More of a family album this one, so that I can have a record
of the many and varied events this summer.
However, there's some nice scenery in there and a variety of
locations, as well as people.
Hopefully it will be of general interest to both family and
friends.
My elder brother's family were self-catering
in Coniston and invited me over for the day.
The meeting point was the Bluebird Cafe down
by the lake, but I think the world and his wife had also arranged
the same destination.
'Twas like Blackpool on a rather busy day !
Melissa and her two boys, Nesta (standing) and
Guy (in arms).
My brother Peter and his wife Mary decided on
a little deep water swimming, much to the consternation of a
passing family of swans.
They had arranges a trip on the Coniston Launch
so sun hats and glasses to the fore, we boarded the boat.
Right to left is Melissa, Guy, Mary, Daisey
and Loes, with Sam sitting on this side.
Peter and his two other grandsons Joshua and
Nesta.
They were not used to dogs at all, but warmed
to our two and ended up having a great time with them.
The launch took is on a local cruise out onto
the lake and across to Brantwood
The summit in the background is Coniston Old
Man of course.
Loes and Daisey, a real live wire.
Check out the glasses . . . they were
to fall overboard later :o(
The artist and environmentalist John
Ruskin's Brantwood House on the far side of the lake.
Tom and Sam . . . brothers in law.
Brantwood House has a rather nice cafe in the
grounds . . . so place your orders at the counter please.
We thought about sitting outside, but the tables
were sheltered from the breeze and extremely hot, so we stayed
indoors.
The National Trust steam yacht The
Gondola calling in at Brantwood pier.
Ours would be the next boat in, so we made our
way down to the jetty
ready for the boat trip back across the lake
to the car.
- - - o o o - - -
Don't be sarcastic . . .
I can brush up quite nicely when I try,
here with a new outfit that Loes helped me select.
We're heading over to Bradford
to celebrate the wedding of my niece,
my younger brother's daughter.
Their wedding was put off several times due to covid
so they had a small ceremony with only six people
instead.
Today, now that restrictions have been freed up
Rachel and Jay invited us to a
"Confirmation of Vows"
and a full-blown wedding reception
along the lines of what they had originally intended
- - - o o o - - -
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The wedding party with parents and Jay's son.
The ceremony followed the normal order of service
but everything was in the past tense. "I did promise to
. . . "
but it was just as meaningful as a normal church
wedding, and they even managed to have the same minister,
even though he was no longer involved in their
particular church.
The reception was at the Midland Hotel, one
of the classic Railway Hotels, in the centre of Bradford.
The evening reception would go on till late
so we had booked to stay at the same place . . . a real treat.
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The classic
railway style wooden flooring and luggage on display. |
A famous guest must have
left their old case behind ! |
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While guests
were arriving the photographer was busy. |
Rachel and Jay on the
grand staircase. |
The reception and meal was in the main ballroom.
There was a spectacular 9 piece band who played
1980's rock music into the night.
Think Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder and the like,
all great dance music. The only problem was the heat of
the day.
[ I suggested turning the hotel temperature
down next morning to save power and make it more comfortable
for guests
only to be told that the hotel hadn't had the
heating on for the last five weeks !]
The following morning Loes and I had a walk
around Bradford town centre where she used to work.
This was the cathedral where they were getting
ready for a service.
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A quick
look around at the beautiful windows, |
. . . the ancient stone
walls, |
. . . and some of the
memorials. |
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We left
by the southern stairway . . . |
. . . opposite which
there was a piece of fine street art. |
Loes fondly turning her back on her old place
of work,
one of the two Law Courts in Bradford where
she worked as a Clerk to the Court.
Bradford Town Hall . . . there is certainly
some fine architecture to see here.
The front view with the modernised, paved square
. . . the water feature was probably very enjoyable during the
recent hot weather.
On the way home we called over to my brother's
house in Ilkely, and met him first on a short walk to the Cow
and Calf Rocks.
[ I took a picture of the new car so that I
could recognise it again amongst all the mass of visitors' transport.]
There was a charity event on and they had set
up a zip-wire from the top rock
down to an anchor point attached to a parked
HGV vehicle near the hotel.
The Cancer Charity was offering free rides to
those that had raised money for the cause.
We were planning lunch at Steve's house but
due to the nice weather, the venue had changed
to the Craven Sailing Club, where Steve is commodore.
The line up includes my other niece, Nicola
from Bristol, Elaine and Loes, Meile from Columbia, Jay and
Rachel.
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Meile was partner of Steve's son Tim,
who lives in Columbia normally. |
Steve and I got the old family boat
ready for a sail on the reservoir. |
Without a suitably garish outfit to wear I passed
on a sail today.
Steve and Tim enjoying a fine potter around
the pond on a boat my dad bought the family back when we were
teenagers.
You wouldn't think to look at it, but that the
boat is around 55 years old . . . full marks to Steve for keeping
it in such good condition.
- - - o o o - - -
Some weeks later, a friends invitation to Cheshire
for Loes was complimented with an overnight stay at friends
of mine.
Nigel and Jill have featured on many of my fell
walks over the years.
This was my chance to go down to Cheshire and
stay with them.
The two on the left you know . . . but the others
are Ziggy and Arwen . . . on a walk near Delalmere Manor.
We stayed at their house overnight and my dogs
seemed to make themselves at home.
In fact Dylan really made himself at home.
Ziggy didn't get a look in !
In the morning, we enjoyed a second local walk
to an old gravel pit area around Sandiway.
There was sufficient stones for four dogs to
climb on and pose for a photo.
- - - o o o - - -
Early August my son and his family came for
five days . . .
"Somewhere exciting" was needed to
take a young five year old grandson.
We went off to see the Orient Express and cafe
. . . that way we can get a light lunch as well !
The dogs could borrow a stick to pass the time.
Further down the platform the owners have been
opening up the woodland and are making a nature reserve.
Along the way they have taken the advantage
of a chain saw artist to add interest.
A muddy section has been deepened to form a
wildlife pond, complete with a seating area to relax and watch
what comes by.
Time for a spot of lunch, and Owen is just embarking
on the lifelong skill of reading.
After lunch there was chance for a Jubilee (red
white and blue) ice cream.
- - - o o o - - -
Adjacent to Bassenthwaite Lake Station is the
Silver Meadows Nature Reserve.
Luke starting out on the walk along the elevated
path over some very marshy ground.
There were several examples of old Celtic Huts,
to give an idea as to the homes of the first inhabitants of
the area.
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- - - o o o - - -
Inside the shelter is space to sit down.
. . . with windows in the Wattle
and Daub of the side walls.
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- - - o o o - - -
In subsequent days we also visited Whinlatter.
Gareth also wanted to take the boys
on the Gruffalo Trail in the forest.
It climbs quite high up the fellside
so instead we opted for the Wiggly Worm Trail
which stayed low and had many more
instant attractions.
- - - o o o - - -
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This was a water feature with artisan screw
to lift water from the stream and it channel to pretend to pan
for gold.
The dogs tried without any gold success but
did manage a nice drink on this hot day.
It was so hot even the baby Gruffalo was asleep
in the woods.
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Two foxy guys . . . |
. . . four if you count Luke. |
Home for supper and a fine Loweswater Beetroot
Pie (recipe here)
a pie that gets a big sign of approval.