24th March, 2019.....Manic March!

In the last blog, at the end of February, we were pretty chilled out in the beautiful sunshine- finally after a frantic few weeks Mad March is coming to an end and we've almost fitted everything in- just a DIAMOND wedding anniversary and Mothering Sunday to go...plus all our usual 'end-of-term' events-Cumbria Education Authority has now fixed the Easter break to the first two weeks in April, regardless of when Easter actually falls, so we've got to do all our usual stuff this week- and Easter is nowhere to be seen!!!

It did look beautiful at Furness Abbey this morning in the early sunshine....

….a walk down here always re charges our batteries!! Lots of energy burnt off down here earlier in the week too, by some of our lovely staff and pupils...

...rolling down the side of the amphitheatre has been a 'thing' as long as I've lived in Barrow (49 years!).

Always time for a little fun at Abbey Mill Café.....

…..and some of Jackie's delicious cake! Talking of 49 years ago....this photo was taken just after we moved to Cumbria (brother number two wasn't even born!)Happy Birthday to my first brother, that's me and him holding hands outside Beatrice Potter's house- 51 tomorrow!!

24th February, 2019.... Floral end to February!

It was such a beautiful morning, even the tulips were opening up....we had to head down to Furness Abbey to enjoy the crisp, clear air.....

Frankie really didn't want to walk with us though- not cool being seen out with 'the olds'!!

It may have been early, but it was very busy at Abbey Mill Café....

...lots of running groups around at the moment- really supportive of the 'Mile for Mental Health' running group that friends and colleagues are involved in- finally the stigma is shrinking!

And what a beautiful venue for running- the Furness countryside!

On the walk back we thought we'd try and 'snap' as many flowers as we could see, blooming in this warm spell of weather....

Take a look at the beautiful How Tun Woods at the moment too....

...stunning display of purple crocuses up there...well worth a walk!

Back to work tomorrow!

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.....

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

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

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