twenty five years ago, but sadly had to return for a funeral. It wasn't the best place to meet up but it was lovely to see her, and hear the life story of her father-in-law, another 'born and bred Barrow' person. The old peoples home where she worked isn't even there now, which was a shock to her, but we picked up pretty much where we'd left off....and she still can't use technology...phones, computers, cars!!!! Barrow Girls Grammar School is not there now either, so it will keep our secrets at least!

Ruth was the queen of the 'zip-up collared cardigan'!!!! She wore it so well!!

Doesn't Abbey House look beautiful in the morning light!

Only soft, grey light down here this afternoon.....Frankie is sporting the 'hoody' look so well! We walked further along the Roose path today...some weird old trees to look at....it's well worth setting off from Flass Pits (is it still called that?) and walking right through to Abbey Mill.

Especially with this waiting for you at the other end!

18th January, 2015...A sniff of winter, Blue Monday and another giant family gathering!

Beautiful sunshine on Saturday, and a distinct lack of weddings, so we headed down for an early walk to Furness Abbey.

 

 

 

A football team working out greeted us....far too intense for me...I'd rather walk (or swim)!

 

 

Beautiful view of Abbey Mill from the top of the amphitheatre....we didn't have luncheon today (been reading Wind in the Willows again!) as we knew we were heading out for another family meal in Ulverston this evening. Farmers Arms doesn't have fantastic connotations for me, but actually it was very nice, but VERY busy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My niece has outgrown us all!

 

 

About 75% of 'The Clan' in this photo! Big decisions to made this week about whether one of them escapes to work in Boston for a few years.....not an easy decision!

 

So...to bed late after drinks at the Hillman residence...to wake up to this.......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got out as early as we could but by lunchtime the light drizzle had melted everything, and only the pathways at Furness Abbey remained covered. No photo opportunities today!

 

 

 

Poor old monks...they must have been freezing...an no fires allowed except in the Abbot's house and in the infirmary!

 

 

Apparently, it is Blue Monday tomorrow...the most depressing day of the year, and we have been asked if our school can provide a taste of the antithesis to this...."YES!" I answered, so look out for us on the #nwembehappy site at some point this week......

 

 

....why would you not be happy, living in a place like this!