A Poet in Glenridding

Thank God this poet was not in Glenridding during the recent floods! But I was in Glenridding in 1992/4, and what a time that was. So good, in fact, that I documented it in a little booklet.

A POET IN GLENRIDDING 

You can take a look now, if you like. It is available on Amazon as a Kindle download. Simply click this link: A Poet in Glenridding

If you do download my book, thank you, and I would really appreciate a little review on Amazon.

I know the people of Glenridding would love you to make a special effort, and visit their village in 2016. If you are going to take a weekend break there is no more beautiful place than the shore of Ulswater. Even if you just go there for the day, it will be a day well spent. Treat yourself to a little memento from one of the local shops, have lunch or afternoon tea, or take a boat trip on the lake.

If you manage a weekend, then I'm sure you will want to don your boots and walk into the hills. The higher you get, the more rewarding it is. For the more experienced mountain walker, there is Helvellyn with it's fantastic Striding Edge. If I can do it, you can. (OK it was a few years ago).

Back to Birdwell. Christmas caught up with me and my tummy revolted. I have been sick for a couple of days. It's not nice! Anyway, I think I'm over the worse, so I'm going to get an early night tonight, then it's back to work tomorrow. Did I tell you that I have a voluntary job two days a week. Well, I'll tell you all about it next time.

David is asleep in the chair, bless! He went out for a walk round the block, and got his trousers so muddy wet that he had to put them in the washer when he came home. I think he slipped and fell into a puddle, but he's not saying. Ever the little boy. Speaking of which, I came across a photo of him and his sister, Nan. Our grandson, Jack, looks so much like him. Adorable!

More from me later, happy travels in the Lake District! And, happy reading!

Love Jane x

Christmas in Birdwell 2015

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY READERS

Christmas 2015 is over, and we are hurtling towards the start of 2016. David and I are still eating up leftovers from Christmas Day and Boxing day. Today, would you believe, for lunch we had left over Christmas pudding, warmed up, soaked in brandy and topped with ice-cream. Well, yes, it was delicious. And for tea we have a choice of turkey or pork, again.

It has been a meat fest week, so, full of protein, booze and biscuits (chocolate ones) we are... you guessed it... looking forward to New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. More buns and more bubbly! And this time, it's roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, followed by left over mince pies I suppose.

Well, isn't that what Christmas is all about. Filling the larder, stacking the fridge with 'just in case' food, and binging like you've never eaten for weeks. That and feeding as many faces as bounce over your threshold. It's been a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS. We have sung carols, praised the Lord, prayed for unfortunate souls, and fattened ourselves up till our jeans won't fasten, bra straps are on the very last hook and eye, and jowls are beyond lift and firm cream.

So, my first New Year's resolution is to enjoy every last bite of Christmas cake, get to the bottom of the Celebrity choc box, make sure there isn't a drop of Bailey's left in the bottle, and settle down to an afternoon sleep. And after that...

NO MORE CAKES, SWEETS OR BISCUITS! At least until the next celebration, which hopefully isn't until Valentine's Day.

I'd freeze it but the freezer is full.

Anyway, the lethargy has meant that I have been able to put my mind to my writing. Today, David and I are preparing my booklet, A Poet in Glenridding, to publish to Kindle. Following on it's heals will be A Poet in Crete, and then I will get to work on A Poet in Barnsley. In between all that there is my novel to get right.

And when I'm not doing all of the above, I will be learning my lines for the Take Two Drama Group's next production - Up The Resistance. To be performed in April.

PLUS - I do believe there are words to write for the Christine and Jane double act, Spring do.

Lord! The energy I'm using up, I may need all that cake after all.

I am truly sorry for all the people who have been flooded out over Christmas. What a mess! Yorkshire, Lancashire. If you are one of those people, my heart goes out to you. So many lovely homes have been affected. David and I have such a lot to be grateful for.

I wish everybody all the best for 2016
Love and hugs,
Jane x

The Barnsley Metropolitan Boundary Walk - 72 miles

BARNSLEY METROPOLITAN BOUNDARY WALK - 72 MILES

If you think I've been quiet for a few weeks, you may be right. But I haven't been idle. David and I have embarked on the task of walking the boundary of Barnsley. So far we have had several delightful days out in the countryside, walking about 6/7 miles each day. Apart from the first walk, which we did from our door in Birdwell, a walk which took us through Tankersley and up to Warncliff Woods, we have reached our start point by using the local bus services.

Here are a few photos of some of the brilliant countryside around Barnsley.