January walks

....Well, what a start to the new year! I know it's the 6th already, but I've been so busy!

New years day ended up with us doing a bit of shopping before checking the weather and sorting out clothes for an overnight stay in the Lakes on Saturday night. We headed up to Ullswater on Saturday morning, up to the Brackenrigg Inn. Once we were checked in we decided to take Oscar out for a short walk before our evening meal, so we just walked out from our room and went up the lane at the side of the hotel. It was lovely - some views of the hills across the lake and a bit of snow on the tops. 

And then back to the pub to eat. We tried their own beer that's brewed there - delicious!

After a good night's sleep and a very hearty breakfast we checked out on what was my birthday, on Sunday. DH had taken some presents with us for me to open in the morning, including a wood whittling day in April!! How exciting! I'm really looking forward to that - you get to make a wooden bird in a day.  I know that some people will find that thought a bit odd, but I think it's so cool to be able to do that, just with a block of wood and a few tools.

We parked up at Matterdale and took Oscar for a short walk. 

We would have stayed out longer but it started raining (yet again) so we went back to the van and drove to Keswick for a bit of a mooch round and a brew. We found a lovely little cafe that we've been to before called Java, and had a lovely scone with jam and clotted cream and cup of tea for me (coffee for DH). And then it was time to head back home and see DD for the rest of my birthday. DH cooked a delicious birthday tea for me - steak, mushrooms and sautéed potatoes - very yummy.

And this week has been a week off for both of us. Monday was spent trying to sort out my craft room (rather unsuccessfully), but I managed to sort out what I need to get done this week while I'm off work. So, yesterday I found a bit of time to get some painting done and get a bit more organised.

We had decided that as the weather forecast was looking ok for today that we would get out walking somewhere. Last night I suggested doing Pen y Ghent. As part of the three peaks challenge this is one of the three peaks. We were only aiming to do the one though. The weather forecast said overcast but brightening up later. It lied. We set off and the drizzle started, and the mist came, and it didn't improve!

I knew there was part of the walk that had a steep drop down one side, at which point I nearly gave up as I was terrified. But I kept going and we eventually made it to the top after a couple of hours. Finally, the summit!

However, I knew that I couldn't go back down the same way, as not only was it scary for me, the mist had got worse and it was much wetter underfoot - I would have ended up a quivering wreck! The alternative way down was described as being a bit of scramble for those that climb up that way - again, not something I cope very well with. Our only other option was head out over to Plover Hill and attempt to get down that way. After a sandwich and hot chocolate we headed off in to the mist towards Plover Hill. 

On the map it looked like it wouldn't be too strenuous. However, with the mist getting worse and the hill top rapidly becoming more and more boggy as we tried to carry on, it got to the point where we knew that to carry on could mean us becoming very disorientated as visibly was getting really poor.

Not wanting to take our chances and risk becoming lost on a misty hill in the rain, we went back to the summit and made the decision to head to the scramble and just go for it. It wasn't actually as bad as I thought it was going to be, but maybe that's because we couldn't really see much and the fact that I spent a lot of the way down shuffling down on my behind! I was too nervous to try and climb down, so ended up sitting down on the rocks and shuffling down that way when it got too scary for me!

Eventually we got to the end of the scrambling section and were on a decent path that took us back down to the road and back to the van.....

.......just as it became too dark to see probably. Time for a nice cup of tea and piece of christmas cake, and reflections on the days walk. Despite the terrifying moments for me and the extra we walked to avoid the scramble (which we did anyway), we both agreed that it had been a good walk and we were very glad we'd done it.

I just don't think I will do it again ………..

New Year

Well, it's nearly the start of another year already. And what a year we've had! On reflection, we've had some fabulous times. Sadly we've also had to cope with quite a few sad times.

We had to say goodbye to some of our family pets earlier in the year, and although they were the older ones, their loss was still hard to deal with. First losing our dear Molly who was such a wonderful character and totally faithful Westie …….

……followed closely by my gentle giant Gadget, my Maine Coon who was never on the plan as far as having cats was concerned, but who I wouldn't have been without …….

….and then my dear, dear Gizmo in June - such a character and such a 'lady' to the very end. We will miss them all. I have had far too many trips to the vets this year than I care to think about. Hopefully next year will mean I see less of the vets (nothing personal there, I'd just rather not see as much of them now).

We have had some amazing holidays - finally visiting family 'down south' and then having family travel north with us for DH's milestone birthday in the summer in Scotland (a holiday we won't forget in a hurry!), followed by another Scottish holiday just the two of us in September, and then a girly holiday for me with DD. They haven't all gone to plan - typical scottish weather in summer wearing woolly jumpers and raincoats, and incredible heat and a thunder storm in Cyprus with DD. You can't win 'em all!

I've met up with a couple of cousins I haven't seen for years which has been lovely, and realised that just because somebody is family doesn't mean you have to like them, and that it's ok not to like them. Actions speak far louder than words, and showing somebody you care about them is far more important than just telling them - telling somebody you'll do something means nothing if you don't go ahead and do it (sorry, bit of a winge about in-laws). But, we all have those family members who you find frustrating, irritating or just plain annoying.

My mum has discovered the joys (and frustrations!) of technology - yay! A mobile phone earlier in the year and, as a bit of a wild card, a Kindle for Christmas from me as a step up. I hope she finds it exciting to browse and see all that there is to look at and discover over the internet. It's a whole new world out there once you start browsing, and I'm so glad she's starting to find out.

We've been on some fabulous walks over the year, although not as many as last year due to either the weather or other commitments. Hopefully we will continue to find some out of the way places to escape the crowds again next year. I think my highlights have to be our amazing walk in Scotland in September overlooking the Kylesku Bridge and the random wild camp that followed ….

……and our climb up to Little Harter Fell with the contrast in weather conditions along the way and the amazing views from the top ……

My crafting has slowly taken over as the year has gone on, with me taking the plunge and going to craft fairs and actually facing the general public with my goods. Although it was scary to start with, I found that I started to enjoy it, and have met some lovely people along the way. I have more craft fairs lined up for next year, so fingers crossed for those.

And so we come to the end of another year. Another year where I've managed to keep up the blogging.  I hope I've made it interesting along the way.

Here's to 2016, to blogging and walking and crafting and reading, and doing things that you enjoy in life, with people who matter.

#walking #reading #handmade #crafts
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