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" Beginning to Feel like Christmas "

Date & start time:      19th December 2019, give or take a day or two.

Location of Start :     By the red phone box, Loweswater, Cumbria, Uk. ( NY 143 211 )

Places visited :          Cockermouth, Keswick and Kirkstile.

Walk details :              Local walks from the car or the cottage.

Highest point :           It's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas.

With :                             Ann and our dogs, Dylan and Dougal.

Weather :                     Overcast and a damp cold but not freezing.

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A more 'urban' collections of photos from the recent days leading towards Christmas. 

Like most folk I guess, you have local events and traditions that make the season of Christmas special.

A time of year to be with family and friends to celebrate the good will you find and also that you create in the world.

It was the Christmas Dinner of the Loweswater Ladies Group.

Partners are invited so we are both in Cockermouth to enjoy the evening.

It also gives us the chance to enjoy the town's Christmas Lights . . . here on the Swan Inn at the top end of town.

Down in Main Street . . . it is 7pm on Wednesday evening and town isn't particularly busy yet.

The shops are all decorated for Christmas . . . .
Some bold, some more exquisite in their detail.

I waited for a gap in the traffic to photograph the main street and the tree.

The Christmas Tree next to the Mayo Statue.
Our venue for tonight . . . The Wild Zucchinis Bistro

A town centre bistro with plenty of atmosphere and good food.

Conversations abound as we enjoy an evening together with both close and distant neighbours.

The Station Road dual carriageway . . . not really . . . it's a one way street plus a reflection !

- - - o o o - - -

 

The Loweswater Discussion Group (The Farmers)

also had a Christmas meal out,

but as the Kirkstile hasn't a large enough room for everyone

the group was unable to invite partners.

(Shame I hear you cry !)

 

 

The fellows of the valley,

about half of whom are farmers and half are "in-comers",

meet for their Christmas meal at the pub.

 

 

- - - o o o - - -

Getting into the spirit . . .

Going crackers over the soup.

A beef dinner for twenty four please . . . plus one vegetarian beef dinner for our token vegetarian (me).

Top table tonight . . . William and our Guest speaker Mike and the previous meeting's guest speaker Rod in the black shirt.

[Also featured is Joe, a new landowner in the valley.  He's just bought a field next to the pub

to ensure a good landing spot next to the Kirkstile for his and Rod's paragliders !]

Our speaker tonight was Mike Naylor, four times Cumbria's "World Biggest Liar" as judged by the locals at the Santon Bridge Inn in Wasdale.

Those keen on fell running may recognise the surname shared by his family member.

Mike gave us a talk about the Biggest Liar competition and the valley of Wasdale . . . but we didn't believe everything he said.

- - - o o o - - -

Into Keswick now . . . over the hills to the big city !
Their 2019 Christmas Tree . . . different !

The window display in Thomasons' Butchers & Deli has involved a lot of work.


Bryson's window likewise.

Up to the Moot Hall in the centre of Keswick.

A famous outdoor emporium - looking good . . .
. . . with Causey Pike at the foot of the adjacent street.

'Say Cheese' for the photographer.

[ The number eight represents their entry number in the Keswick Advent Calendar Window competition.]

Dougal doesn't know what the sheep represents !     It's for sale at £288 if you are interested.

We're in town so that Dylan can do his PAT Dog visit to Millfield Nursing Home.

Dougal isn't yet qualified so has come along for the work-experience . . . Merry Christmas to Michael.

Also Season's Greeting to Hilda who is currently enjoying her 103rd year of life and still very much with it.

Her son Martin in Canada is a regular viewer of Loweswatercam and Ann met him recently when he was over for a visit.

Hilda has been a keen fellwalker in her life having climbed all the Wainwrights and many Munros in her time . . . no mean feat.

- - - o o o - - -

 

 

Finally tonight . . .

Arts Out West  supported a concert this week

in the Loweswater Village Hall

"Celtic Christmas Strings" was a superb performance

combining Christmas carols with Jazz and Bluegrass music,

performed on harp and guitar.

   
Chris Newman on guitar . . .
. . . and Maire ni Chathasaigh on harp.

"A breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, swing jazz and bluegrass, plus festive favourites given a fresh voice

and performed in characteristically heart-warming style – a spellbinding treat for mid-winter"  the flyer said . . . and they weren't wrong. 

An excellent evening's entertainment to celebrate the season, all the better for being local.

Mairee and Chris's website and Facebook page

- - - o o o - - -

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Panasonic Lumix TZ60, or my Panasonic Lumix Gx8 Camera.

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

This site best viewed with . . . the expertise of experts !

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Previous walk - 15th December - Lanthwaite High Wood

A previous time up here - 24th December 2015 - Christmas Greetings - 2015

The Loweswatercam Calendar 2020

Sorry (yet somehow pleased) to say . . .

that the calendars have now sold out.