Lakes Weekend

So then, my nosebleed has finally subsided from having been dragged very much 'oop north' for a weekend at Vicki & Tina's cottage in the Lakes. Fortunately in a small town called Hawkshead, very thoughtful of them to buy somewhere that would remind them of us every day.

Having vetoed the initially unlikely plan of lots of hillwalking every day (very handy excuse 'oh no Scrumpy won't be able to manage all that' – aka 'Scotty needs a forklift to ger her up anything with an upwards incline'), we met up with Rachel Webbo-McDowell (was v.good to catch up, Strawb) and her 3 beautifully-brung up sproglets for a very nice trot around a lake – which I had by then worked out would be pretty much on the flat, given it's lake-ness, hurrah. Rach's kids are so much bigger than when last seen – Jessica almost a teenager with those long legs and rolling eyes at the prospect of a kids meal for lunch. Lissie with a mean right arm throwing action, keeping Scrumpy in lake swimming ball retrieval mode and Charlie looking so angelic that clearly he is a serial killer in the making… ok Rach I know you're looking horrified reading this, so I will amend it to 'the very cute keeper of Pass the Pigs and taker of endless photos, some of which even had half of us in them'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the Sat we then headed towards our main activity – the Canadian Kayak expedition across and round Lake Coniston. Three boats, 7 adults.. and three spaniels, two very calm Cockers and of course the insanely desperate to get in the water Scrumpy. Cue paddling off and having to stop every 10 yards to pull Scrumpy back into the boat as she dangled and strangled from her lead which was still tied to the seat.. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All followed by some very nice nosh chez Holgate/Dullaghan in the cottage – much nicer than Vicki had rather unkindly described their northern purchase, in fact very lovely indeed. And some skiffle watching in the local boozer, where I apparently attracted the attention of not just one but two male locals. An event clearly so rare in my experience that I went to bed still telling Hawksey rather drunkenly all about it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And thence back for the 6 hour drive to London (ah yes, still the slight flaw in the Lakes abode, next time we will come by train!) – spot the photo of Sophie in the back with Scrumpy safely behind the built in BMW dog-gate, surely tailormade for the purpose… Oh no, make that the dog gate with a dog sized gap at either end allowing said pooch to rest paws on any passengers head all the way hoome… Nice skills, Beamer peeps.