Summer starts here?

Well, its warm and sunny, and the man delivering Coniston Bluebird Beer has just told me that this is it- sunny all the way for summer!

Of course, if that were to happen we would all start grumbling about how its too dry and the garden needs rain!

Anyway, we have a houseparty taking all rooms to celebrate a 70th Birthday this weekend. It was booked many months ago, and its great that they're going to have such good weather.

Cuckoos

Radio four this morning was bemoaning the huge fall in cuckoo numbers.

We're obviously very lucky to still be hearing our local cuckoo . It seems to be in the same area as usual, over towards Rydal and Loughrigg.

There's nowhere better than the Lakes in Sunshine

What a great May Bank Holiday- sun, clear skies,lots of happy guests.Everyone has spilled out into the fresh air- walking, boating, chilling, sitting outside the pubs and cafes as if it were the south of France!
The sun umbrellas are up on our terrace. Guests are saving the £5 fee now charge for parking at White Moss Common, by leaving there cars all day and walking from here- and why not!

Are you free next week?

4 nights Bed and Breakfast for the price of 3!
Arrive Bank Holiday Monday,25 May stay 4 nights, leaving Friday 29 May, and only pay for 3.

Contact us via our website,ring 015394 35295 or email sue@whitemoss.com to make a reservation.

Dorothy Wordsworth- laudanum was the norm!

Always checking with Dorothy in her Grasmere Journals to see what the weather was. In 1802 today was warm with a little rain. The next few days were "very hot", though on the 23rd, Dorothy says "I was ill in the afternoon, took laudanum. We walked...on White Moss " Opium was commonly used for ailments of all sorts!

No rain No lakes

After days of heavy showers, at last some good weather is on the way.

No rain No Lakes can wear a bit thin sometimes, as does the old chestnut " If you can see the hills it means its going to rain, if you can't see them its already raining."

The fuschias are back in the garden- no flowers yet, but looking very bushy and healthy.

Half Term Bargain break

If any of you have 4 nights free, Monday to Thursday, 25 , 26, 27 and 28 May 2009, you can stay all 4 nights B & B at White Moss House and only pay for 3 !

We just have a few rooms for these nights on this fantastic offer, so please email or ring ( 015394 35295) as soon as possible if you would like to visit us!

Our local heron would love to see you!

Sunday in the Lake District

Sunny, cold and windy. Not that any of our guests will notice, as they are all at a conference.

The people who will notice are those amazing people doing the Brathay Marathon, some of whom have done 10 marathons in 10 days!

RESPECT!

Now on Squidoo

I'm just joining Squidoo- seems like fun.

Try looking at this.

Its all a learning curve for me, but hopefully it will help me keep you informed of goings on round and about White Moss House

Endurance events in the Lake District

This last weekend saw two of the hardest Lakeland events.

On Friday nights guests stayed before setting out for a 6am start on the Keswick to Barrow race www.Keswick2Barrow.co.uk. This is over 40 miles on roads, arriving in Grasmere via Dunmail Raise, leaving via Red Bank. It was said to be the worst conditions in recent years- cold, windy, rainy, even hail!

On Sunday, it was the Fred Whitton Challenge www.fredwhitton.org.uk . This is a cycle ride starting and finishing in Coniston, taking in all the major mountain passes- 112 miles of sheer torture! The wind had dropped, and particpants said they had enjoyed it!!!!!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have been glorious. The rhodies are looking great this year

Back to the Blog

I started out so well, but I seem to have lapsed for a whole week!

Over the weekends we had guests staying with us for two local endurance events.

On Saturday it was the Keswck to Barrow walk/run. Over 40 miles, up and down hills, passing through Grasmere after Dunmail Raise, then over Red Bank. The weather was terrible- freezing cold, wind , rain and even hailstones! Apparently it was the hardest conditions anyone could remember.

First Cuckoo

Yesterday, Wednesday 6 May, heard my first cuckoo of 2009. I was walking through Deer Bolt woods from the shore of Grasmere up onto Loughrigg Terrace, and there it was- very loud and clear.

There have been reports of concerns about the vanishing cuckoo, so it was good to hear the old rogue again.

It was the first break in the rain for about 3 days, and all the birds seemed to have a touch of spring madness. They were making a huge din, and I had to duck to avoid being headbutted by an overexcited chaffinch. Who says country life is dull?

Today is sunny and bright, but windy and cold. Peter has gone walking with a friend up onto Fairfield via Nab Scar, probably coming back via Alcock Tarn.Its windy up there even on a calm day, but the view should be fantastic.

Poetry on BBC 4; Owen Sheers on Wordsworth

This is the first of a series of half hour programmes about great poems, and this was so good I'm going to try to watch them all.
It explored the sonnet "On Westminster Bridge" , often known by its first line "Earth has not anything to show more fair" and looked at why a Lakeland poet should write such a lyrical poem about London, and put it in the context of Wordworths personal situation at the time.
Excellent!

May Day Bank Holiday

I've just read in The Times that this early May Bank Holiday is usually wet. This year is no exception! ( Wet all day here)It's got a really poor weather record.

Why not cancel it ? It's not as if it's even really May Day, just a very British arrangement of the nearest Monday to May Day. Let's find another date for an extra day.

From the point of view of the Tourism Industry, it's not great ,as 4 Bank Holidays come together in just a few weeks- 2 at Easter, this one, then the end of May holiday. Then we just get 1 day in August and no more till Christmas.Very unbalanced.Just like London buses- none for ages then 4 at once. In fact , even a bit like Lakeland buses, as now the open topped ones are running every 20 minutes I have actually seen 2 buses at once in the middle of Grasmere! Both going the same direction! As most of the time in winter, especially on Sundays, there are only about 2 buses a day this is the height of excitement. ( yes, we do lead a fairly dull life here sometimes!)

Dorothy Wordsworth Grasmere Journals

On Sunday, 2 May 1802, Dorothy Wordsworth wrote " Again a Heavenly morning. Letter from Coleridge"

Well, its a heavenly morning here today- bright, clear, sunny but a cold wind blowing. Much better than long term forecast predicted.

However, no post till Tuesday, from Coleridge or anyone! The Wordsworths had to walk to Rydal to collect the post. Most people now think they have "gone on a walk" if they go from Dove Cottage to Rydal. To Dorothy it was just "went to Rydal to collect the post"

Bluebells Grasmere and Rydal Water

The bluebells woods round Rydal Water and Grasmere have never looked better. Its a bumper year!

I've noticed though, that its also a great year for wild garlic, so you have to pick your spot to get the pure scent of bluebell.

Here are 2 pictures taken this beautiful morning in White Moss House garden. You should just be able to see Rydal Water in the background past the flowering cherry,

Sunny May Day at Rydal Water

In spite of the bad forecast, the sun is shining.
Just heard that Carol Ann Duffy has been made poet Laureate. Good news all round! I'm going to listen to her at Dove Cottage poetry reading, St Oswald's Church Grasmere on 2 June.