A Reflective Walk

I’m not doing very well at posting, after my promise. Not to worry, I’ll get there, it may take a wee while to find my  blogging mojo. I’ve all sorts of adventures stacking up ready, just waiting.

I mentioned whilst the fell race was on, I took a stroll along the shores of Loweswater, en route I stopped to watch the fish, suspended in pools of sunshine, seemingly motionless in the flowing water, it is easier to see the shadow than the fish itself.

I admired a handsome doocot*

 

And look, a fine drystone wall and gateway, becomes something quite magical, by the addition of an over arching span of  Cumbrian slate.

I listened to the cows, with their methodical munching and tearing of sward, they may get bad press from time to time, and deservedly so, but I’ve an affection for them.

In the wood, foxgloves  swayed and cow parsley effervesced in the scattered sunlight.

At the waters edge, I found a swing.

I had a go at finding my inner child, but concluded that the child needed to concentrate on having a good time. Play on the swing, or take photographs, it isn’t wise to try and combine the two. I have the bruises to prove it. 

*it is 23 years since I lived in Scotland, but some words stay with me in  the Scots dialect, swithering, dreek, and poly-poke are a few of my favourites.

Darren Holloway Memorial Race 2014

Yesterday Mr  Uphilldowndale (Mr Uhdd) and I were up in the Lake District, at  Loweswater for the Darren Holloway memorial  fell race, run in memory of our friend, Darren,  ‘Daz H’. There are handsome trophies for the first male and first female runner.

 

‘Dig in’ is just the sort of encouragement Daz would have shouted to others on to be the best they can. We’ve mentioned before how much Daz encouraged all in their running.

Race HQ was at Loweswater village hall

 

( I think the robin had heard about the wonderful cakes).

 

Darren’s wife Amanda, with two  members of his Ilkeston Running club, Darren’s ‘home’ club, Darren, also ran with Pennine Fell Runners club.

 

It was of course an emotional day, but the was much laughter, Darren’s aunt and mum with the trophies

Whilst Mr Uhdd was out on the the hill marshalling part of the race,

I took the camera for a  contemplative walk.

We were able to round the day off by visiting my friend and former colleague in her new home, just a few miles away, she and and her family had only moved in the day before (and all their worldly goods had yet to arrive) so we really did ‘first foot’ them. We didn’t have coal, but we did take cake.

No Rain No Gain

Without copious quantities of rain the Lake District wouldn’t be the Lake District would it.

There wouldn’t be sumptuous moss

Although if the sun shone, the spiders would get out more.

 

Technorati Tags: Lake District,drystone walls,moss,spiders

Home and Dry

I’ve had a lovely, if damp weekend away in the Lake District with my friend Mrs Ogg.

I came home to a warm house, the ground source heat pump is up and running (insert three cheers) the Queen has one you know…

 

I’ll be along later with Lakeland photos, but for now another image from our forest walk with Tom

 

Autumn Garland

Seen in the forest at Newborough, is it honeysuckle do you think?

 

I’m very excited, I’m off to the Lake District with Mrs Ogg this weekend, amongst other places we are going to go to Blackwell House .

Woolly Winter Tales

What I can I tell you, we have snow. Is there any part of the UK that doesn’t have snow? I wonder.

The sheep in the next field seem quite unperturbed

They are fed daily, which seems to make them happy.

 

It took a wee while to find a sheep that would look me in the eye, as most had their backs to the wind (and wind chill).

I can vaguely remember a farmer telling me this is how sheep end up stuck in snow drifts, they keep working their way along, keeping the wind behind them, scratting for grass until they run out of field and the snow piles in behind them.

He also told me in the winter of 1963 that whilst many of his flock perished in snow drifts, some were able to survive by eating their own fleece.

But there are people better qualified to comment of sheep and snow, have a look at herdy’s blog, up in Cumbria.

We’ve just watched a cracking little programme on BBC2 about the winter of ‘63 (flighty, it is worth watching on iplayer (Winterwatch)

Home and Away

It has been cold here today, bright, crisp, beautiful.

Mr Uphilldowndale has been up to the Lake District, he wanted to visit the  cairn that has been started in Darren’s Memory.