During the morning Rich painted the white window surrounds on the outside of Cobbleholes and Fellside, before painting the stairs and landing of Cobbleholes.

Later we checked the water and were pleasantly surprised to find that it was still fairly full though the trickle of an input was even slower now. The checking process was speeded up by the fact that Rich was in the field where a bull and his ladies were grazing and Rich had to be in between them at the tank. The bull started to casually walk in Rich's direction and so a casual but well advised retreat was made!

After much debate, we start the re-modelling of the path outside our cottage. The plan is to have a new metal gate (being made by a blacksmith in Crosthwaite near Bowness) just outside our door between Fellside and Cobbleholes porch doors.

On our side of that gate the path will widen out by taking a slice off the top of Cobbleholes garden but retaining privacy in that garden. Today we used a hedge trimmer to cut down through the hedge of holly and hawthorn and then we cut back the rhododendron and wegilia bushes to create the wedgeshaped area. Next step will be to make a retaining wall for the edge of the new patio and to re-install the post and wire fence on its new wedge shaped line.

Move mouse over picture to see later progress

As if a fast rally event and a slow rally event were not enough, Kelso also hosted the Annual Scooter Rally with approx 1500 Vespas and Lambrettas making for the town!

At the other end of the motoring scale, 100 Model T Ford cars from around the world arrived in Kelso as part of the Centenary Rally of Model T Fords! At 2pm, they all set off from the town square en route to Dryburgh Abbey, the rally's base where there was to be a ball that night.

Move mouse over picture for 2nd view

The reality is somewhat different. All 7 decided on a combined pincer movement on Rich.

Two climbed up to his shoulders to chew his ears; two more decided to test out the chewability of his shoes; these three decided to go for more delicate areas and a new jumper!

Looking like butter wouldn't melt in their mouths!

We drove to Kelso to see the puppies which we had looked after in April. They were now much bigger and a lot more active!

This is Pip, who decided to adjust (destroy) Rich's shoe laces!

We have had a four days of helicopters buzzing back and forth between Kirkstone Quarry and the far side of Wansfell, presumably doing footpath repairs!

Around 2pm we smell smoke and later learn of a major fire in Ambleside's Market Cross shopping centre. The fire started in the roof and it took fire crews 3 hours to bring the blaze under control.

After years of searching we have found three more chairs, which match our existing chairs in Fellside kitchen, on Ebay. We called today and collected them from Alderley Edge in Cheshire - using the trip to stock up with Staffs Oatcakes and also to see Richard's brother, Robert, and old school colleagues in Warrington.

Restoration will now follow with staining and polishing to match the old and new versions. Discovered that the chairs all have the maker's name - "Glenister's of High Wycombe" stamped on the back and that they all date from the period 1900 - 1940.

Progress on the railway continues with Scandale narrow gauge railway becoming operative.

Move mouse over the picture to see the other end of the layout!

March 24 2008

Saying it with Sheep

This is a special message for Ben and Peter for March 26^th. A closer look at the sheep will reveal all.

March 23 2008

The sheep had sheltered against the wall as shown by the lack of snow there.... They took an interest in Rich, just in case he was Roy in disguise with a bit of food for them!

A few days previously, Roy and Paula's Jacob's ewes had begun to lamb  but youngsters like this one must have wondered what had happened to them when they woke this morning!

Having listened to the weather forecasts for several days and heard about snow as a possibility in the west, we woke to find that it had happened! Not a white Christmas in 2007 but we do have a white Easter in 2008!

March 8, 2008

At 2.30pm we all assembled at Waterhead and to the amusement of passers by, proceeded to sail each boat in turn from the end of the public jetty - back towards the shore. Oliver acted as Captain Rescue in a borrowed dry suit. In this photo, Daffyd "The only Gay Squirrel in the village" sets off with a swan taking a close look at this motorised interloper.

Caroline and Andrew's Terry Nutkins sets off at a fast pace, winning the motorised section of the event!

Princess Guinea Pig made good progress with its small battery powered outboard motor.

After initial teething problems (rapid capsizing) adjustments were made to HMS Victory, by realigning the Guinness beer tap keel. Once the trim was achieved, the galleon made a fine sight as it sailed along the beach, worrying several swans who beat a retreat to the other side of the jetty. In the breezy conditions, it even righted itself.

The overall winner for unpowered craft was actually the last minute arrival by James and Jodie, whilst Keith's Scuba-Squirrel won the best dressed squirrel competition.

Mar 8 2008

Passing motorist stops to tell us that twin lambs have been born up the road on the roadside! The rescue squad swings into action! Lambs not due until 2nd/3rd week in April!

After a phone call to the farm, Roy arrives and gets mother and lambs into the safety of a field. Mother checks out her offspring who look un-phased by their untimely arrival.

Please note - no squirrels were harmed in the making of this blog!

Next to arrive were Rachel, Andrew, Sophie and baby Max. Their entry was called "Princess" when they arrived but Sophie decided to change it to Guinea Pig in honour of Ben's captain! Two plastic bottles with correctly lashed canes between them  made up the boat and a squirrel in a glittering ball gown made an unlikely looking captain! Rachel told us that the raft making had been a real tonic for her and the canes had given her ideas for making cheap Christmas present table mats for the whole family - we can hardly contain our excitement!

James and Jodie were the next to arrive but had not been told about the race. Jodie decided she had to make a boat and the plastic recycling bin was raided for two milk bottles and yet another chip carton! They borrowed Sophie's spare squirrel and dressed it in a particularly fetching tutu called "Janet" ( a derivation of Jodie and James - apparently!).

With no height restriction, Oliver and Elliot went for a Tall Ships theme! The hull is made from builder's insulation sheets, the twin masts from 25mm sq timber, the sails from 2mm Cordex corrugated plastic.  Most weirdly, the keel is made from a Guinness beer pump! This was found locally in their home village of Elwick (Hartlepool) - The landlord of The Spotted Cow has not yet noticed the absence from his bar apparatus! Their galleon has an anchor, side rails and even coiled ropes on the deck! In height it stands over a metre tall.

In a vain attempt to fool Oliver and Elliot (when they arrived) that Ben had a terrible boat, he hid his real entry and then took a log from the fire wood basket, hollowed it out and provided a sail made from an old firework rocket stick and a chip carton! With no captain he went off to town to find one but came back with a guinea pig on a key ring! On seeing this boat, Elliot recommended Ben should just get a plastic bag, put the boat in it and throw the whole thing in the bin!

Keith's squirrel "Scubasquirrel" is dressed in neoprene material providing a dry and warm environment for his voyage. Just in case he sinks, he has scuba gear and flippers (ex Action Man).

Rich and Jill's squirrel is a tribute to Johnny Depp and is loosely called Pirate of the Lake. Captain Jack Squirrel is sitting aboard his ocean going yacht. His craft has the benefit of twin buoyancy / ballast tanks which bear an uncanny resemblance to Spar 1 litre milk cartons, the sail is a bit of old fishing rod and he has twin mounted Fruit Shoot turbo rockets on the aft end  as well as a ship's wheel!

Jill can claim the credit for Capt Jack's costume, complete with beard with beads and bandana. 

Caroline and Andrew's entry is called Terry Nutkins of International Rescue! Terry is adorned in a hand knitted sailor jumper with a GI Joe 40th anniversary collector's edition hat (from Ebay!). Terry's transport is a battery driven rescue boat provided by Van Den Broek chandlery services of the House of Commons!

Alison and Ben's squirrel is the only gay squirrel in the village as he is called Squirrel Daffyd and his boat has twin independently controlled fans to push the boat along. Daffyd is sporting a figure hugging PVC uniform! The hull is formed of two syrop de citron cordial bottles providing an international flavour!

Mar 7 2008

The family arrive for Rich's / Jill's / Alison's joint birthday weekend, which will include a Squirrel Nutkin raft/boat making challenge. Everyone concerned had been sent a squirrel soft toy with details of the challenge ( boat dimensions max of 45cms by 20cms, only a 1.5v battery allowed and the squirrel must be dressed up).

Mar 6 2008

Jill's birthday but also her T'ai Chi lesson and the Rotary Coffee Morning.

Mar  1 2008

A group of friends join us for the weekend and we enjoy walks around the valley and also to Sweden Bridge to help blow away the cobwebs!

Feb 27 2008

To complete the lounge we build some new shelves from American White Oak  alongside the fireplace.

Feb 25 2008

Enjoy returning all the tools and pots of paint to the "coalhouse" workshop at last!

Feb 23 2008

We wake to a bedroom with lovely Goodacre carpet and carry on moving things back into place in the lounge and bedroom.

Feb 22 2008

We head off to Glasgow (where there just happens to be a model railway exhibition!) for the day whilst the carpet fitter puts in the new carpets into our newly decorated lounge, stairs and front bedroom! Return at 7pm and start shifting the bed back into our room to get a good night's sleep

Jan 21 2008

Work non-stop from dawn till dark clearing the three rooms for the carpet man. We must be up at 5am tomorrow to catch the train to Glasgow. As we will be sleeping on the thin sofa bed mattress on bare floorboards in our bedroom, over-sleeping is NOT likely to be an issue. We feel like The Borrowers!

This is our kitchen just before bedtime - the entire lounge is in there somewhere!

Jan 15 2008

Anxious to keep Terry (Katie's Dad) up to speed, we can report that the painting on skirting boards in Fellside continues at feverish pace in preparation for the new carpets.

Jan 12 2008

In a moment of semi madness we have booked tickets to go to Glasgow on the 22nd, only to find out later today that the 22nd is just about the only day that the carpets can be fitted before our birthday celebration parties!

Jan 7-12,  2008

We attack the walls of Fellside lounge, removing several layers of old wallpaper which comes off like hardboard. Then it's time to cross line the walls to cover up the remains of the world's hardest and least successful artexing of the walls by the family who lived here till 1960! Then we add the Anaglypta and finally paint the walls.

Jan 5 2008

Three piece suite in Cobbleholes lounge professionally cleaned.

Jan 3 & 4  2008

Fellside kitchen project is closer to completion after Fraser tiles the walls for us. Mind you, getting here on the second day wasn't easy!

Jan  1 2008

Watched the impressive firework displays in Ambleside from the bench on the path in Thistly Wood (on the path to Ellerigg). It was raining and despite neoprene seat pads, umbrella and waterproofs, it was not entirely the best weather for sitting in a wood at midnight!

In the afternoon we passed by that way again as we went for the "Crumpet Walk"  to High Sweden Bridge (where some potent mulled wine was handed out) and back with 6 friends, before going to one of the friends' house for crumpets, mince pies and warm drinks.

Dec 31 2007

After a very wet Christmas period  (4.5 inches in 48 hours), the weather is more settled and the family have returned to their normal abodes. Decorating is about to re-commence!

Dec 12 & 20 2007

Keith and Uncle Jack arrived on 12th with new garden picnic table for Sheepgates and spent the rest of the week here.

Keith the oven man has been and given the ovens their professional cleaning again.

Dec 8

Neil Dalton zooms up the M6 to replace Sunnybank's shower.

Nov 24 2007

After hours and hours of preparation, the lights were switched on and the lantern procession followed Santa around the town.

Being on the top of a ladder ready to switch on as Santa passes gives Rich a good vantage point!

Nov 11 2007

Another Sunday, another few hundred light bulbs! Rich involved for most of the day putting up Christmas lights in Church Street, North Road and at Waterhead.

Nov 9 2007

Finally re-laid the path at the side of the cottage after the disturbance caused by the new water pipe to the garden chalet!

Nov 4 2007

7am and  Rich is to be found in Compston Road helping to put up the town's Christmas lights. Finished that street (exhausted) at 12noon. Here is a light "we made earlier" using a piece of an old banner and adorned with new state of the art LED rope lights! This is now installed at the end of St.Mary's Lane opposite Lucy's On a Plate Restaurant.

Oct 31 2007

Jill returned from hospital to a house full of flowers, plants and cards and a washing machine which is now fully operational! She now has to rest and relax and enjoy being pampered.

Oct 26 2007

The plumbers arrive and connect up our new outside supply! Yippee!

Oct 25 2007

Jill went into Lancaster Royal Infirmary for an operation. At the same moment, the electrician finally arrives to install the new power cable to the chalet. That night I return to the hospital for visiting and give Jill a book from her Uncle Jack (called Patently Absurd) which is full of drawings of weird inventions which actually have a patent. Items such as seats which have hidden hypodermic syringes ready to inject would be hijackers with a super sedative or nappies for pigeons to help keep town centres cleaner!

Oct 22 2007

We hire a van and drive to London with furniture for Caroline and numerous possessions from the attic for Ben. At last we seem to have our rear bedroom/snug back.

Oct 17 2007

The papering of the bedroom continues with Warmaline being applied as far as the window opening. (New window due on Nov 10th so we stop at that point). In a frenzy of extravagance, we install a LCD TV in the bedroom so that we can have digital TV working when we are switched over! This will be sometime after April 2008.

Oct12 2007

Paper bought in Scotland is put on the interior walls  of our bedroom, though the old exterior walls will need re-doing with Warmaline.

Oct 613 2007

We go to Kelso in the Scottish Borders to house and dog-sit for Chris who is going to New York for a well earned break.

Oct 2 2007

  The circuit breaker is inserted and the kitchen is finished (well OK - there is a small matter of painting and tiling but that's down to us!) The dresser has lost its modern doors but gained much needed drawers in the bottom section and is now a real focus for the room. The cooker is now under the rear window and we have lots of new narrow cupboards including a full length larder cupboard.

Oct 1 2007

On a gloriously sunny day, Mark Lord puts the finishing touches to the kitchen and bedroom.

Oct 29 2007

The temporary storage boxes containing pots, pans etc are now being unloaded by Alison and Jill and homes found for them all

Sep 28 2007

Ben and Alison arrive for a long weekend, but only when they are safely settled in do we casually let slip about the plans to dig up a trench from the cottage to the chalet in the garden in preparation for the new water supply and electric cable! Never the less they respond to the challenge and on Saturday afternoon we dig out the trench and lay the pipe and refill it the next day. The kitchen is now all but finished - we simply need a circuit breaker for the cooker!

Sep 17 2007

After a few days away in Kelso to let Mark work on the kitchen, we return to find it rapidly taking shape. The cupboards are in place (but not their doors yet) and the appliances are beginning to take up their places.

Sep 14 2007

Caroline joins us for a week's holiday / kitchen assistance!

Sep 12 2007

Our sweet peas which were planted to hide the water tank for the pond in the garden have suddenly bloomed in profusion! The tank is now invisible and we are picking 20 flowers per day!

Sep 11 2007

Work on the kitchen continues. The electrician, Tony, installed the new ring main and Mark completed the dry lining of the walls.

The tent erected in the garden is providing valuable storage space for the materials.

Sep 9 2007

For sheer determination, these cyclists get the top award. 600 of them had swum in Ullswater, cycled to Penrith, Keswick and down to Ambleside before cycling up the hill past the cottages and would then descend to Ullswater and finally RUN up Helvellyn! As the "peleton" streamed past the cottage they caused motorists some difficulties!

Sep 7 2007

  Jayne was staying in Sunnybank Cottage for a lace making course (which was unfortunately cancelled) so we had a demo of the techniques.

Sep 2 2007

The kitchen project got under way big style today when Mark Lord from the kitchen fitters arrived to help remove the old Rayburn. In an hour it had died under the attack of a lump hammer and was removed bit by bit and later we started to take it to the dump. The sides were rusty and nobody would have bought it even if we had tried to sell it on Ebay!

Aug 29 2007

A leisurely drive home. We planned to go via the Cotswolds but as we left the M4 we saw a sign to Didcot Railway Centre. Well there was no contest and in fact we both enjoyed wandering around the large centre, looking at the old trains and exhibits. It still feels a bit weird driving straight past Haydock to come home to the Lakes!

Aug 26 2007

DIY day for Alison and Ben, putting up a shelf in their second bedroom.

Aug 25 2007

Neil looked after the cottages and also cut most of the hedges around the cottages! (Thanks so much for that!). We loved the Wembley trip and WE WON! The seats and the facilities for Club Wembley are amazing. We had a great day!

Aug 24 2007

Off to London for a few days and to go to Wembley for the Saints V Catalan - Challenge Cup Final. Ben has arranged two Club Wembley Seats for us!

August 21 2007

Painted the bathroom door and re-hung it. AT LAST the bathroom is finished!

Aug 20 2007

The bathroom floor covering was laid today. That meant boarding the room out with hardboard and then painting the skirting board. Two men came to do it.  The bathroom can only fit one at a time!

Aug 14 2007

Flew back from warm but cloudy Paris to Leeds to arrive in a monsoon type rainfall. Drove to Skipton to stop for milk and bread and became soaked in the five yards from the car to shop and back! Could the rain be any heavier? Well yes it could and it proved the fact between Skipton and Kendal. Arrived home to our cosy cottage after the grandeur of Paris and Perpignan.

Aug 10 - 13 2007

Lovely three days in our usual chateau in Perpiganan (La Tour Apollinaire) with the only down side of  being there when Catalan Dragons zapped Saints 21-0. Time for a Gallic shrug I think!

Aug 7 2007

Flew from Leeds to Paris for a three day stay in Alison's flat before going on South to Perpignan via TGV. Lovely views of Paris from the Centre Pompidou but the view of wansfell from the Centre Attenborough still wins!

Aug 5 2007

Went to a surprise Ruby Wedding party for Malcolm and Lesley Woodward at Blackrod, near Bolton. Lovely evening followed by a late night drive back to the cottage via Chorley (brought back memories of the regular childhood coach trip from Manchester to Ambleside on the Ribble X40 service which called at Chorley amongst a lot of other places).

Aug 2 2007

Chose the floor covering for the bathroom but will have to wait till we return from France as Rich needs to lay hardboard first to smooth out the 1815 style floorboards!

Aug 1 2007

Spent a couple of hours wire-brushing a boat trailer - ready to be made into Santa's sleigh for the Christmas lights! Christmas comes early in the Lakes!

July 31 2007

Our new bathroom now has a new ceiling! Just the floor covering to do now.

July 28 2007

Summer returns to The Lake District!

July 26 2007

Rich assists on the gate at Ambleside Sports - Jill helps sell programmes and raffle tickets. We both got soaked by the incessant deluge throughout the day! The field was a quagmire by 10am and the sports didn't even start till noon!!

July 20 2007

Away for a few days seeing friends and presenting prizes at Rich's old school. On the Friday we went on a flight in a De Havilland Rapide bi-plane over Derbyshire! Back home with Ben and Alison after watching Saints defeat Wigan.

July 13 2007

Plans to assist with the removal of Himalayan Balsam from the banks of the River Rothay were postponed this morning due to the weather being wetter than the river!

July 10 - 13 2007

Work continues on the bathroom and we now have a new shower and tiled bathroom! Woo Hoo!!!

July 9 2007

As we sat in the garden at lunchtime, a lovely bouquet arrived from the couple and sister whom we helped when their car suffered its damage on Saturday. We don't have your address but Jill and Rich would like to say a big thank you to Eunice, Malcolm and Joyce for the lovely flowers!

July 7 2007

07 07 07 not too lucky for this driver (Malcolm) who lost his front tyre and damaged the suspension on a day out from Carlisle! As he ground to a halt blocking the road, a Ford Transit full of children coming up the hill suffered a clutch failure. Traffic chaos ensued!!

July 3 2007

Work started on our new bathroom and progressed during the week. Looking forward to a shower in Cobbleholes between guests on Saturday! Work should be finished by the 14th!!

July 1 2007

Woke at 7am to find streams flowing down from the top of Wansfell as never before. The pond was mud coloured and the culvert was flowing from under the chalet and across the lawn!  (20mm of rain in a couple of hours!).

June 27 2007

Cobbleholes lounge carpet cleaned. Only odd showers today (unlike parts of Yorkshire which are under water!)

June 23 2007

Off to Lytham St.Annes for a 25 year graduation party!

June 21 2007

Rain has continued with a total of  80 mm ( 3¼ inches in 8 days). Thunderstorm last night really spooked our neighbours ( Mr. & Mrs. Pheasant) who proceeded to create their own special noise as a result!

For some reason the rainfall is not registering on the weather station, so having to input it manually each day. Will investigate when it’s fit to go to the back of the chalet without being soaked by wet leaves!

June 15 2007

Visited Holker Hall with Jill’s cousin Jack and his father. First time ever inside the hall for Richard!

June 13 2007

The rain free period is now officially over! 7 mm today and looks like more on the way

June 4-6 2007

Still basking in glorious sunshine with no sign of rain. The gardens have been receiving attention and are looking really attractive.

June 1 2007

The weather forecast which had been dreadful for the whole week proved to be completely wrong! Whilst the rest of the country was soaked - we enjoyed warm days with sunny periods! Who says that it always rains in the Lake District!

May 26 2007

Sad news.. after watching the female blue tit incubate her eight eggs, slowly they all died off. One day there were eight, the next day six, then three and finally they all died and were removed from the nest by the mother. The cause is a mystery but we suspect either a genetic fault or malnutrition as they were growing but seemed to have little strength to hold their heads up.

May 13  2007

Hubby pops in to feed her a nice juicy caterpillar from time to time. She gets restless quite often and nips out or moves the eggs or herself around!

May 9 2007

Seven eggs laid ( only 5 visible in picture) and the female starts to incubate the eggs.

May 7  2007

The bluebells on the bank are superb this year and have recovered from the tree removals.

May 6 2007

The female blue tit leaves the nest and there is at least one  EGG !! -she later nips back in to cover it up. After a day out on the tiles, she returns to the nest at 7.15pm and we think that she laid another egg.

May 4  2007

Blue tit leaves the box in the morning but returns at 7.20pm and, as we watch Saints v Wigan on TV, we also watch as she fusses in the nest. Is she laying an egg?

May 3 2007

The nest must be finished as she stays in the box all night.

Apr 30 2007

The blue tit brings in feathers and makes a nest by pushing it down in one corner

Apr 29 2007

The blue tit brings in sheep's wool. The male just pops in to look and nod and then leaves her to get on with the job.

April 28 2007

After 3 weeks of Great Tits in our nest box, collecting moss, scrabbling around, leaving it for hours and finally abandoning the box, we are thrilled to see activity by a blue tit (female) who took the whole day to bring moss into the box

Apr 24 2007

Return home from celebratory lunch at Langdale Chase to find the birds have landed on the camera and turned it round! We took decision to open up the box and re-fix camera. The birds continue to visit afterwards, much to our relief

Apr 22 2007

After a spell of very dry weather, we finally get rain and a misty, cloudy day. Almost half an inch by 10am.

Apr 20 2007

After four and a half weeks of zero rain, we had 2mm just after 6am. Not enough to revive the local streams but it's a start!

Apr 11 2007

Lambing time is now under way around the cottages.

Apr 9 2007

After a visit to see our "children" in London, we return "HOME" to Ambleside! The dry weather continues and we have spent time in the gardens. We attacked the overgrown rockery in Cobbleholes garden and have removed great clumps of green stuff and replaced it with a selection of alpine plants.

Apr 5 2007

At last, the sale of our house in Haydock is completed. No fireworks or wild excitement but just good that the wait is over.

Apr  3 2007

The spare water tank (in future to be known as THIRLTANK - not to be confused with Thirlmere) was set on its paving slab base and ceremoniously filled from the culvert with a submersible pump. We now have a reserve of 250 gallons!

Apr 2 2007

It's that annual delight - "Clean the Pond Out Day" when we drain the pond, catch the fish in water resembling thick cocoa, get into the pond and scoop out the winter debris (leave that to your imagination) and then fill it again and return the fish to their  much healthier residence. The count this year was 12 fish, 2 frogs and a kilo of frog spawn. Off for a hot shower now!!

Apr 1  2007

The start of three days of gardening made possible by warm sunny weather. Mounted the new bird box with bird-cam and sat watching the TV to spot the first arrival........ after an hour, we decided to get a life and just check every day or so!!

In the afternoon, traffic chaos ensued after a serious accident closed the road from Grasmere to Keswick and EVERYBODY tried to use our road!

Mar 27 2007

Visited by a fireman from Ambleside who checked the fire precautions in the cottages and installed extra smoke alarms.

Mar 26th 2007

Before setting off home to Ambleside, we buy a car! The Ford has had its day and after 141000 miles we need to avoid repair bills. Next we visit Costco where we (well Jill really) spot Paul Sculthorpe (St.Helens RLFC captain) as he shops there too. Then it's off up the M6 to "home".

Quite a momentous day which is also our "little boy", Ben's, birthday.

Mar 24th / 25th 2007

We spend our last time at Haydock where the neighbours throw a party for our departure.

Mar 23rd 2007

After a two year wait, Rich finally installed the wireless weather station, bought in London in 2005! The sensors transmit the data from the small white boxes which are also solar panels for the power. Inside, the data is shown on a console and also fed into the computer from where it is uploaded to the web site every hour.

Mar 21st 2007

After some gardening we took a trip to Dora's Field alongside Rydal Church where the miniature daffodils are just about at their best. There really was a "host of golden daffodils" but they weren't dancing as the air was fairly still on this sunny winter's day. Before anybody tells me, I know that these are not really the daffodils referred to in Wordsworth's poem but I'm using poetic licence! As you can see, there was almost a carpet of them sweeping down the slope through the trees.

Mar 20th 2007

At last - the badger weather vane has been re-attached to the old toilet shed - It was blown off in a gale 2 years ago! This time it has longer screws to secure it!

Mar 19th 2007

Yesterday's snow has left Wansfell capped and the higher fells plastered.

Mar 18^th 2007

Happy Mother’s Day- we wake to flurries of snow and a skimmering on Wansfell, during the morning lots of heavy snow storms and white outs followed by a lull. It is not lying so Caroline has to go to London by train.

Mar 17th 2007

Rich's birthday and a package from Ben and Alison contains Ben! (a new loco for the layout!) Ben soon joins the others outside the station).

Katy and Peter return to Yorkshire with fond memories of birds of prey and the incident of the dead badger. Peter declares, “Can we build a cottage in your garden?!!!” He is very sad to leave but he will be back to cut more wood.

Mar 16^th 2007

A lazy day, everyone is relaxing. A quick run to Hayes Garden Cenrte to buy Mother’s day presents and surprises for Richard are are only activity. A herb garden is produced as a gift from Katy and Peter for Fellside garden.

A delightful meal at Doi Intanon, the thai food was very delicate and tasty. The friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere make it a pleasant place for a quiet special occasion.

Mar 15^th 2007

Septic tank day. An early start, we hit Booths at 8am and return to find Caroline and Katy in tidying mood ready for a visit from Chris and Flinty from Scotland.

Septic Tank man Richard arrived at 10am with large tractor and tanker and took an hour to suck all our waste into his tanker and take it away down the hill.

We spend a happy time with Chris and Flinty.

Mar 14^th 2007

Today turns into chalet day as Rich, Jill and Peter worked in the garden clearing out the path around the chalet and discovering all the slates under 8 inches of leaf mould. A great day as we took 3 car loads to the dump, filled the compost makers with leaf mould and generally tidied the garden. Peter enjoyed chopping more logs and produced a heap of kindling.

Mar 13^th 2007

Fencing day has arrived, All the gang are out in the gardens, it starts to rain and Jill suggests that Katy and Caroline could have a go at number 3 and 4  coal houses which are full, mixed and a mess. Their eyes light up as they are 2 girls who love a challenge and a jolly good sort out. They spend a happy 3 hours and achieve fantastic results (whether Rich will ever find his favourite tools we do not know!!!!) The men spend the day in the rain, sorting out the fences around Sheepgates and Fellside,

The sheep come come to inspect the work and see they are not going to get in the gardens any  more. Many thanks to Caroline, Andrew, Peter and Katy and not forgetting Neil for all their hard work.

Mar 12^th 2007

Michael Allcock arrives promptly at 9 am to sweep all 4 chimneys. As he completes Fellside and Cobbleholes Neil arrives and supervises the cleaning of his chimney, Sheepgates is finished by 11.15.

While we are away at the AGM of the Friends of the Armitt Museum* Neil cuts all the hedges, a fantastic job. He then starts to remove all the old leaky metal gutters on the back of the house and on our return he and Rich replace them with the new plastic gutters.

*The AGM begins with a talk about the inspirational Harriet Martineau and her life. A woman who has become so important in our research on our cottage.

http://fp.armitt.plus.com/friends_of_the_armitt.htm

Mar 10^th 2007

Caroline and Andrew and their friends Peter and Katy arrive for a week in Cobbleholes. We have planned a day fencing the garden, fixing the leaking gutters, chimneys being swept and emptying the septic tank during their stay!!!!!!

Peter arrived with his big axe and spends a couple of hours happily chopping wood.

Mar 9^th 2007

We return to our old home  to bring the last load, we return the fantastic trailer we have been borrowing from our friends Steve and Karen and now we are trying to sort out where everything can be housed. Arrived late and went to bed to watch Saints v Warrington as if live and went to sleep very happy. Score Warrington 12 Saints 48 fantastic!

Mar 7^th 2007

Visitor in Cobbleholes uses PARKING DISC out side Post Office and is caught by the traffic warden as he thought it was an hour but it is only a half hour there. Very annoyed with himself for not seeing the sign.

A neighbour reports that a jacob sheep has given birth to the first lamb of the season in the field opposite. ( Not due till middle of April)

 Mar 6th 2007

 Jill's first birthday (as a resident). Package from Ben and Alison contained a toy dog("Mandy") as and I quote..." All old people have a dog!" 

After the arrival of an exciting parcel from the family (A bird-box with a camera inside!!!) we set off for Keswick via Thirlmere. Night-time logging is resulting in open views of the lake and the proposed planting of native species and more access for walking sounds excellent. We spend an absorbing time at the Puzzling Place, lots of illusions and tricks of the eyes. The Anti-gravity room has us giggling.

                                         www.puzzlingplace.co.uk

Mar 3rd 2007

Spent the day on the Ashby Canal in Leicestershire, celebrating Keith's 60th birthday with 10 members of the family. We were fortunate to enjoy a day of sunshine, sandwiched between days of monsoonal rainfall.

Mar 1^st 2007

Woke to the sight of snow plastering the higher fells including Wetherlam and Fairfield. Spent the morning serving coffee to the over sixties at The Salutation. We could qualify in two years’ time! The badger paid us a visit during the night and vandalised the bird feeding cages. Am planning to seek an ASBO for the badger!! During evening Rich went to the Christmas Lights Committee where he was introduced as the chap who doesn’t need a ladder to change the bulbs!!

Feb 28^th 2007

The coal house has been upgraded by the purchase of an Eric Olthwaite No.3 Shovel. If you don’t know who Eric Olthwaite is/was…. the picture might give you a clue or do a Google search.

Feb 19^th 2007

Hired a large van to bring yet more furniture up from our old home. Whoever once said that “you can never have too many beds” lied!

Feb 13th / 14th

Spent time at our Merseyside “holiday home” repairing a fence and filling in the pond (the prospective new owners don’t want a pond). Caught 8 large koi carp  and 32 smaller (less and 10 inches in length!) fish and transferred them to a neighbour’s pond where they are being fostered for the time being.

Feb 10^th 2007

Spent two days at our friend Chris’s in Kelso – turning a spare plastic 4 foot cube water tank into a des res play commando fort for Christine’s friend Audra’s two lads. Returned with large stone trough (in two pieces), which will now make an attractive garden feature in Fellside garden.

Feb 8^th 2007

The snow arrived from the south around 2pm and painted the valley white!

Feb 7^th 2007

Spent the morning turning the ash tree cuttings into fire-place sized logs.

Feb 6^th 2007

Tree surgery day 2 – this time the rowan was pruned and the large ash tree on the car park pollarded. We now have enough wood for logs for the foreseeable future!

Feb 5^th 2007

Tree surgery day 1 – Andrew and Ben from Acorn Tree Services set about the beech tree which was once a hedge behind the garden chalet. By the end of the day it has been tamed. Watching Ben climb the tree to almost the top, attach a safety line and then swing to various other branches and chainsaw them off, and then neatly land it in the exact spot required was fascinating.

Jan 29^th 2007

Sheepgates’ lounge carpet removed ready for Wednesday’s visit by carpet fitter. Fireplace bricks replaced. Yet another sunny day!

Jan 23^rd 2007

Layout boards completed! Another beautiful sunny winter’s day.

Jan 22^nd 2007

Rich goes to Haydock to oversee the repair of the roof dry verge (plastic end caps for the tiles) which have blown off for the third time!

Jan 20^th  2007

In winter sunshine, Rich starts construction of the new model railway in the chalet by building framework for the layout. Unlike Discovery Channel’s “New Yankee Workshop”, where Norm Abram has every power tool known to man and a spacious workshop, Rich had a saw, a folding workbench on the patio and hail stones going down his neck!!!

Jan 19^th 2007

A spring cleaning for the kitchen, creation of a “wine cellar” in an outhouse to store all the drink not drunk at Christmas. Stereo system now in the “snug” and turned off after a brief trial!

Jan 18^th 2007

This area has been spared the devastation seen in Lancs and even further south. We woke to an inch of snow at 5.30am but soon after 9am the rain had washed it all away. One fierce spell of wind around 11am was our main “blow” but other than that we only had strong(ish) winds. Started running in the new stereo speakers in the chalet for 36 hours non stop (that’s what the instructions said!!). Local sheep listened to a Shania Twain CD on repeat for 12 hours followed by equal measures of Wet Wet Wet and Elton John.

Jan 14^th 2007

Another Sunday – another 7am start for the removal of the rest of the village lights. Jill appeared at 9.30am to record the events on camera.

Jan 11^th 2007

After yesterday’s heavy evening rain (20mm), we were blessed with another 25mm from midnight till 9am!! Out on the road, my 15kg bag of sand to help control water into the grid was washed 10 metres down the road. Meanwhile 60-70mph winds had snapped a massive branch off a tree just above the cottages (by our water tank field) and deposited it across the road. A line of cars were waiting patiently above the blockage as a couple of men chainsawed it to death until it was capable of being hurled over the wall into the field. The queue then set off down past the cottages, threading their way round the rocks up to 5 inches across which were strewn everywhere! Spent a few minutes kicking them into the side of the road (the rocks – not the cars!!)

Jan 10^th 2007

A dry(ish) day after a very wet night and the sun shone. Fairfield is capped with snow. Two long tailed tits are becoming regular visitors to our front window bird feeder.

Jan 7^th 2007

Rich spent the morning (from 7am !) helping to take down Ambleside’s Christmas street lights. The rain was incessant throughout the day!

Jan 5th 2007

Strange creatures have taken over No.2 cottage and were pictured as they stared out of the window. Apparently they come from Planet Pooh?? Their contact on earth (Emily) was unavailable for comment, as she was still in bed!

Jan 1^st 2007

The year started with fireworks from Ambleside, despite the gales. The new extra water storage tank was lowered into place with Robert’s (Richard’s brother) help and plans for kitchen changes discussed.

Dec 21^st 2006

The start of our Christmas celebrations began when Ben arrived, to be followed later by Keith, Caroline, Andrew, Elliot, Oliver, Katie and Peter! Christmas trees were erected, lights deployed and all four cottages decorated. Christmas was a grey misty one rather than white but that didn’t stop everyone from having fun.

Dec 17^th 2006

At last – a dry sunny day, so outside jobs were possible. Two months to the day since it arrived in the UK, our US postbox was finally installed and its Christmas cover was applied too! The honour of putting the first letter into it went to Janet Owens who “posted” our card (as I stood alongside her!)

Dec 12^th 2006

Used tiny fraction of bubble-wrap mountain to insulate No.3 coalhouse (aka workshop) roof and make it slightly warmer to work in!  Celebrated success by making a TV stand!

Dec 11^th 2006

New sofa bed for back bedroom (aka The Snug) arrived in four bubble wrapped parcels. After unwrapping and assembly upstairs, we have a new upper sitting room / spare bed and the European Bubble-wrap Mountain!!

Dec 9^th 2006

AT LAST – a day with no rain! Able to work on the “secret” garden and improve storage in coal houses. Nice to see sun and blue sky.

Dec 6^th / 7^th 2006

Two garden stores put together in driving rain and strong winds, with the weather surpassing itself on Thursday with 40mm of rain (almost 3inches!!).

Dec 3^rd 2006

The Great Storm promised by the Michael Fish brigade arrived during the night and proceeded to blow over 30mm of rain almost horizontally up the valley! At 12.45pm, the power went off and at 3pm it came back on again - for 1 minute 20 secs before going off again. Our camping gas burner came into its own again to brew the odd cuppa. As I write this at 3.30pm, it’s back on again but we are not confident that it won’t go off again. Must save this quickly!!

Dec 1^st 2006

After twenty consecutive days of significant rain, we finally get a lovely sunny day (after another dousing of rain after midnight it has to be admitted) and a chance to do some outdoor jobs such as a new TV aerial.

Nov 25^th 2006

The hounds were out and about during the morning as we prepared to take Steve, Karen and Adam (age 4) down to Waterhead for the Santa Cruise to Bowness, where Santa joined the boat for the return journey to Waterhead. After switching on the Waterhead lights with some of his “magic dust” Santa moved on to Ambleside with the children following him around the town carrying their lanterns with candles inside. Ours was pyramid shaped and it was raining so heavily we had to use the umbrella to keep it dry! The finale was a really good firework display in the park. On the way back to the car (via the chippy) Jill suggested that Rich should take Karen and Adam back to the cottage in the car (parked by the Kirkstone Foot Hotel). It was only when we reached the car that we realized that Jill still had the car keys back at the chip shop!! Words were said!!

Nov 24^th 2006

A very wet week spent swapping beds around the cottages after we delivered our new one! The five foot mattress required Roy (the farmer’s) help to shove it up the twisting staircase! New predator proof bird feeders bought to spoil the sparrow hawk’s efforts to kill off all the small birds.

Nov 19^th 2006

Snow at cottage level during the night but melted as it turned to rain.

Nov 18^th 2006

First snow of the winter! Fairfield Horseshoe and Coniston Old Man were both well sprinkled with snow after a wet and stormy night here at Sunny Bank, with some vivid flashes of lightning thrown in for good measure.

Nov 9^th 2006

Woke for the second morning running to see a sparrow hawk strutting and bobbing around in the field just beyond the garden! Meanwhile, whilst its back was turned, the blue tits fed in safety at the feeders by the window.

Nov 9^th 2006

Keith the Oven Cleaning man came and totally re-vamped all the ovens in the four cottages! The difference is amazing! And all done without caustic solutions!)

Nov 5^th 2006

Have spent the week going back and forth with trailer loads of stuff. The week culminated in a family get together for 23 people using all four cottages. The downside was that we had to sleep in the shed!! So it is for the first time that tonight Rich actually sleeps in his new home for the first time!

Oct 28^th. 2006

9.30am… We got to move in to Fellside officially!!! Chris Lawrence claimed the last entry in the visitors’ book! (“By hook or by crook, I’ll be the last in this book!”) The unpacking has begun.

Oct. 26^th 2006

In preparation for the big move, spent an hour or so adjusting the website so that Fellside is removed and “four” becomes “three” in more places than I realised.

Oct 24^th 2006

Our local wood yard in Haydock had lots of bags of firewood on sale at £1 each (Too good a chance to miss !) Hitched up the trailer and piled a total of 39 bags on and trundled up the M6 at a sedate 50mph. Would it make it up the hill I wondered as I sat in a ridiculously long traffic jam at Windermere? The answer was yes! However the ash tree on the car park received a laceration as I tried to turn the emptied trailer into the car park. Gravity’s effect on a four wheel trailer was a little more than expected!!

Oct 21^st 2006

After a month in the USA (thanks to Linda and Neil for their help in looking after the cottages), we are back up at the cottages for our usual Saturday visit – except that this will be the last such visit as we are starting to move in to Fellside next Saturday  (Yippee !!) Another three boxes of possessions (aka junk) are brought up. Happy to hear that all cottages were left in great condition by visitors and there had been no emergencies during our absence!

Sept 30^th 2006

Neil Dalton looked out of Sheepgates front window to see a real live fox trotting along the path from Fellside towards the car park! Ten minutes later, hunting horns were heard somewhere in the valley1

Sept 10^th 2006

Have just spent our first stay in Sunnybank Cottage (No.2) after 44 years of coming to Sunnybank Cottages. Tawny owl seen by Daphne and Peter (staying in No.4) as they were bird-watching in the garden. A few more boxes of stuff from Haydock have been transferred. In the last 10 days we have had a total of 7½ inches of rain. The milk tankers have been “stood down”.

Sept 3^rd 2006

The chalet makeover commences with the heaving of the old fridge and sink into the Ambleside refuse skips. The chalet will become the “office” when we move in as well as Richard’s train room! Another 12 mm of rain by noon, so we can now hear the water roaring through the culvert under Fellside garden. Cows can be seen sticking their heads into hedges in an attempt to stay dry. The fact that the other six feet of their bodies is still out in the rain seems to have escaped their notice!

Sept 2^nd 2006

The water shortage must be over now! We arrived for a four day stay to the sound of rain hammering down (34mm by the end of the day!).

August 30th 2006

After a weekend in London, we went up to the cottages to check the water - less than 12 inches depth left so Bibby's did the honours again, arriving at 7am as the tanker did a detour on route to its first milk pick up near Keswick. This time we had a six wheeler and the water filled our tank perfectly! (2000 gallons). We hope that as it continues to rain (8mm yesterday) the water will start to trickle through a little more!

August 23rd 2006

Unbelievably (after all that rain) the water supply ran out so we summoned the help of our friends at Bibby's milk tankers who arrived with about 1500 gallons at 7pm before the driver was due to do a night run to Liverpool.

August 19th 2006

Arrived for weekly visit during rain (31mm in last three days) so unable to cut the lawns which are now growing nicely again! Main Close is emptying, whilst the attics are filling and garden chalet of No.4 is beginning to bulge as we "de-clutter" home in preparation for the "big move" in November! Jill introduces a simple booklet for children visiting the cottages - a mixture of things to find out and things to do in the local area.

August 2006

Apart from 21mm of rain on two days early in the month, there has been little rain but that rain which did fall must have kept our supply sufficiently topped up!

July 30th 2006

The heatwave is over! After four weeks of hot sunny days, yesterday saw 2mm of rain. Unlike the Kirkstone Pass Inn which has run out of water, our tank is still full and trickling in at a reasonable rate. (Visitors still need to use water economically however to ensure supplies if the rain is only short-lived.) The wall of No.2 garden has been rebuilt and new cap stones cemented in place to make it safer to sit on.

July 29th 2006

A kettlethon weekend. After comments about the (plastic) kettles looking like "they have died" (discoloured inside due to the natural nature of the spring water) we replaced all four cottages' kettles with new stainless steel jug kettles. Comet manager did a double take when I asked for four!

July 22nd 2006

Jill has finally retired and we visited the cottages as normal today. Alongside the repaired wall in Fellside garden, we planted some of the  shrubs she has been given by friends at school. A rose, a fuchsia and a clematis now form the "Sherdley Bed".

July 14th 2006

Trevor and Linda B. arrive for  their stay in Fellside in spectacular fashion as the turbo on his car fails just below the cottages and they arrive in in a blue haze! A mere £1000 repair bill - aaah the joys of motoring! (However, the local garage do him a cheaper than expected repair and the hire car firm do a great job of arranging a replacement!

July 7th 2006

Stayed at Sunnybank Cottage weather great (didn't stop us having a fire Saturday Sunday Monday and Tuesday ).This was our first stay at Sunnybank cottage. The cottage and garden views are excellent. Looked out of the cottage bedroom window at 5am on two mornings to see a deer in the field with the Highland cattle. Colin/Sybil R

July 2nd 2006

Very warm (if not HOT) 29.5C and a 4 to5 inch lizard was spotted sunning itself in No.2 garden before dashing into the hedge for safety.

July 2nd 2006

New compost bin installed in the "secret" garden near the car park. Used grass clippings and two bags of cow manure to get it off to a quick start! Any vegetables or tea bags from visitors are welcomed!

June 2006

Two new wisteria plants planted at the side of No.3 porch. This time, we checked the labels as the ones by No.4 which we thought were blue turned out to be white five years later when they finally flowered.

June 2006

The wall in Fellside garden has finally been rebuilt by the local stone-waller. For the first time since January 8th 2005 the garden looks its old self (minus tree of course).

May 27th 2006

After my dry week (below) the rains have returned and a total of 6 inches have fallen in two weeks, helping the water supply to be well topped up! Shelf added to wood store and ventured onto roof to replace roof tile.

May 9th 2006

New teak bench in Fellside garden has had a plaque added to commemorate Richard's Mum and Dad who loved that garden so much.

May 6th - 13th 2006

I (Richard) spent a week in Cobbleholes and used the opportunity to build a new log store under the front window of the chalet in Fellside garden. Not quite a qualifier for the "Grand Designs" programme, but a satisfying result. Bought supply of bedding plants from Carlisle's Sunday market (well worth a visit - just off Junc. 43 of M6). No sooner had I planted them than a sheep and her twin lambs came into the garden (whilst I was there!!!!) and made a bee line for them! With the aid of a length of wood they were shooed out. They tried again THREE times that day.

April 2nd 2006

Awoke to Jill's voice asking which cups we will use when we move into Fellside. Assumed that it was a weird dream and went back to sleep. Woke again - same question! Weird reality. Six months to plan which cups we will use! Further strange questions were gratefully halted by the start of the Archers Omnibus edition which gave her other food for thought ..... and peace did reign!!

April 1st 2006

Baths in Sheepgates and Cobbleholes are given a professional polishing by John "The Bath Man" from Barrow. The difference is unbelievable! The rain gauge in Fellside garden shows that there has been a total of 122 mm (4.8 inches of rain in last 8 days - including one day with no rain!).

March 24th 2006

Snow has largely gone in the last 24 hours and signs of spring in the air. Lambs (premature ones, as most are not due till first week of April) are bleating!

March 17th 2006

Back to cottage for Rich's birthday with C&A. Still 4-6 inches of snow everywhere above Ambleside. Car park was cleare