Ramblings
Saunterings
Ramblings: about North-West England
Ramblings is a set of articles about North-West England, of unknown authorship and
indeterminate date, believed to have been written for amusement on rainy days,
which are not unknown in North-West England.
19. A Week in the Lake District
Saturday: All arrived by half-six. Some
misunderstanding about who was invited.
I’d booked the cottage for the five of us,
to celebrate ten years since graduating.
But Charles brought Annie and Richard
Tara. We’d all not met since Charles’
third marriage (to Fiona, I think it was).
Drinking, chatting, late night.
Sunday: Light rain, cool
breeze. Late breakfast. Gentle
stroll up Cat Bells to loosen up. All in good
spirits. Particularly lively between Richard
and Tara at the back. Heard a cuckoo.
Small blister on the right big toe.
Monday: Showery. Charles, Malcolm, Peter,
Annie, Richard and I walked up Skiddaw.
Tara opted out (didn’t sleep well; Richard
slept in lounge, I think). Could have
been a wheatear. Blister made walking
uncomfortable - now have a sore knee.
Tuesday: Low cloud. Malcolm, Peter, Annie,
Richard and I conquered Great Gable.
Charles didn’t think it right to leave Tara
on her own. Very chivalrous of him. Lost
Malcolm and Peter for a while in the cloud.
Saw a woodpecker in Seathwaite. Both
knees painful now.
Wednesday: Very windy. Charles slept in
the kitchen, I think. Peter, Annie, Richard
and I walked up Loughrigg - an easy walk,
because of my knees. Tripped over a rock,
injuring my hip. Peter rather morose.
Malcolm had stayed in the cottage:
‘personal things’ to sort out, he said. Pied
flycatchers by the lake.
Thursday: Squally showers. Peter stayed to
help Malcolm with his problems. Annie,
Richard and I did the Buttermere Horseshoe.
They strode ahead; I hobbled behind. A
couple of times they forgot about me.
Watched ring ouzels on Brandreth. Had a
tumble on Haystacks: dislocated shoulder.
Friday: Steady rain. Nobody slept in the
lounge or kitchen, I think. Annie said she
was too tired to walk today. Richard and
I tackled Helvellyn. He talked of Annie
the whole way. Four buzzards above. The
walk was a bit bold, with my injuries, but I
thought “last day, go for it”. Fell off Swirral
Edge. The Rescue Service wasn’t long.
Saturday: Sunny. Charles and Tara, Malcolm
and Peter, Richard and Annie had separate
walks up Cat Bells. Watched a great tit on
the bird table. “Must make it an annual
event” they said. Nobody offered me a lift
home.
Ramblings
Saunterings
© John Self, Drakkar Press, 2024-
Top photo: Rainbow over Kisdon in Swaledale;
Bottom photo: Ullswater