The next day we had a ticket for Stepping Stones Festival in Brampton. Its organised by Maddy Prior (ex of Steeleye Span – and I loved their stuff way back in the early 70s)
I wanted to go especially to see the compere/comedian Keith Donnelly (long time favourite) on stage with Les Barker (poetry, prose and comedy). As ever brilliant. I dashed home at tea time to feed Rosie and take her a quick walk and back to Brampton. First up were 3 ladies from Derbyshire. Quirky, bonkers, talented song writers, a cappella with attitude. They call themselves Red Ruff. Stripey tights, tutus and corsets. Excellent.

Then on stage were the reason I had wanted evening tickets. Red Priest. A classical music orchestra led by a recorder player with real panache. On stage too a classy harpsichord, cellist and violinist. They played Vivaldi, Telemann, Bach and others. It was wonderful. They said they had never played a folk festival before.
This is them at another event….

Then was the Karine Polwart band. I enjoyed it much more than I expected… I don’t always like Scottish folk.
Her band were very special. An intriguing woman – called Inge Thomson – on percussion. I was spellbound by her. Stylish and quirky with an ethereal voice. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The young woman on harp (and violin) was tall and delicate. Her voice too, was angelic. She looked like an elvish girl. Her name is Rachel Newton. Karine write such beautiful songs and plays her instruments with such skill and passion.
This is a film of Inge Thomson.

I really must download some music by these three amazing women.

Love the low sun in early spring when it shines through the blind in the lounge.

By mid May – as it is now – I think its a matter of just some highlights of the month.

Hector and his pals in the village practised a lot to be ready for a surprise first performance as Salkeld Dukes at a party at the pub. What a brilliant party it was. Helen (a friend) celebrated her 50th in great style. A fancy dress (1970′s theme) with games, live music, disco etc and hog roast.
Hector was a Bob Marley look-alike – tho it was obvious to everyone that he was a dead-ringer for Eddie Grant. His dreadlock wig was brilliant. He BECAME a different person dressed like that – all cool! I was trying to be a hippy chick (and was strangely drawn to the long blonde wig!) but was mistaken for the blonde one in Abba!
H and I had a go at Mr & Mrs and (along with all other pairs) got all our questions right and won!
Helen had a wonderful time – a brilliant parity.


Not bad for an IT worker, teacher (Joe) and footballer (Adam)

Theres some film of the performance…

I got a touch of lurgy late April and lost my voice and coughed until I turned purple.

We had a weekend away in Lincolnshire with Chrissie et al. Wonderful as usual. And Lolly was there too which was a fantastic surprise. We had a day at a wedding dress shop – yep – a BIG wedding next year for a Princess Chrissie. As she tried the first one on I almost cried – I have never seen anyone look so overwhelmed with joy. And there are SO many dresses to try before one has to be chosen. A very special day Topped off with a fab long walk in woods in the first warm sun of the spring. And a walnut tree, one of, so the plaque says, 30 million trees on that, and the neighbouring, large estate.

At the end of April we were joined by Frank and Kate for a two day trip. We drove down to Hebden Bridge and had a nice lunch and wander around the town. Lovely place. Really interesting shops.
We stayed at an Inn nearby and at 8 the next next morning we took our seats on a special Fellsman train excursion which was fully booked and very nice. Old coaches, old engine, some Pullman coaches (big luxury). The trip headed to Manchester then up to Cumbria where it followed the Cumbrian coast line, hugging the marshes and coast, flanked by mountains. Arnside viaduct, other viaducs (forget their names) near Grange over Sands, through a wonderfully timeless landscape. The line is immediately next to the shore and then passes Sellafield – an interesting place viewed from the coastal side.



A short stop in Carlisle for a cuppa in the Hallmark hotel and back on board (where the train was drawing quite a crowd!) for the return journey on the Settle Carlisle line, back into Yorkshire through Blackburn etc and arriving back in time for dinner at the Inn at 8.30. I loved every minute!

And when we got home it was May Bank Holiday…..

We had some fairly heavy snowfall here and there and freezing days. Not too bad though.

Work has been a bit full on for me – new stuff to get to grips with. Making me feel pressured but thats good I think – isn’t it?

Now that its getting dark later Ive bee noble to have a few after-work walks with Rosie. Thats more like it!!!

Sally took me again to her daughters Jess’s school dance evening – always entertaining. I’ve been every year with her and enjoyed watching Jess and the many others dance. The highlight this year was the sixth form (with the boys) doing a dance that was about previous decades hit music. Seeing 6th form boys doing a take off of the Full Monty strip and Job Centre dances was HYSTERICAL!

One Saturday evening after Hector and the guys had been practising I joined them at the pub. Some really nice folks there (including some very camp gay guys staying in the village) and H et l played guitar and sang for a couple of hours. Veery nice time and a late night for me.

It was quiz night at the pub – we were on a team with Maurice and Kelvin – enjoyable as ever, but we were sec on to last! Hey ho.

Hector with Maurice at quiz night

We have planned some hold for this year!

First a two day trip with a vintage train excursion from Hebden Bridge, over the Settle – Carlisle and back around the Cumbria Coast. We’re staying 2 nights with them at an Inn in Hebden Bridge too. Looking forward to it.
H is having a weekend with Ross and the boys and dropping me off with Chrissie on the way. Can’t wait to see her.
Then we’re having a week in Nether Stowey at Kate’s house (gorgeous tiny cottage) while she is up here.
Then H and I are at a Folk Festival and shortly afterwards Chrissie and I are DETERMINED to go the the Beverley Festival again.

Lucky us…..

I found this stone at Lazonby by the river. Its not brick I don’t think and I am intrigued to know where and how long ago it was inscribed with the cursive M.

My entry for one weeks iPhonography Challenge
(double meaning to include the ‘perspective’ of CofE congregations.
– Perspective being the topic.

This is my entry for ‘Self Portrait’ topic. Its me at my favourite bit of river by my favourite tree.

Self portrait

Mid March we visited the Watchtree Nature Reserve near Carlisle with Dave and Vicki – mainly to see the exhibition of photos from the iPhoneography Group (incl.3 of mine). Enjoyable. We’ve decided to go back there some time for a day and really see the reserve for itself and all the birds etc.

This week too there was snow…..

Curve in the river in sudden snow

Lazonby Bridge late afternoon…..

Rosie loves the large field beside the river at Lazonby….

A tree with a door at Lazonby

And then the sun came out and Rosie and I went to Long Meg Stone Circle after work….

Trees at Long Meg Stone Circle

Looking from Long Meg Stone Circle towards the setting sun and the Lake District Mountains

Bellowhead at Glasgow. This photo won the weeks iPhonography Group challenge….. ‘wild”

Hector and I took Rosie an almost spring-like walk at Acorn Bank in sunshine. Always love it there. The snowdrops were carpeting everywhere – very lovely.

Snowdrops at Acorn Bank besides the river

I got flu early February… thought I was ok but wasn’t. In bed nearly a week and the doc had to come out. He told me to have a week off before going to the office but I was able in the second week to work at home.

Hector joined the leisure centre gym. Going 3 times a week and will keep it up ti he’s fitter. Well done him!

We got a wonderful new mattress – HEAVENLY comfort!

Hector is really getting into his guitar playing. He practices and enjoys the company of a couple of other guys in the village. They’re damn good!

The weather was quite calm and mild. Perfect for walks with Rosie.

A HUGE joy has been the increasingly regular fleeting visits of a flitting group of Long Tailed Tits. As many as 16 at once. They whoosh in like a small raiding party – eat at the feeders for a minute or two – and are gone again. The bird feeders cost me a fortune to keep full of food but are a constant pleasure to see and know that the varied food helps so many species survive and thrive.

A close up of a Long Tailed Tit in front of the window

Even the Goldfinches are rather fluffily healthy…

Fluffy goldfinch

A few others pics from January time….

One of our new paintings – by Jane Tomlinson…. I LOVE this one.

and another we got by Jane Tomlinson

Rosie looking very cute!

A photo of a proper photo of me…..

We did up the downstairs room to create a proper bedroom for guests

Hectors new project – building an electron thingumajig….

Rosie posing in the snowy churchyard

Frank cat lazing

Rosie and Frank are snuggly nowadays

Rosie always knows when its bed time

The view from my place on the sofa

Home made and yummy lasagne

The pots n pans hang up now – more room on the shelves

On better days I wanted to start tidying the garden

I spent a morning in Ambleside with Sis and Mum. I got this really nice pic of Sis at Borrans Park in Ambleside.

Sis at Borrans Park

Rosie and I had a walk on the way home too

Quiet time just he and I. we spent an hour or so at the pub before lunch when we had local roast beef. It was lovely. Hector bought us a fabulous Dualit food processor so there is no excuse to avoid making more complicated things to eat. It’ll take a while to learn how to use it. The blades are vicious! It does everything – short of the washing up I reckon.
First things first though! CAKE!!

I was determined not to worry about healthy diet or lack of alcohol for the two weeks off over Christmas. VERY nice to really indulge in good food. Hector had bought some really nice wines so they went down well.

Frank and Kate had us around for a game or four of cards. I ALMOST won the set, but I’m still a novice. I decorated some gingerbread men to take along with us….

On New Years Eve Chris and Fiona came over. Always lively chat and laughter. A big meal that I think went down well with everyone… Lasagne.

Between Christmas and New Year Kate and I had a girls day out in Keswick. We had lunch and a really good look at all the nice shops. I ‘accidentally’ bought two wonderful soft toy doorstops from a posh furniture shop.
Meet Hector Otter and Maurice Mole

We had a couple of walks locally with Rosie. Not great weather but nice all the same.

Gong back to work was hard – I was almost dangerously relaxed.

So, whats happened?

We’ve been a bit slow getting into the Christmas spirit. We’ve got the house looking festive now – am pleased with it. We’re having a piece of beef for Christmas lunch, from a friend who is a rare breeds farmer in the village. Its from a Highland cow that I have met and photographed, and rather than being squeamish about that I find it reassuring. I love a quiet Christmas just the two of us. Love it.

Last week my car broke down just as I left the office. Windy and wet weather and a long to-do waiting for the AA, the AA man not being able to fix it and having to take it to the garage I use. 3 hours all in all. The car has never broken down on me before and typically I had just reduced my AA membership to Raodside not Recovery. DAMN!!!!

Sally and I joined a friend of mine, Ally, at St Cuthbert’s Church in Carlisle for an evening of WONDERFUL candlelit music.
A lovely church, candlelit and cozy. Large orchestra and choir. We were near the front. Spine tingling stuff. And when it was time for audience singing for the carols we sang our hearts out. It was joyous.
The programme was:
Corelli: Christmas Concerto in G
Torelli: Trumpet Concerto in D
Three unaccompanied Christmas choral pieces
Marricone: Gabriel’s oboe from ‘The Mission’
Vivaldi: ‘Winter’ from ‘The Seasons’
INTERVAL (mulled wine and mince pies available)
Haslam: Kyrie and Gloria sung by Suzanne Manuel
Handel-Tarkman: Concerto for Flute and Cor Anglais
Three unaccompanied Christmas choral pieces
Two carols. Audience invited to join
Adam: ‘O Holy Night’ solo Suzanne Manuel
Handel: Christmas excerpts from the Messiah

While Hector had to be away Frank and I went to a village event – a house warming and Pampered Chef evening at Ken and Jen’s. Turns out I knew Ken anyway – from the pottery classes from years ago. They have renovated a house in the village and it is amazing. Stunning even.
The following day Frank also went with me to the village fund raiser of Any Questions in the the village hall. Nice supper and wine and an interesting panel of Tim Farron (MP and president of Liberals), a judge, JP, lawyer and surgeon. They chose one of my submitted questions so I had to ask it. It was about the West coast line and Richard Branson. An enjoyable evening.

On December 12th things got a bit silly. It was a strange numerical date. 12.12.12.Early that morning I got the idea that some internet friends might like to share a little fun and take pics of what they’re up to at 12.12pm on 12.12.12 so I quickly set up a Facebook page 12.12.12 and also a Flickr group. Then it got noticed on Twitter by the BBC, Zoe Ball and others. All rolled away like a snowball. Radio Cubmria contacted me and got involved and before I knew it i was being interviewed on Radio Cumbria. What a hoot!
fi_on_radio_cumbria_1212121212
fi_on_radio_cumbria_1212121212_part2

The weather has been pretty wet and dank, but a couple of cold spells. I crave daylight and fresh air during the week when I go to work in the dark and come home in the dark and the office is cut off from the outdoors and daylight. Even a short walk or trip out is a pleasure.

The little church at Eden Hall is always a lovely place to visit during a walk.

Rosie and FrankCat appreciate that the wood stove is going each evening now and are pretty cozy together. Though I think that FrankCat is a little embarrassed to snuggle with a poodle.

At the end of November we went to Sheffield to join a lot of Hectors family celebrate his niece’s (Jess) graduation. We had a lovely meal in the city and it was great to see everyone.

We stayed at a Travelodge nearby. It was good to see some of the city – and The Crucible looked shiny and bright in blustery wet weather.

The next day I drove home leaving Hector there to go to a bit of a do that night. He had a get together with his best friends from school days.

Hector and I went to a Wine and Cheese tasting evening in the village. What a hoot. Games and fun and a lot of wine to taste. Hector bought some wine to add to the Christmas stocks!

A woodpecker is a fairly frequent visitor to our bird feeders now. Handsome fella. Its a huge pleasure to have so many birds in our garden. One of winter’s greatest joys.

My birthday in November. Hardly worth a mention seeing as I was a somewhat mature number. Nice time had though! Mum had a fall during my visit there that weekend but thankfully it resulted in a sprain and a scratch and nothing more.
I took this picture when I had a short walk with Sis to the Lake at Amsbleside during my birthday visit to her…

I have participating in an online photography challenge with a group of like-minded avid photographers. Its iPhoneography Cahllenge. Each week a theme is set and we have 5 days to take an image with our phone or tablet (any editing too on phone and tablet) and each week we all vote for a winner. Its enjoyable, challenging and I even won one week. Natural Framing was the theme.

Me to H.
“I liked reading my Kindle in bed this morning”
H…. “Who?”
Me…“I said… My Kindle”
H… “don’t know who you mean. Who is he”
Me… “who who is?”
H… “my Kindle….”
Me…. “MY KINDLE!”
H… “….but who IS he?”

By now we were looking at one another bemused…..

…. PENNY DROPPED AT THIS POINT!

Only just stopped laughing…. He thought I said Mike HINDLE! (Whoever he might be!!!)