Saturday 1 August 2009

Thirty two years and two days

Thanks for all the comments on the previous post. People say my husband is very patient.
I say he gets a lot of practice.
Thirty two years and two days have passed since we tied the knot.
We went away for a few days to my favourite place on earth so far...the Lake District.
How could you not love it? Even in the rain. Look at the colours in this wall. Click any of these pictures to enlarge them.


They even have a better class of Grafitti...this is the only grafitti we saw mind you.


We stayed in the best B&B I have ever stayed in but I'm not going to tell you where it is because its almost always full and I don't want to increase the competition. (It number 2 in the trip advisor list of B&Bs in Keswick if you really want to know.)

I was in heaven at breakfast time eating their home made granola on Greek yoghurt with honey and raspberry coulis.

They even left a bottle of wine and a card in the room for our anniversary.
Absolutely lovely.

The weather was not great but we only had one actual soaking on our way to the pub for a meal, we survived.
According the TV news, the campsite flooded and had to be evacuated. Its right on the side of the lake.

Obligatory gratuitous Herdwick shot.


We planned a trip on an Ullswater steamer.




We were going to get off halfway up the lake and walk to the top, but there was too much water in the lake and the jetty was mostly submerged, so we just had a round trip.
Watching the different ways people enjoy the lake was fun.
These sailing boats were pure Swallows and Amazons with beaming children in charge.



We walked up to Aira Force, more spectacular than ever with all the heavy rainfall .


Thursday was the annual Ambleside sports, not to be missed. A traditional event with a few modern touches..


set in the valley below high mountains.
What more scenic competition arena could there be?
Natural 'props' for the competitiors!
Fell runners disappeared over this mountain at intervals during the day, all ages, all classes, some much older than me and some considerably younger.

They all came back too.
The main race is 9 miles.

The most Traditional local event is Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling.
Men in tights...loose ones...and heavily embroidered velvet 'centrepieces' compete in unfathomable bouts of wrestling...best of three falls.

They begin with the traditional costume competition. The pants are embroidered by wives and girlfriends. I wanted to grab one and take a photograph of his 'embroidery' but they stayed in their own area. Besides , it might have been misconstrued.
Here are two of the best ones.(I'm talking pants here)


The one below won the embroidery competition and here he is weighing in for the bouts, which went on all afternoon. As far as I could tell weight was a big advantage, but technique played a very big part.

Once again all ages competed. This is how they start..the 'tek owd' ....apparently.(For southerners that means' Take hold')

There were two TV personalities there...Rory McGrath and Paddy McGuinness who were filming for their show about unusual British sports.

The wrestling went on all day, but at the same time there were fell runners starting off, cycle races, running races around the track and each event had a different commentator all talking over one another.
Just as the cycle race was about to begin, the next event was suddenly due
'The hounds must leave at a quarter to two', so the cyclists had to be held up.

This was the very best bit.
The hound trailing.
Earlier, someone ran over the mountain or fell with a rag soaked in aniseed and paraffin and left a trail for the dogs to follow.
Suddenly the dogs are brought into the arena...you hear them first howling and barking and yelping with excitement dying to be off.

Its serious stuff and there's big money to be made so the hounds are all marked with a colour to show they started the race in the arena.

This is a VERY short video of the start..I cut it off too quickly but you get the idea.I had no way of knowing the start of the race was imminent.



They disappear over the fell and there's nothing for a while.

About 45 minutes later the noise begins as the first hounds are spotted on the fell, through binoculars. The owners scream and whistle and shout for their dogs to encourage them to run faster and beat the rest, the dogs hurtle down the mountainside through bracken scattering sheep , and arrive in a flurry of excitement wagging everything they can and dive into their reward.



What a fun day out . Add to that the exciting prospect of getting your car bogged down in the field and its a day to remember.

(I have just found a video clip of the day which shows a bit of everything and gives you a taste of the hectic atmosphere if you want to have a better look here)

Followed by a posh meal out and then a walk around Tarn Hows just before dark. What bliss.
On Friday it was time to come home and we went via Grasmere. There was a wedding at the Church. A lovely setting.
(I didn't take this picture.My husband did)



Further on in Ambleside I was sent out with the F&B swatches to match this woodwork colour.


I can report it was exactly as I had guessed...'Blue Green'.

I hope you have managed to stay awake up to here. I am well aware that not everyone wants to read about Cumbrian holidays but this blog is also my diary so I hope you'll forgive me.

I came home to a pile of lovely comments and e-mails(JP I can't find a way to answer your comments) and an acceptance for 'Sparkle' Contemporary Craft and gourmet food fair in November in Teddington.
Exciting.

38 comments:

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Oh, I could read about Cumbrian Holidays for hours! Thanks so very much for sharing your holiday with us. Some of my most favourite places! How I longed to shrink down to fairy size and step into the computer screen. Such a paradise. And the loveliest place ever to spend your anniversary!! I wish you much joy!!

Sue said...

What a lovely little photo diary of your trip - as you know I too love the Lakes to bits and take any possible opportunity to visit. It really is a special place. The colours always inspire me. Glad you had such a nice time :-)

Karen said...

Yikes..................Still haven't done it! Oh my gawd!!!!!!!! Promise, promise, I will do it monday. Please don't be cross, grovel, grovel. Just stopped by your best friends blog and I see what you mean. I am thinking....what???????
How many pics did you put on your c.d. not counting montages, collages or whatever they are called?

Magpie's Mumblings said...

That looks like an ideal place to have a holiday! Congratulations on your anniversary (we're coming up on 30 years ourselves).

connie said...

Oh, my it looks beautiful. I am glad you had a wonderful time. Congratulations and I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thank you for sharing. For those of us who have not traveled much it is nice to see it through your eyes.

silverpebble said...

I do love the Ambleside Sports and the eclectic events there. I believe it was about ten years ago I went to this (or perhaps it was the Langdale Show) and we played ferret bingo. The ferret was posted down a labyrinth of washing machine tubes that had been dug into the ground and we would bet on which hole he'd pop out of. On my turn the ferret couldn't be bothered. He fell asleep down the tube.

It looks as though you had a lovely anniversary minibreak. I've been thinking of you whilst you've been away - hoping you had a lovely time x

Genie said...

Belated Happy Anniversary wishes Jackie, lovely pics .

Threadspider said...

A perfect way to celebrate your Anniversary! Congrats to you both.

WendyCarole said...

how wonderful I love the Lake District.

We have stayed in a couple of extremely nice B&Bs too.

Heather said...

Wishing you both a belated Happy Anniversary. What a fantastic post - almost as good as actually being there. Glad the weather didn't put a damper on things and you had such an enjoyable and interesting time. I love that wall and the graffiti, not to mention the embroidered pants and the church window is beautiful. Thankyou for sharing it all with us.

gunnelsvensson said...

Looks like you have had a lovely trip! Lovely pictures!

Art4Sol said...

Sounds and looks like a wonderful trip. Congrats on another mile stone!

maggik1 said...

So glad you had a wonderful time in the Lakes - it sounds marvellous! I find it a hard place to go to now, I'm afraid - so many memories. I'm still in amongst the cobwebs but 'getting there', I'm sure.

Julie said...

I enjoyed every minute of your post and especially the yummy stone wall. What a wonderful way to celebrate your anniversary for which, Happy Anniversary!

That stained glass window must look fantastic from the inside.

red bamboo said...

Hi there! Just to let you know I have awarded you a One Lovely Blog award. I found you through Cloth to Creation blog by the lovely Pam (who I think has also awared you!). All that is asked is that you pass the award onto 15 blogs you feel deserve it (let them know of course!) and spread the word! Don't feel you have to find 30 blogs since you've been awarded twice! For more details, see my blog (www.redbamboohandmadethings.blogspot.com)
Annie

ArtPropelled said...

Happy, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to you! Glad you had a lovely time. I loved our stay in the Lake District even though the B&B was the worst we've ever stayed in. All the other B&B's throughout Britain were absolutely fantastic.

Pat said...

Thanks for this, made me homesick. I could hear the dogs coming over the fell....eerie and wonderful.

Jeanette, Mistress of Longears said...

Congratulations and many, many more! I have made a mental bookmark to try visiting this area if ever I am so lucky as to return to British Isles.

menopausalmusing said...

At the risk of sounding "pervey"... I would have liked to have seen more of the embroidered shorts/pants and known the history behind the symbols etc. What a lovely few days you had! x

Cda00uk said...

Congratulations on 32 years and counting - I guess you were still teaching then and got married in the summer hols?

Celia - 38 years and a few days ...

Gina said...

Happy Anniversay Jackie. Your lovely post makes me want to go back to the Lake District - it's been too long!

Dolores said...

Thank you for posting the pics. I enjoyed your little holiday and I am glad that the weather didn't put a damper on your mood. It sounds like you and your husband really had a great time.

Victoria said...

Unlike anything we have here... What fun and what beauty! Happy Anniversary my friend!

Digitalgran said...

What a wonderful anniversary break you had Jackie. I love your wall. I have a thing about them, the colours of the stones and all those beautiful greens!

Clare Wassermann said...

What a lovely break and who needs abroad anyway?

Joei Rhode Island said...

As a "Yank" I enjoyed the diary entry of your Cumbrian Holiday...gotta love those guys running (or wrestling) around in embroidered shorts...Sounds like you had a lovely time.
Happy Anniversary

Pam said...

It all sounds just so fabulous Jackie!! Green with envy! :))

jude said...

xox and all the best.

Lyn said...

You sound like me, I'm babbling on about my holiday over on my blog too- but hey it's part of what we do and it makes us happy. I loved reading about your Cumbrian adventure, and wish you many more happy years together.
Love
Lyn
xxx

Robin Mac said...

Belated congratulations on your wedding anniversary - what a superb way to spend it. I loved Cumbria when we visited many moons ago, wish we had seen the Ambleside sports day, it looks fantastic. Definitely not too many photos and NOT boring. Cheers, Robin

Chris Daly said...

Congratulations to you both! Happy anniversary. You are so lucky to have so many magical places to visit.

konnykards .. Musings of a Senior Citizen said...

Congratulations!
(We are at 51 years 11 months and hopefully lots more to go!)
Lovely to read about Cumbria and a reminder for me of happy days there, Connie,

Penny said...

We spent my 60th Birthday in the UK 10 years ago and one of the must see areas was the Swallows and Amazons museum and to see where they sailed as I was an Aussie brought up on those books. We also had to go to Beatrix Potters cottage as she was a something cousin of my husband and his aunts had been there while she was alive. I found the kitchen very similar to the one in the family house here.
You brought back lovely memories and a very belated happy anniversary.

Linda Vincent said...

Oh you have inspired me Jackie..... haven't been to the lakes for years, but I feel a visit coming on.
Thanks for a lovely post.
Linda x
PS I found the b&b!

Greedy Nan said...

We went to the Lakes and stayed here - http://www.craketreesmanor.co.uk/
- it was really special. For a moment I thought it was the same place you'd been to. My only complaint was that everyone else was visiting at the same time!

hens teeth said...

Great read Jackie ...congratulations to you and your lovely husband.
Also, good news about the Fair. Catch up soon. x

Carol said...

Hi Jackie, Happy Anniversary - a little late! Really nice photos of your trip!

Morna Crites-Moore said...

That first photo - of the stone wall - looks like one of your sewn pieces. :-)



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