The lakes - A Showing and a Meal

 I had a lovely nights sleep, disturbed only by the sound of nuts dropping off the trees onto the roof and four gunshots at 4am. It was so lovely that I didn’t wake up till 8.40. A new world record. Ian made the coffee then went off to bring the car down it having fully charged over night. I will never know if I got my full 40kw worth. We did the normal pfaffing then Ian made the porridge. “You don’t make enough,” was his reason for changing a three year old tradition. Ten minutes later he plonked a bowl of raspberries topped by a teaspoonful of porridge in front of me as I sat outside. “How much porridge do you use exactly?” He queried, as if he was going to make it again any time soon! I also noticed that, despite Ian telling me that wasp stings are painless and cause no problems, my arm had swollen to twice the size. Here we go again.

Big Arm

We both showered, but did not need the gadgets Vicky got us for our birthday as the showers were not push button. I like to call them thing one and thing two.

Thing one and thing two

By that time it was 1pm and time for a small sandwich before heading for Brantwood,  John Ruskins house, where the showing was to be held. Last year we had cycled to it, with Misty in a trailer, and stopped at the cafe for coffee. This time we were welcomed into the house and offered wine by a very posh lady. Hailin welcomed us with great joy, as did Piers, not Giles as I thought he was called. There were many other very posh people mingling, including one of Piers old public school friends, he was even posher than the rest. Ian had a long conversation with the very posh director of Brantwood then we found a couple from Barnsley to chat with. They were not posh. To be fair, Piers paintings looked lovely in the house and it all went very well with him giving a little speech.

Ian with Piers/Giles

Viewing with a critical eye

Nice flowers

Outside Brantwood

Hurry up and take the blooming photo!

After the viewing we went for a little drive including crossing Windermere on a ferry, before ending up at Fellfoot for a coffee and cake. It costs £8 to park there if you are not National Trust members, luckily we are. We got a lovely table by the waters edge and sat watching the ferry’s come and go. They seemed to get ever larger till eventually a triple decker one came along scattering the canoeists and paddle boarders in its wake. Afterwards we drove back to Dame Shirley for a rest before the meal. As we pulled in we noticed a Motorhome on pitch 28. It was good while it lasted.

On the Windermere ferry (having forgotten my sunglasses)

Coffee and cake at Fellfoot

A Fellfoot photo

Intruder on pitch 28

After my, now customary, afternoon nap, we changed and headed over to The Steam in Coniston for the meal. It was really nice. We sat in the garden talking before we went inside for the food, which was all very nice. We got sat with the Barnsley couple, no idea why! But we had a good chat. Piers kept coming round and asking if we had enough wine, or water in my case as I was driving. Sadly I was too afraid to take photos in case the posh people judged me. It was 11.30 before we returned, as quietly as possible, to Dame Shirley, then straight to bed, giant arm throbbing.