More Lake District....

theres snow on them there hills.....

We had rain - snow - hail - wind - and glorious sunshine all in one day on our lake district trip last week.... just another little day trip out to find some hills and quiet solace among lambs and sprouting bracken. Was a mixed forecast but we went anyway and while Dr Fred headed up the crag up a hill near Langdale - the rain came in and I sat eating chocolate under a totally inadequate umbrella and consequently we got got moderately wet but managed to avoid the worst by having lunch and wee kip in the back of the van - well not exactly a kip but a snuggle under the duvet as the hail ravaged the van - it made us feel very nostalgic for sleeping in the van but still very little camping open quote where we want it!

how to spread out wherever..

Later when the weather settles a bit a went for a wander up Loughridge fell - Dr Fred went looking for esoteric rocks (and didn't find them) I wandered about and did a little bit of painting - it was quite a busy little path and the sun came out and it was all very pleasant so nice we didn't really want to come home. We decided to drive back the scenic route and we stopped of at the Badger Inn for a bite to eat - they have a garden area where Badgers come and eat and you can watch if you are quiet - sadly we were too early to see them but I've looked on the web cam since and sure enough lots of Badgers.... Food was good though and we were able to sit out in the late evening sun and enjoy a slice of ordinary

sketching with watercolour pencils and fine liner

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Alesund

Our final destination stop was Alesund. This is a very pretty town in southern Norway built on a peninsula. All the houses are painted pretty colours and a lot of the architecture is all very Art Nouveau based. This is because the town itself was completely burnt to the ground In 1904 by a fire for which they never found the original cause. The whole town had to be rebuilt and this became a huge National Effort and a lot of prominent and up and coming architects flocked to the town to stick there 20 pence in. Consequently the town is very heavily Art Nouveau which was very fashionable at the time. There is this wonderful Museum just off the harbour which is a very beautiful Art Nouveau house. It has amazing panelling, doors, wallpaper, and it's all furnished with beautiful art Nouveau Furniture. It also house a collection of of enameled Art Nouveau Trinkets,boxes, spoons, jewellery, very very beautiful. There is an interesting collection of old books and paintings a...

Isle of Bute

Another Landmark Trust tick - this time Ascog House on the Isle of Bute - stunning as always... a very comfortable warm accommodation for the usual 8 suspects. This time we had a wee tower house for Dr Fred and myself - a lovely bedroom up the stairs with a big window and a bathroom al to ourselves - having said that all the other bedrooms in the big house were large and serviced by two bathrooms so there was no hardship for any visitors! The grounds of the house were very extensive with ponds and secret passages - hidden paths and we even spotted a deer late afternoon - there were lots of old features - ornate staircases and a lovely hidden door which I did a quick sketch of. Bute provided quite a lot of entertainment as well - the weather was kind and we did a a muddy wander down the south of the Island taking in St Blanes Monastery and Kilcannon Bay. The views were spectacular and it was fabulous to be out in the fresh (and it was fresh on the tops) air and we...

Kalamata and random stuff

We suddenly got busy catching up with old friends met on previous cruises - and making some new friends who were working this cruise. Dr Fred got organised arranging Stargazing sessions and future talks, while I'm embroidering a coat! All this takes time and energy inbetween being available for food..... It was formal night in the 1920s style with the Captain's Cocktail party. So we donned our gladrags, smartened ourselves up and went meet the captain and have a to drink in the Neptune theatre before dinner. I have to say I'm quite impressed with the effort that people go to on these formal nights and some people have some amazing clothes And it was particularly good this night because of the 1920s theme They were an awful lot of headbands with feathers in them but they did look good and some of the frocks were just absolutely stunning. They've refurbished the selfservice area. Its now known as the Thistle - and it's very pleasant - al...

Planet Ruby Starrs

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