13th August, 2019...Calm conditions after a stormy weekend!

Doesn't Furness Abbey look beautiful this morning...….

…..but this was the weekend that preceded it...….

…...the weddings should have been a wash-out, but instead the torrential rain and gale force winds became a feature....

…..that's Barrow people for you-great fun and true grit! We've had a few sunny 'nautical' themed days this August...

Lots of exciting times coming up for both my children!

22nd July, 2019..endings and beginnings!

Monday afternoon-if you're a teacher, you'll know that it takes at least two days of sleeping and de-stressing before you can really start to enjoy the summer break- so we finally made it down to Furness Abbey, just as the sun began to shine.....

…..look how long the grass has grown in the month since we were last here....

...and the beck has filled up a bit too...

…..lots of lovely natural life lurking in the long grasses...

….warm, quiet and tranquil at Furness Abbey today!

Tranquil is NOT a word I'd use to describe the last month though....the SteveHillman wedding season is in full flow- lots of couples beginning their new married life together.....

...and the SteveHillman signature style, as always!! Lots of goodbyes to be said this week too, as our latest cohort of children move on to their next school- they've been a great bunch and we have learned a lot from them.....

...great bunch of colleagues too-and I did my traditional 'squeeze' into my class hoody!!

Found this photo in our archives- another sad ending, but our beginning with Furness Abbey, and a great inspiration to many folk! 

26th June, 2019...The Great Outdoors!

We finally made it down to Furness Abbey this morning after a month of intense wedding and school work, so much of which took place in the beautiful South Lakeland Landscape!

It's looking cool and green, but underfoot is very dry, with very little water in the becks....

...a legacy from last summer perhaps? We spotted these tiny wild orchids today too- the meadow hasn't been mown so there are lots of tall wild flowers...

...some really early sloes too....

...the railway guys are back too- working on the railway banks again...

...and just time to catch up with Abbey Mill's Jackie!

So...great fun out in the local landscape in the last few weeks....

...this wedding photo is so Barrow...

...guess the local wedding venue?? 

Outdoor fun for me and my colleagues.....

...teacher life- it's tough, but we soldier on!! Isn't South Lakeland looking lovely though!

26th May- Teacher holidays...again!!!!

If you're a teacher you'll know that the Whit holiday is for writing school reports- that's no sort of holiday but it's what I've done for the last 31 years at Whit!! Besides which, we've just got through SATs silly season again and that makes everyone involved deserve a break...especially the kids!! So that's what we did....brought the kids down to say 'hi' to Furness Abbey!

Spot the teacher...weather watching and carrying footballs!

So we all enjoyed a run up and down the amphitheatre.....

...a chat...….

...an ice cream.....

...then back to reality!! Looking lovely down here today in the sunshine though...

..isn't the English countryside beautiful!

Weddings yesterday, weddings tomorrow......back to school reports today...no rest for the Hillmans!!