Beautiful Lakes District
Well I’m on the train back from the beautiful Lakes District and the last 5 days have just flown by…. Where to begin?! I Know! Spadge! Spadge is one of the dogs of Eirin’s family in Whitbeck (teeny village near Bootle, near Whitehaven on Cumbria, England’s Lakes District, North West). We had an instant affiliation, he was black Labrador and Collie, and so was his mum, Tipsy, and another, Tosca, was half Alsatian and half Labrador… there was also a cat, Cleo, black, and wormy... just felt I had to mention them - didn't know where to start really...
So anyway, Eirin’s Aunty, Gina, and cousins, Kate and Dominic, along with Eirin came to pick me up from the station. I knew straight away that these were just the nicest kind of people and I’d have no problems in the next few days. We drove back to their place and I met Ed, Eirin’s uncle, and all the pets for a curry dinner. It was cold, out there in North-West England but I’m moving past complaining about the weather, or trying too at least.
The next day we all went to Wast Water. Home of four superlatives; the deepest lake in England – where the Loch Ness Monster takes her vacations, it’s also next to the tallest mountain in England and the smallest church in England. The final superlative is the “biggest liar”, a competition for which is held at the nearby pub – where apparently, contestants compete to tell the tallest tale.
I should tell you something more about where I was. The Cooksons’ house was an old stone country house; with the deeds dating back to the 1700s at the bottom of Black Mound Fell. Apparently a fell is taller than a hill, but not as tall as a mountain (though some fells are mountains?!) It’s a regional term... anyway… and on the opposite side there are low rolling hills, which lead down to the sea shore at Bootle beach, opposite the Isle of Man. It was nice, and the Cooksons were unfailingly generous and kind.
The next day, we went to Whitehaven, a gorgeous little seaside village where we learned all about boggles, ghosts and Wraiths… ah!! A Boggle (differing from J.K Rowling’s description) is a sea creature who can take the form of a man or hideous beast, and a few days after seeing one, the witness is said to go mad and die. A Wraith is just a more terrifying version of a ghost (I guess J.R.R Tolkien was more on the money).
After that we headed for Carlisle Castle. The keep there, originally built in about 1120 or so, was nice and old, with not too many changes over the last 9 centuries or so. There was also an interesting military museum there, and really, really good ‘oatie cookies’. Best of all though was that the sun was shining, one of the very few days since I had left the Australia, and in all places, the English border with Scotland!
We still had some time left so we went to Gretna Green, just over the border in Scotland. Did I mention I bought tartan tights in London?!?! Well Kristen wasn’t too impressed with my purchase in London, but I was very proud at this day of my decision to wear my tartan tights – who knew I’d be in Scotland with them – tartan in Scotland! Apparently Gretna Green was where all the couples in love ran away to elope. There was no need for an official permission, all you needed was two Scots to witness, and a black smith to marry you. There was an ‘Anvil of the Marriages’ and as the blacksmith would forge two metals together so he would two people. Ahhhh.
We stopped off in the hotel there too for a late lunch – where Eirin and I saw the real groundskeeper Willie!!! We figured he must have been – being a groundskeeper and all – and being in Scotland! In the hotel was the only one brave enough to try the traditional Scottish fish soup – Killen Skink. And yes, I was hoping that there would be no lizards in the soup. The fact that as the waiter brought it out and all the Cooksons covered their noses was not an accurate reflection of the taste. Once you get past the fishy smell I would recommend Killen Skink to anyone! It’s right up there with the garlic butter and vegemite.
In the gift store we avoided the haggis and made for the kissing gate where Eirin and I got some nice pictures (of kissing the gate, not each other!). In the store I discovered that my tartan stockings were in fact ‘Royal Stuart’ tartan – so there you go you learn something new everyday!!
So Spadge and I were closer than ever as I continued to be willing to play ‘Wrestle the Frisbee’ and ‘Fetch the Teddy Bear with Many Holes’. The teddy bear was also known as he who must not be touched due the layers of dog saliva that had become engrained on the bear as each layer dried and Spadge created a new one… I’m not entirely sure that bear had long to live either. But yes, we certainly bonded.
As it was raining on the Thursday – and we got to avoid climbing trees – can’t say I was too disappointed about that! Eirin and I got to go with Gina into Barrow-in-Furness to check out the shops and try to be sneaky and buy a present for her. Gina had probably determined we were shoplifters or something equally as dubious seeing how we saw her in the supermarket and ran away screaming with a box of chocolates in hand.Luckily when we gave them all the chocolates Gina still acted surprised.
Eirin and I were both sad to leave on Friday afternoon to head for our night of fun with Kate in Blackpool. We’d heard some interesting things about that place – and no, not the that they burst into song all the time, but it was in fact the town home to Hen’s and Buck’s nights from across the country, it was the ‘English Gold Coast’, and we were staying in a hotel called ‘Cumforth’ in the gay district…
thanks for reading this far and stay turned for the blackpool spectacular...
So anyway, Eirin’s Aunty, Gina, and cousins, Kate and Dominic, along with Eirin came to pick me up from the station. I knew straight away that these were just the nicest kind of people and I’d have no problems in the next few days. We drove back to their place and I met Ed, Eirin’s uncle, and all the pets for a curry dinner. It was cold, out there in North-West England but I’m moving past complaining about the weather, or trying too at least.
The next day we all went to Wast Water. Home of four superlatives; the deepest lake in England – where the Loch Ness Monster takes her vacations, it’s also next to the tallest mountain in England and the smallest church in England. The final superlative is the “biggest liar”, a competition for which is held at the nearby pub – where apparently, contestants compete to tell the tallest tale.
I should tell you something more about where I was. The Cooksons’ house was an old stone country house; with the deeds dating back to the 1700s at the bottom of Black Mound Fell. Apparently a fell is taller than a hill, but not as tall as a mountain (though some fells are mountains?!) It’s a regional term... anyway… and on the opposite side there are low rolling hills, which lead down to the sea shore at Bootle beach, opposite the Isle of Man. It was nice, and the Cooksons were unfailingly generous and kind.
The next day, we went to Whitehaven, a gorgeous little seaside village where we learned all about boggles, ghosts and Wraiths… ah!! A Boggle (differing from J.K Rowling’s description) is a sea creature who can take the form of a man or hideous beast, and a few days after seeing one, the witness is said to go mad and die. A Wraith is just a more terrifying version of a ghost (I guess J.R.R Tolkien was more on the money).
After that we headed for Carlisle Castle. The keep there, originally built in about 1120 or so, was nice and old, with not too many changes over the last 9 centuries or so. There was also an interesting military museum there, and really, really good ‘oatie cookies’. Best of all though was that the sun was shining, one of the very few days since I had left the Australia, and in all places, the English border with Scotland!
We still had some time left so we went to Gretna Green, just over the border in Scotland. Did I mention I bought tartan tights in London?!?! Well Kristen wasn’t too impressed with my purchase in London, but I was very proud at this day of my decision to wear my tartan tights – who knew I’d be in Scotland with them – tartan in Scotland! Apparently Gretna Green was where all the couples in love ran away to elope. There was no need for an official permission, all you needed was two Scots to witness, and a black smith to marry you. There was an ‘Anvil of the Marriages’ and as the blacksmith would forge two metals together so he would two people. Ahhhh.
We stopped off in the hotel there too for a late lunch – where Eirin and I saw the real groundskeeper Willie!!! We figured he must have been – being a groundskeeper and all – and being in Scotland! In the hotel was the only one brave enough to try the traditional Scottish fish soup – Killen Skink. And yes, I was hoping that there would be no lizards in the soup. The fact that as the waiter brought it out and all the Cooksons covered their noses was not an accurate reflection of the taste. Once you get past the fishy smell I would recommend Killen Skink to anyone! It’s right up there with the garlic butter and vegemite.
In the gift store we avoided the haggis and made for the kissing gate where Eirin and I got some nice pictures (of kissing the gate, not each other!). In the store I discovered that my tartan stockings were in fact ‘Royal Stuart’ tartan – so there you go you learn something new everyday!!
So Spadge and I were closer than ever as I continued to be willing to play ‘Wrestle the Frisbee’ and ‘Fetch the Teddy Bear with Many Holes’. The teddy bear was also known as he who must not be touched due the layers of dog saliva that had become engrained on the bear as each layer dried and Spadge created a new one… I’m not entirely sure that bear had long to live either. But yes, we certainly bonded.
As it was raining on the Thursday – and we got to avoid climbing trees – can’t say I was too disappointed about that! Eirin and I got to go with Gina into Barrow-in-Furness to check out the shops and try to be sneaky and buy a present for her. Gina had probably determined we were shoplifters or something equally as dubious seeing how we saw her in the supermarket and ran away screaming with a box of chocolates in hand.Luckily when we gave them all the chocolates Gina still acted surprised.
Eirin and I were both sad to leave on Friday afternoon to head for our night of fun with Kate in Blackpool. We’d heard some interesting things about that place – and no, not the that they burst into song all the time, but it was in fact the town home to Hen’s and Buck’s nights from across the country, it was the ‘English Gold Coast’, and we were staying in a hotel called ‘Cumforth’ in the gay district…
thanks for reading this far and stay turned for the blackpool spectacular...
posted by Ingrid @ 10:43 AM
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