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Published: January 8th 2012
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Happy New Year and January marches on so I better get up to date before I start my travels for 2012.
In early December I set off for the North of England ( with a flasks of hot tea, blankets, shovel and bag of ashes in the boot in case of a repeat of last year’s weather- fortunately I didn’t need them). On the way I picked up Marilyn and Terry who had left behind their home in sunny warm Spain for the family pre-Xmas visit. I think they like being here for a winter visit to remind them of why they left!!
We spent that week in the Lake District at Chapel Stile in the Langdale Valley- this is a timeshare apartment I have. We were lucky to have cold frosty days and snow on the mountains – but not too much that it stopped us getting around. It’s a quiet week before the Xmas visitors all arrive so on our walks sometimes we only saw one or two others. The photos will show how beautiful it was and even on rainy days there are all the deep greens of mosses, vibrant browns of the bracken on the
Blencathra
Well I think it is!! hillsides, silvery mists across a lake – and of course where the tress have dropped their leaves you see through to views not seen in summertime. There had been a lot of ran so in many places rivers were bursting banks and fields were flooded. A great week with M+T – lots of stops for winter picnics in the car, nice cups of coffee, best flapjacks in the world at Baldrys tea room in Grasmere, lamb shanks at Wainwrights Inn and a special dinner at Purdeys restaurant Langdale Hotel. And we did manage a bit of exercise at the resort’s spa pool- swim sauna, steam room and the icy cold bucket of water on your head after the sauna is certainly refreshing- of course I am the only daft one to try that. And so a drive over the North Pennines almost saw us getting stuck in the snow at a hairpin bend approaching Hartside Pass but thanks to Terry’s wonderful driving skills we made it and drove in a winter wonderland scene to Newcastle.
A few days there spent catching up with family and friends and then I was back to the Lakes again, this time staying in
Our apartment at Chapel Stile
Very handy - Wainwrights pub is on ground floor. Ambleside on Windermere. I had the job of getting in the supplies for Xmas week as Richard and Catherine were arriving from Sweden and Suzanne meeting them and driving to the Lakes on Christmas Eve.
This is now 6 years since Michael died and it is always a very emotional time for us – but this year was less about the sadness and loss and more about what he had given me in our life together – so we all visited Michael’s special places and I always feel so peaceful and happy that we had such lovely times there. We didn’t see much of the sun that week but out we went togged up in big jackets and boots and walked up by waterfalls, on the fells above Grasmere (the Old Coffin Way) and by the lakeside. So it was a really lovely Xmas time with the kids – lots of laughs, drinking local beers, port, Roses chocolates, a jigsaw and quiz which Richard won of course.
New Year’s Eve I celebrated with my brother and sis-in-law at a dinner dance- so bringing 2011 to a close and looking back at all the wonderful times I have had
Chapel Stile (1)
Marilyn chooses a piece of slate!!! – I have been so lucky to have been happy and healthy and made so many new friends on my travels.
And what is in store for 2012 – well I am packing now to go off to Dubai on Wednesday and will take in a trip to Oman while I am there…so watch this space.
Love to all , Lynne xx
PS Might put the fotos on in two blogs - so watch out for the Xmas week fotos - if you are not too bored with them.
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Pauline
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Beautiful photos as always, Lynne
So sorry I missed your phone call. I'm not good at keeping my mobile with me :-) Enjoy Dubai and Oman, sound wonderful. Catch up with you soon. love & hugs Pauline