On the Tuesday evening we went to see a play by Oscar Wilde, it was very very good and the quality of the local dramatic group is very high. The costumes were exceptional too. D's son is involved in this theatre group and is in rehearsals for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. I can't remember the last time I saw a play and the script was excellent, why it has stood the test of time I suppose.
On the Wednesday, I went down to Liverpool on the train, to spend the evening with L&K and KISA's Auntie, who was visiting that evening. We had a lovely time, lots of laughing and I slept overnight, and caught the train back to Southport the next day when the family all headed off to work.
D was working split shifts which makes for long days for her, but we spent time catching up in the afternoons and evenings. She had cleared her schedule on the Friday, so we headed up to the Lake District for a night and two days. There was some big golf thingy in Wales called the Ryder Cup starting that day so the predominately testosterone fuelled household was not going to require our presence. We headed off early with our breakfast wrapped in foil. That would be bacon and brie sandwiches!! It was teeming with rain, torrential even. Unknown to us, the Ryder Cup got postponed. It is a tribute to the optimism of the English that we even left the house! The motorway was not a joy to drive on in that weather, but never the less we made it in one piece and checked into our hotel.
I can't remember the name of it but it was in Bowness, overlooking Lake Windemere and this is the view from our room. There are lots and lots of trees here and they are just thinking of turning into their autumn colours.
This is the view from our window with the zoom. You can just see a bit of the lake through the trees.
It was still teeming and visibility was not great, so we went to The Village Inn pub for a coffee then went for a mooch through the town, seeking shelter from the weather, yet clocking up a couple of kilometers so still technically a walking holiday! We decided to return to the pub for dinner that night as the menu looked good. The rain let up long enough for us to grab some lunch at this baguette shop, this was the view from the table where we ate our sandwich. Pretty place isn't it.
On our way back to the hotel, we noticed the mist had cleared enough to see the lake and surrounds, so we took a quick picture in case the weather was foully repeated the next day. This coat was a stray found on L&K"s coat rack.
We were certainly rugged up warmly, I got a bit nervous when I saw D getting all snugged up, however it wasn't really too cold and if it wasn't raining we could have left the parkas off. D always looks stylish! Even in a parka and hiking boots!
By late afternoon, the rain and gone and we went out on the patio of the hotel and enjoyed this glorious sunset.
More hot pink ivy, the hotel walls had quite a bit of it. This seems to get in early for autumn, as the other trees were just getting started.
We went to The Village Inn pub for dinner, I had Whitby Scampi, it was delicious. D and I had a couple of bottles of champers and some strawberries and cheese back in the room. It was a great evening!
By late afternoon, the rain and gone and we went out on the patio of the hotel and enjoyed this glorious sunset.
More hot pink ivy, the hotel walls had quite a bit of it. This seems to get in early for autumn, as the other trees were just getting started.
We went to The Village Inn pub for dinner, I had Whitby Scampi, it was delicious. D and I had a couple of bottles of champers and some strawberries and cheese back in the room. It was a great evening!The next morning we went down to the patio again, and the weather had fined up considerably, though not what you would call sunny.
Another shot of the hotel. I should have gone down to the front and got a shot of the whole building in one go, but that would have involved walking down a near vertical driveway, and having a heart attack on the climb back up. 
We decided to go for a cruise to Ambleside, since the weather was clearing, so we hopped on an open topped boat.
It was not even cold, so we had a very enjoyable cruise to Ambleside, and sat up the top all the way.
The scenery was stunning, lots of mountains. Would love to come back and walk this area for a couple of weeks.
There were some amazing buildings on the lake shore. Most are hotels I think, but may have started their lives as someone's home.
I think this one was built by a Liverpool doctor. No ancestor of ours anyway, mores the pity!
A couple of tourists asked us to take their photo, so we got them to return the favour. Even a bit sunny there!
Another grand lakeside house/hotel.
Fields, trees, mountains...drystone walls, stone cottages and sheep. I was in heaven!
Pulling into Ambleside. We stopped in front of this marina and had a coffee and a blueberry scone straight out of the oven. It was divine....
Another shot of the hotel. I should have gone down to the front and got a shot of the whole building in one go, but that would have involved walking down a near vertical driveway, and having a heart attack on the climb back up. 
We decided to go for a cruise to Ambleside, since the weather was clearing, so we hopped on an open topped boat.
It was not even cold, so we had a very enjoyable cruise to Ambleside, and sat up the top all the way.
The scenery was stunning, lots of mountains. Would love to come back and walk this area for a couple of weeks.
There were some amazing buildings on the lake shore. Most are hotels I think, but may have started their lives as someone's home.
I think this one was built by a Liverpool doctor. No ancestor of ours anyway, mores the pity!
A couple of tourists asked us to take their photo, so we got them to return the favour. Even a bit sunny there!
Another grand lakeside house/hotel.
Fields, trees, mountains...drystone walls, stone cottages and sheep. I was in heaven!
Pulling into Ambleside. We stopped in front of this marina and had a coffee and a blueberry scone straight out of the oven. It was divine....We walked a mile or so from the marina to the village and went for a meander. I found a Cotton Trader outlet shop and bought KISA a few clothes. He loves Cotton Trader, and since he got so skinny needs new stuff. So I bought us each a cotton fleece jacket, and him 4 polos and a pair of chinos. I now officially will need to get a new case as I know this stuff won't fit!
Earlier that morning as we were getting out of the lift near our room in the hotel, I saw a pen and ink drawing on the wall of a little building. It is called Bridge House. I said to D I have a model of that Bridge House in my cupboard at home, I have owned it for 20 years or so, is it nearby? I had never had any idea where it was. She said yes, it was in Ambleside, we will see it today! So here is my little model..
And here is the real thing! It is the tiniest little place, literally one room up and one room down and an outside staircase. Let's not discuss bathrooms! It is a tourist information centre now, but someone lived in once.
So so cute!
Look how small it is...
We treated ourselves to a light lunch in the village and headed back to the marina via a different route. We came across this terrace of stone houses. So precisely done.
Then my heart nearly stopped when we saw this drystone house! Not a speck of mortar are holding thoose stones in. D pointed out to me through the upstairs window, that the walls are about a metre thick, and are rendered inside. It certainly looks cosy!
This is the Youth Hostel at Ambleside. It has a great view and it right beside the pier. It was getting chilly by now, the wind was getting up. We headed back to Bowness and the car, still in the car park of the hotel. We had to drive back to Southport. It had been a lovely week, topped off by the mini break at the Lakes.
Earlier that morning as we were getting out of the lift near our room in the hotel, I saw a pen and ink drawing on the wall of a little building. It is called Bridge House. I said to D I have a model of that Bridge House in my cupboard at home, I have owned it for 20 years or so, is it nearby? I had never had any idea where it was. She said yes, it was in Ambleside, we will see it today! So here is my little model..
And here is the real thing! It is the tiniest little place, literally one room up and one room down and an outside staircase. Let's not discuss bathrooms! It is a tourist information centre now, but someone lived in once.
So so cute!
Look how small it is...
We treated ourselves to a light lunch in the village and headed back to the marina via a different route. We came across this terrace of stone houses. So precisely done.
Then my heart nearly stopped when we saw this drystone house! Not a speck of mortar are holding thoose stones in. D pointed out to me through the upstairs window, that the walls are about a metre thick, and are rendered inside. It certainly looks cosy!
This is the Youth Hostel at Ambleside. It has a great view and it right beside the pier. It was getting chilly by now, the wind was getting up. We headed back to Bowness and the car, still in the car park of the hotel. We had to drive back to Southport. It had been a lovely week, topped off by the mini break at the Lakes.
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