December

The beginning of December saw the end of the second lockdown.  We are in Tier 2, meaning that all shops, bars and restaurants are open, but you can only go with people who you live with.  We can meet up outside with up to 6 people.  We could also stay overnight in accommodation, once again, as long as it is only with people we live with.  Yay.  This meant that we could, at last have our nights away at the Den.  We got in touch with Katie and Jon and booked ourselves in.  We were ridiculously excited.  Just to be somewhere else - and the fact that this was third time lucky.  

The Den at night

We were slightly worried earlier, as it snowed quite hard on Wednesday night.  The hills were covered in snow and of course the road to Ribblehead is always the first to close.  Luckily, the snow did melt in the lower slopes, meaning we could get up there in the Civic, we took the sledges with us just in case we could find some good runs.

We picked Tom up from school, quickly packed the car and headed the 7 miles up the road to Gauber, unpacked and relaxed.  There was a fire burning for us, which was lovely.  The Den itself was very cosy.  It is tiny but the use of space so clever, that it feels bigger.  Matt and I even had a kingsize bed.

I had made a stew at home in the slow cooker, so we plugged that in, opened a bottle or two and snuggled down on the sofas for a lovely, warm, evening in, drinking lots, eating plenty and, well, relaxing.  Pure bliss.         

We had a fabulous night's sleep. Bacon sarnies for breakfast and then we headed to Snaizeholme to see the squirrels.  We went with Katie and co - they are a family of 3 and as we are allowed to be together as a 6 it made sense to do it together - they weren't sure where to go and (of course) we are all starved of social interaction.  

Wowzers, the squirrels put on a brilliant display.  There must have been a dozen or so of them, and they were happy to play around us.  The scene was amazing too - bright blue sky, snow on the hills and gently steaming trees and meadows.  We must have spent a good 1.5 hours up there just watching all the squirrels darting about.  Matt was very happy as he got some great shots. Katie and co were enchanted by them - think they will go back.   

Tuffty!

Hawes 

We then split up - we headed to Hawes, whilst Katie and co went home.  I had some chocolates to deliver to Chapel Gallery, so we stopped off at Wensleydale Creamery for lunch (I was good and just had soup) and then we went into the town.  It was completely deserted.  Eerily so.  We dropped off the choccies, did a little bit of shopping on our favourite stores and then headed back home.  

We wanted an hour or so in front of the fire again.  We then headed out to the Station Inn for dinner.  Felt very decadent and very safe. Tables were very far apart, the foot was good old comfort food for walkers - so it was a lamb shank for me and bacon wrapped cumberland sausage for Matt.  We walked home with happy bellies admiring the stars above even though it was a little cold!

Sunday we went for a walk with Katie and co around their house, and then headed to Thorns for another ramble - such an interesting place.  As I was looking in a barn, suddenly there was a movement and a flutter...a huge barn owl flew over my head.  Wowzers.  Unfortunately, Matt didn't have his camera ready.  We ate our sandwiches and then headed over the road to clamber on some limestone pavements before returning to the Den and heading the long way home.  Was a lovely weekend - so glad we finally got to do it.

The next week, I had my head down getting orders done.  With the threat of isolation always above our heads, it was imperative that I got as much done as possible as quickly as possible just in case.  I basically worked every single minute I could.  I didn't actually advertise myself that much this year as I didn't want to get too many orders, but somehow I still managed to get quite a few - lots of new customers (people wanting to support local business which was great).  Also, of course I needed to keep Gingerbugs stocked and they were selling a lot of my chocolate.  Also, on Monday we got our tree and the decs down from the loft, put the Christmas music on and got the house ready for Christmas.

The Beck at Austwick

English Prize

At the weekend, I broke off.  Tom came home from school on the Friday very excited as he had been 1 of 2 children chosen in his English class to get an effort prize.  He was delighted, as were we as English isn't his favourite / strongest subject and the fact he got recognised out of 30 means that he must be putting himself out there which is good to know.

On the Saturday we did the long walk around Feizor which was nice.  On Sunday I think we had a day of chores and Tom watched Polar Express - his favourite Christmas film which he has to watch every year.  A good beginning to the Christmas season.  Oh and we finished putting up all the Christmas decorations.

Tom had 4 days left at school and he managed all of them.  We got his school report which was very bizarre and took a while to interpret.  First of all were effort grades which were all fab - improved from last term.  Then attainment grades which averaged out as G/Fs?!!!!  We were completely confused, but it turns out that these are the grades he would attain right now if he was to take his GCSEs today.  What is the point of that?  Do we really need to know that?!  Anyway, once we had worked out that that was what we were looking at, we ignored it!  He got chosen to enjoy a Christmas film with popcorn rather than double Chemistry on the Thursday as one of 30 who had got top effort grades.  Not bad considering he is in a year group of 256.  We were very happy with him and for him.

I got all my orders finished and most of my orders collected which meant I could sort of relax, the kitchen was in a state, but the main thing was that the orders were finished and packed.  On the Friday we all enjoyed a lie in and then had a useful day doing chores.  I packed up fudge which was left over from orders to take to Gingerbugs.  It wasn't the nicest of days, but Matt and Tom managed to fit a short walk in to get some fresh air.

Tom and Florrie tree climbing

On Saturday, we finally got to see the Alpacas.  This was also third time lucky - due to Tom being isolated and Florrie being isolated for the last two dates that were arranged.  First of all we met up at Whinlatter Forest for a walk.  Was lovely, through a forest up to a peak from which we looked over Keswick and Derwent Water.  Was a bit of a slog though, especially as we were talking and walking up hill at the same time.  Unfortunately the weather wasn't great - we had shower after shower of heavy rain, meaning we were all soaked and cold, but it didn't really matter - we were all glad of the company and being out somewhere.  

Inca the Alpaca

After the walk we headed to Lingholm Estate where we met up with the Alpacas.  After a quick talk we were let into their field with some food.  Wowzers, as soon as they saw us they came hurtling towards us at full pace - we all thought we were going to be bowled over, but they all stopped in time and stuck their noses into our bowls to chomp away on their food.  They were all males, and all very social, very calm, gentle and quite comical.  We came away wanting to have one as a pet.  They basically looked like big sheep whose necks had been pulled.  They allowed us to pet them and Tom and Florrie managed to get some selfies.  It was good fun.  Shame they were all bedraggled from the rain, I would like to see them fluffy.

Alpaca selfie

We went looking for a mulled wine to warm up - but being two families we had to stay outside and it was cold and wet outside.  The cafe at the Alpacas was licensed but they didn't do mulled wine, so we decided to call it a day and head home, if we found a pub doing mulled wine we would have to eat a substantial meal which we didn't want - the pains of tiers!  (At least we are in tier 2 and have some freedoms).  We decided to call it a day and headed home for hot showers and mulled wine.

Sunday we had a quiet day.  Tom and Matt went out for a quick bike ride, whilst I went for a walk.  

So, towards the end of the week, the government changed their minds about Christmas.  They had promised a 5 day window where people could meet up (max of 3 households) regardless of where they were in the country.  However, incidences of Coronavirus have risen massively in the South-East, meaning that a new tier 4 has been introduced (basically the same as lockdown v2) and people who live in tier 4 told not to move.  Christmas is now for one day only meaning that people (hopefully) won't travel too far.  Just as well we had arranged not to meet up with anyone - everyone I know around here with family outside of the local area has decided not to travel - I think pretty much any sensible person would have decided it wasn't worth it - especially as the vaccine is being rolled out - a couple more months and we will be able to meet up safely - might as well wait.  Let's hope not too many people travel here to second homes from the South-East and spread their variant to us, our infection rate is the lowest its been for a while at the moment.

Monday we had a useful day.  I got up at 6am and drove to Sainsburys in Kendal for the Xmas shop.  This year, for the first year ever, I forgot to book a delivery slot.  With the announcement that the extended Christmas meet up period had been cancelled, I figured that more people will need to go to the supermarket to pick up food that they thought they wouldn't need.  The earlier I got to the store, the better it would be.  Anyway, I had the most pleasant supermarket experience I could hope for.  There were more workers than customers, everyone seemed in a good mood.  I didn't have to do the Covid dance to get my stuff from the shelves and everything was fully stocked. 

When I finished I thought I would hop across to Aldi to restock my cake ingredients.  It was a different story there.  The shop was rammed and there was a queue to get in.  I took one look and decided to leave it - I won't need anymore cake ingredients for a while.  I did a bit more Christmas shopping in the retail park before heading home.  I got home around 10am and everything was done.  Great stuff.  Turns out it was a good decision as the French closed their border to us on Monday due to the Covid infection rates in the south-east and as a result some food items have been hard to get hold of.  Phew!

Big fat pig!

On Tuesday we had a non rainy day so went out for a walk on the Bowland Fells.  It was going to be a short circular walk, but somehow it got extended and it was pretty slow going as the land was sooooo boggy.  We got ourselves to the top of Clougha Pike and were rewarded by wonderful views of Morecambe Bay down below us - we could even see Blackpool Tower.  We sat and ate our sandwiches (we went to Seasons to get them Tom had chosen the biggest one he could find - a Yorkshire pudding wrap with a Christmas dinner in it - the big fat pig!)  We then headed into the bog to get home.  We were all exhausted when we finished - basically we spent 6 miles pulling our feet out of muddy bogs, not the easiest walk, but we felt good afterwards (even if we had leaden legs!)

View from Clougha Pike

Wednesday was a miserable, rainy day, so we had a day of chores.  Laundry, vacuuming, washing floors, cleaning the kitchen etc etc.  The house looked a lot better afterwards.  I feel I can relax now.

Christmas Eve, we had a nice quiet morning, then the boys went out for a bike ride (was very cold and windy - they did good) and I went for a short walk and seemed to bump into loads so turned out to be quite social.  Was a beautiful day - bright sunshine and blue skies - very very cold though!

We are now all set for our quiet Christmas

Merry Christmas Bike Ride