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" Loweswater Ladies Day Out 2012 "

Date & start time: Wednesday 13th June 2012, 10.45 am start.

Location of Start : The Sheep & Wool Centre, Cockermouth, Cumbria, Uk.

Places visited : Grasmere in the central Lake District

Walked with : Myself and fifteen members of the Ladies Group

Weather : Overcast with a brief shower at midday.

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" Loweswater Ladies Day Out 2012 " at EveryTrail
 

 

The Loweswater Ladies have a social group within the valley and like the Farmers Group recently, they've organised a day out. 

The plan is to visit Grasmere and to listen to the Storyteller Laureate who is resident there.

All aboard the mini-bus

having travelled from our valley and parked our cars at the Sheep and Wool Centre on the outskirts of Cockermouth.

After a pleasant journey into the central Lakes we arrive at Grasmere

where Kath, Marilyn, Lorna and Loes head off into the village.

 

 

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This is the frontage of the excellent Sam Read's

bookshop in the centre of the village

 

 

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After a short spell of retail therapy, five of us lunch at Heidi's.

Loes, Marilyn and Lorna enjoy some tasty soup.

Myself included in this shot, taken by Kath.

After lunch it is time to join the rest of our Ladies outside the Grasmere Garden Centre.

"Anyone left their jacket behind ? "

We make our way to Taffy Thomas the Storyteller   . . .
 . . .  where a warm welcome awaits us.

Taffy has an office at the side of the National Trust property

which is opposite the Grasmere Gingerbread shop.

He has a garden for his storytelling and was there, waiting to greet us.

His wife and 'right hand lady' is in pink on the left.

He introduces himself and what he was planning to do today.

Ann, Barbara, Betty and Mary listen attentively as do Marilyn and Loes on the front seat.

Further around we have Ann, Maud, Nancy, Margie and Kath  on the benches.

It is a rather cool day to sit in the garden, so an alternative venue has been arranged for us.

Taffy transports Nancy and Maud in his special Storytellers car.

The rest of us make our own way the short distance to Butharlyp Howe Youth Hostel

Lorna and Margie settle comfortably into this warm and welcoming lounge . . . and the storytelling begins.

Listening attentively.

Taffy starts with a number of riddles.

Then Mrs Thomas helps Taffy on with a stunning Storytelling Coat
The Tale Coat was hand-made with beautiful silks.

It was funded with the assistance of National Lottery and Arts Council grants.

Taffy shows us a photo of himself in the coat, receiving his MBE from the Queen.

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" When England's leading Storyteller dons this unique piece of textile art, the magic begins . . . "

Alison is invited to choose a story for Taffy to relate.

Each one of his repertoire of 300 stories has been embroidered onto the coat . . . she chooses the Owl.

Taffy launches into the story . . .
  . . . magnificently attired in coat and matching hat.

Yvette, Dorothy and Kath listening to the story.

Alison is presented with a poster for her choice of story today.

 

 

The Ladies gather around to examine . . .
. . . the exquisite hand-stitched detail of the coat.

after which, tea and Grasmere Gingerbread was served.

Meanwhile Taffy signs Alison's gift.

Loes and Ann look on as he signs a book of his Tales for them.

All too soon we leave Taffy and the fireside and make our way back through the lovely Hostel grounds to the village.

The Lion and Lamb on Helm Crag form the backdrop to the garden.

Grasmere is unusually quiet for a Summer's afternoon but Sam Read's side door adds a spot of colour to a rather dull day.

Stone Arthur is the pointed fell in the distance overlooking Grasmere Village.

A familiar shop to many Grasmere visitors . . . the famous Sarah Nelson Gingerbread shop

I wandered around the Garden Centre to look at the colourful displays.

I liked this attractive Aquilegia.

This purple Clematis caught my eye.

A swift movement beneath the bench also caught my eye . . .

I sat and watched this delightful little bunny as he munched away on the fallen leaves.

Lavender . . . it smelt as good as it looked,

however it was now time to board the bus and leave for home.

On our way back we passed the picturesque Thirlmere Reservoir.

The sun may not have shone today, but the company and the craic more than made up for it !

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With thanks to Taffy Thomas (and Mrs Thomas), to Reay's Coaches,

to the staff at Butharlyp Howe Youth Hostel

and of course to Alison who organised the day out for the Loweswater Ladies

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Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon Sureshot SX220 digital camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . a good crowd on the back seat of the bus.

Go to Top . . . © RmH . . . Email me here

 

2012 Grasmere and the Storyteller

2014 - Kirkby Stephen and Costumes

2017 - Holehird Gdns and Miller How

 

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