August

It seems a long time since I posted anything but with re-opening the cottages and all that has involved and seeing family again, time has just passed. The cuckoos have gone, the sheep have been shorn and the hay fields cut. Sadly the nights are also cutting in.

Thinking of sheep, we have a flock of herdies down the lane and since they were very small lambs two have been regularly coming over onto the road where I expect they think the grass is greener or being herdwicks they believe walls are there to be crossed. They have gradually extended their range and have been visiting my garden. Hope they are not tempted by my red hot pokers.

Moving on, we have been very excited to see more red squirrels about, I have one visiting the feeder by the dog kennels and they are also running across the front garden. No photos as yet, they are too speedy.

I had Poppy and Edith, two of my grandchildren for a week earlier in the month. They are great little walkers and made it up to the top of Low Fell from Thackthwaite. We picnicked by the south summit and had what they described as the best game of I-Spy ever.

They also had a lovely time on Loweswater with my friend Judy but unfortunately I couldn’t be with them as it was Saturday and I was involved with changeover.

Since lockdown Judy and I have been getting out and about on our bikes and last week we went to Longlands Lake which is the other side of Cleator Moor. It was a fascinating cycle as we went down the C2C cycle track to Cleator. The lake itself is on the site of an old iron ore mine and has been managed to support a wide range of wild life. It is also a nice friendly place to visit and we met several local families who had come for picnics and to feed the ducks.