After Christmas at Harewood with Loes's family and friends,
we're off on a flying visit to Sheffield to meet my family before
we return home.
As a result we managed to see both Loes's and my families at
or around Christmas this year, which was brilliant.
The year ended in fine fashion with an evening at The Kirkstile
Inn back here in Loweswater.
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On December
30th there was a general invite to Jenna's new house. |
Mine host . . . plus
Matt over there at the sink of course ! |
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They have
really settled into their new home. |
Big sister Paula came
over from Tickhill with Abi. |
Gareth and Rhian, with Luke and Owen, came
up from Swansea to be here for the family get together.
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Abi and
Luke (with his new Nintendo Switch). |
Rhian with young Owen,
he's three next February. |
We were also please to see Hilton, a great friend
of the family, who had come up from Leicestershire to be with
us all.
Hilton was in college with Ann many years back
and we've all kept in touch over that time.
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Hilton and
Loes mid gathering . . . |
and here chatting with
Paula. |
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Dougal wants
to join in with the ball game. |
Emily, who was one last
October, selects a book for Loes to read. |
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Time for
presents . . . |
. . . Disney clothing
for Owen. |
A busy household as lunch was being prepared.
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Emily reading
. . . well looking at the pictures. |
She was attracted by
the coloured lights set into book. |
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Today we were able to meet up with three of my four children
. . . what of number four ?
Cathy was already in Lakes, having taken the chance of a
short break in our cottage during our absence.
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She and Mark arrived a few days before New Year
and took advantage of the reasonable weather
to complete a few local walks.
Here Mark has just negotiated the stile and dog gate
on the climb to the top of a very windy Low Fell.
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While they were here they also walked to Rannerdale Knotts
from the Cottage.
Here Cathy stands on Ann's viewpoint rock at the far end
of the summit outcrop.
This was their descent route down Rannerdale Valley
as afternoon was progressing.
They also managed to experience a hail storm
as they walked through High Wood on the way back
from Cinderdale.
Apart from setting off a bit late and getting home
in the dark,
they said they had a great time.
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Their presence meant that they had the kettle on when we
arrived back on New Years Eve afternoon.
We had booked four places at The Kirkstile's New Year's Eve
Dinner.
The other couples on the table were staying at the Inn for
the weekend and together we had a very sociable evening.
Robert and Kate from Fleetwood were sitting opposite and
Stuart and Liz next to us were over here from the Harrogate
area.
We all enjoyed five courses of beautiful food served nicely
across the extended evening.
It seemed like a different wine was enjoyed with each course,
recollections are a bit hazy now for some reason !
We even received an extra bottle for winning the second prize
in their New Year's Eve pub quiz . . . quite a night.
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Not so boozy that we couldn't all go for a walk around Loweswater
the next day.
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A rather
damp sheep at Maggie's Bridge car park. |
Myself and Loes in Holme
Woods. |
Mark, Cathy, Loes and the boys at the Bothy.
At the far end of the lake, Hudson Place Farmhouse is being
re-rendered
as part of the general improvements to the building.
Shaun the Sheep was enjoying better weather too.
He's moved fields recently as he was getting rough treatment
from the Belted Galloway cattle of Hudson Place Farm !
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Cathy and Mark would call on Jenna on their way home the
following day.
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The rest of the week was changeable, weather wise,
but I did manage local walks like this one up to the Lonesome
Pine.
A rather colourful, damp-looking and fiery sunset at about
4pm on this day.
A cold but dry spell of weather is forecasted for the next
few weeks . . . lets hope the change brings some nice, dry
weather at last.