4th May, 2020....the pandemic continues but people are changed.....

So, this country, along with most places in the world, is still having to take stringent measures in order to break the transmission of the terrible coronavirus that had spread across the globe. Speculation abounds about the source of the virus and everyone involved in virology or epidemiology is rushing to try and create a vaccine or drugs to help fight the virus if you are unfortunate enough to have been infected. Tragically, 248K people from across the world have died from the virus- 28,000 in the United Kingdom. The world continues to watch and wait, as the global economy tracks downwards. But there are hopeful signs. Adversity has created a feeling of collectiveness and collaboration amongst the world's population and there have been many, many stories of small deeds that have had a big effect. Captain Tom being one of them- 100 years old and raising almost £33 million for the NHS through his efforts. There are stories like this across the world. But, my goodness, the HYPOCRITES are out in force too!!! We could not stand being parted from our beloved Furness Abbey for a moment longer, so have had two sneaky walks down there recently.

It was so quiet! Birdlife had taken over and the Texels grunted in delight at us!

Scary aren't they! Robosheep!

The dandelions have taken over at Abbey Mill Cafe. On the first day that Jackie opens, there will be queues around the block- all two metres apart of course!

We are walking about seven miles every day- we might even be slimmer at the end of the lockdown, but I doubt it; like everyone else, home cooking and home baking have become a feature of our lives. There have been no Hillman weddings, so no income and no government support for this kind of self-employment. Self-employed everywhere, we are thinking of you and how you have been overlooked. So, for now, it is Hillman Flowers instead of Hillman Weddings.... 

If you haven't already walked through How Tun Woods, I would highly recommend it. We've renamed it Furlough Way.....

….and some wonderful views from the top of the nearby quarry and golf course.

So...good points of the lockdown, 40K children's book and 90K novel written, onto memoires now; bad points of lockdown, the brown root spray goes everywhere- come back Caroline!!!

25th March, 2020- We are in the midst of a global emergency and our country is on 'lockdown'.

Further to the last blog, the world has been plunged into a global pandemic- and our country is now in the same position as many of the other worst affected countries around the world. From Monday evening, we have joined many other countries in 'locking down'- the closing of non essential businesses and services and the imposition of strong rules around isolation from other people- measures that it is hoped will flatten the peak of cases and deaths from this new and deadly virus. Sounds like the opening of a novel, but it isn't- it's reality at the moment. United Kingdom citizens have been ordered to keep to their homes as much as is possible, only going out for one blast of exercise or for essentials like shopping and medical needs. We have curtailed our walking and haven't visited Furness Abbey for some time. English Heritage have closed all their sites anyway, and Abbey Mill Café is also closed. Frontline staff in key jobs are running the country now, and trying to keep people safe and well for the foreseeable future. I have total admiration for them all. When this is all over, or at least controlled, I hope we will remember those who haven't been able to hide away and look after themselves- there are a lot of quiet heroes out there at the moment- one of which is my sister-in-law- an ICU nurse at FGH. Total admiration for them all. So, a blog full of memories of Furness Abbey- to help the good and stalwart folk of Furness to be remined of what will await us all one day!

A quick p.s.- Happy Birthday to my brother- he's the baby in the photo! and that's the east end of London in the late sixties!

13th March, 2020......Coronavirus and Friday the Thirteenth!

Lots happening in the world since we last wrote a blog. If this blog sticks around for future generations to read, the world is subject to a global pandemic right at this moment, with the United Kingdom on the brink of what other countries have already tipped into. Travel has been severely curtailed and across the world, people are being advised to put themselves into isolation if they have any symptoms of the virus, and to only seek medical help if it is urgent. The economic futures of some countries have been placed into severe turmoil and the new chancellor of our country, Richie Sunak, has this week delivered a budget that included much financial support to get us through this difficult time. And today, on Friday the thirteenth, the spring sun is finally shining....

Lambing seems to have started in earnest.....

...and the scary looking Texels are running free in the meadow by the beck!

I dedicated our last blog to a fabulous colleague of our who sadly died a few weeks ago. Her family decided to give her a private funeral, so some of us got together and had a little memorial service of our own. My old boss took the lead with this and also planted a holly tree in his field, in her memory. It was a lovely afternoon and we shared some great memories of her, and of our bygone days of working together.

When I left my job, in November, I needed to regroup and also think about what I wanted to do next. I even applied for a job at our beloved Furness Abbey, but that wasn't to be. Since I was a child, I have always wanted to be a writer- I am, and always have been, an avid reader, and I thought this would be my chance to try and fulfil that ambition...so in January, I started three writing projects, A memoire, a fiction novel and a children's book. Just before I started to write this blog, I FINISHED the children's book, and am now researching what to do next.The story has Barrow and Furness Abbey in it (of course!). Who knows what will happen next!

Change is good!

16th February, 2020- Go home Ciara and Dennis- a ranting blog!

One week -two storms! It must be February! We have managed to walk at Furness Abbey in the last week, despite the weather. Water levels are high but not terrible.....

...a few bits of standing water around though...

.....I do feel sorry for the poor people who live on or near rivers- our climate is changing, it can't be denied anymore, but the people with power don't seem to be listening. It must be devastating to have your home flooded even once, but for it to keep happening, even when you're asking for help...? I usually keep my political opinions to myself  BUT what do we want a multi-billion pound high speed rail network for when infrastructure problems like continual flooding, aren't being dealt with? It won't come any further than Birmingham anyway- the money will suddenly dry up when it has to be built to connect the frozen north- it's for the southern elite to access the Midlands, that's all (Sorry- been watching too much COBRA!!)

This sign has appeared on the level crossing by the railway - sad, but a sign of the times. Massive social media outpourings about the suicide of another troubled 'celebrity' this weekend. She herself said something very poignant in a posted message before she died- that when she'd tried to reach out and tell people how she was feeling, she was called 'draining'. That says it all. There are so many fake people out there that post all these messages about 'being kind to one another' but the truth is they wouldn't dirty their hands on a person who is really struggling. Or worse- they're covering because they know they've been quite nasty themselves. Hypocrisy is getting out of hand in our society. Some of us have been bothered about these issues for years, not just for JANUARY or #s! 

Anyhow, some nice early spring flower photos from Furness Abbey...

...rant over!!