Lakeside

English tea in an English garden
Originally uploaded by Sunshine follows me.

I realise I haven't yet written about my trip to the Lake District (because I haven't even finished writing about my trip to Germany).

I did have an enjoyable time, despite the fact that I packed for warm, sunny weather and the rain clouds decided to have a conference in Cumbria that week. I did have an enjoyable time, despite the fact that I suffered from a terrible bout of catarrh and had to tote wads of tissue paper everywhere. I did have an enjoyable time, despite the fact that I got turned down from yet another another job interview the week before.

The Lake District is lovely - it is impossible to have a rotten time in the midst of all that beauty.

For anyone planning a self-catering holiday at the Lakes, I highly recommend Lowthwaite Cottage in St John's In the Vale - a cosy little place with two very comfortable double bedrooms, a stone fireplace and furnished with all the modern conveniences. You can book it online from Cumbrian Cottages.

This picture is taken in the cottage garden on a sunny Friday afternoon. You can't see from the picture, but I am observing some bumblebees are are busy bumbling in the rose-and-foxglove patch, and I am smiling, because I have just had a nice cup of tea and a chocolate cake.

There are chickens clucking in the yard - this means organic free range eggs for breakfast every morning, fresh from the hen. There is a calico cat lurking behind the dry stone wall, and a family of wrens nesting over the garage. In the distance, the sound of lambs bleating and young calves bellowing, and bells ringing from the church carillon.

And there is MDH, shouting at the TV, watching the World Cup.