2nd January, 2020...Retirement and Happy New Year!

We haven't blogged for a long time (although we have walked at our beloved Abbey quite a lot)...

….. and there has been a very good reason for that....I have officially left my teaching career behind me and have taken early retirement!! I haven't been well and it seemed the right time to give my health priority- it wasn't an easy decision and I am grateful to the good people who have helped and supported me through the difficult time I have had- family have been everything too- you do find out who's really there for you when you're down, so thanks to all those people! I'm coming out of the other side, I think, and walking in the serene area around Furness Abbey has helped immensely....

Abbey Mill Café looking beautiful and atmospheric in the frost- thanks to Jackie for her supportive messages too!

We even got Christmas done- which was great!

..walking 100 yards up the road with chairs to have Christmas pudding ....

....although some had to drive.......

...the Hillman's post-Christmas look! There have been plenty of weddings as always...

...this one was particularly close to our hearts- the wedding of a former colleague and friend of ours (he has featured in our blog on many occasions, last time was when he left, wearing a Superman suit!) and his recent visit, along with his lovely (now) wife, really lifted our spirits!

…..and I am going to unashamedly give Alyson from POSH flowers a huge thank- you too- I couldn't attend her wreath making class as I was off work, so she kindly made this one for me and sent it over- you don't forget gestures like that!

We did have a rather lovely 'retirement' tea at Abbey House too, which look wonderfully festive as always, and provided a very kind upgrade to my neice and her fiance when they stayed over Christmas! So, we will still be blogging in the New Year, the SteveHillman camera is as busy as ever with weddings and me....I really, really, REALLY want to write!!

3rd November, 2019- Coral Anniversary Blog!

Okay- we have been married for thirty-five years today- but that didn't stop us doing what we love best- an early morning 'coral and amber' walk to Furness Abbey....

...and looking stunning, embedded within the late autumn landcape, as always! Plenty of water around too!

The traditional British hedgerow is quite a feature at Furness Abbey, so tomorrow...

...it's coming into my classroom!

So, if we've been married for thirty-five years, this one must be thirty-five next month- where has that time gone......this was at Holker's Winter Market earlier in the week....

...Holker was also looking magnificently autumnal as the SteveHillman camera headed up there on Friday....

...lots of fabulous things to enjoy in the autumnal  Cumbrian landscape!

24th October, 2019...his tail was an icicle!

'Then came this day and he was autumn.

His mouth was wide

And red as a sunset.

His tail was an icicle.'

From my favourite Ted Hughes poem- and autumn is in full swing at Furness Abbey today...... 

.....with vivid red hawthorn berries and bright red ladybirds everywhere...

...there were hundreds of them all over the Abbey railings- like they'd fallen out of the trees above! There have been some stunning sun rises and sun sets this week too...

Ted Hughes got it exactly right- and November will be the sting in the tail apparently! 

13th October, 2019- Furness Abbey and mental well-being!

Thought we'd get out into nature today- it's been a stressful week on many levels (although the girl is now all moved in and the boy has passed part one of his driving test)- and it was yet another rainy autumn day, but looking lovely at Furness Abbey....

......lots of bullocks waiting to greet us too!

Some lovely autumn colours down here at the moment too...

...speaking of colours- many workplaces across the town joined in with the 'Hello Yellow' mental health awareness day on Thursday, and we did our bit.....

....I work with some crazy but good-guys and in our job, supporting each other through stressful and draining times is so important- not everyone wants to talk but everyone deserves to have their personal space and feelings respected as a human being- we're all working with a spectrum of mental health issues linked to us in some way. I sometimes wish people would consider the impact of their mental health on that of others- we ALL have things we're dealing with- but some of us prefer to keep them totally private. Anyhow- Hillman's love and need nature, that's for sure.....

...so, been here this week.....

....and here......

...and, best of all here......

...home!