Good Manners

Good manners cost nothing but it seems as if for some, even saying “good morning” or “cheerio” to colleagues on a reception desk is too much trouble.  So why is it that people who provide a service, be they cleaners or security personnel, often seem to be invisible? As someone who will talk to anybody (my experience on public transport is second to none; even when I don’t want to enter into conversation, individuals are drawn to me by some form of conversational  magnet!), it’s second nature to issue a greeting but I do seem to be in a minority.  

We're all going on a summer holiday..

The tickets for the ferry are booked for July.  We’re heading off to Spain via France to collect Nerea….and all her luggage.  It seems impossible that by then she’ll have spent 10 months in Vitoria It seems like yesterday that she went off to Spain, not knowing what lay ahead. Since that time, she’s learnt so much, not only in terms of another language and culture, but also about looking after children and most importantly, about herself.  Andy and I are so proud of Nerea; we knew she was resilient but she has proven herself to have spirit and courage.   

                                                     

Catholic Guilt

Catholic Guilt is a myth, according to the responses to a recent survey on Sex.  There’s clear evidence from the dramatic reduction in family sizes in the Catholic community that attitudes to family life and planned parenting have changed.  But, find me a cradle Catholic who has never, when faced with a challenging issue, experienced a familiar sinking sensation in the stomach, an inherited by-product of a traditional Catholic upbringing, caused by knowing that irrespective of personal desires, they will inevitably “do what’s right”.  Believe me, Catholic Guilt is well and truly alive, burdening the consciences of many, every day

High Raise and Ullscarf

Yesterday had a better weather forecast than today so we decided to take to the hills and visit an area above Thirlmere that was familiar to Mr K from work.  From High Raise and Ullscarf, the views were stunning, with Skiddaw, the Scafells, the Langdales, Pillar and Great Gable easily identifiable as we made our way round.  Inevitably there was some time spent hunting for geocaches which remarkably, had survived the winter in fairly good shape.  It was evident from the heavily flattened grass and the amount of bog hopping we had to do that the snow had been extensive

Beautiful Beverley

The Friary

The Minster

Visiting a new place for any reason (even if it’s for work), gives me an opportunity to do a little bit of geocaching as an alternative to spending an evening in a hotel bedroom watching dreary TV.  Last Monday saw me in Beverley, somewhere I’d never visited before, armed with the route for a couple of well-constructed trails.  There’s a feeling  of prosperity in the town and although it was a quiet evening when I visited, it took little imagination to transform the centre into a bustling market place. Secret alleyways, political corruption and medieval guilds: it has them all

Street Art

The Guildhall

Wipe your feet

Ghost Signs

Wheely interesting

Hengate

North Bar

Close to North Bar

Rules of the town

Secret Alley

Travelling can be educational!

 

It's been a quiet week in Carlisle as I’ve barely been at home, needing to attend meetings in both Beverley and Reading. Travelling to Reading is always a drag but never having visited Beverley, I wasn't sure what I'd find. But I can confirm that it's a delightful market town with some wonderful buildings of historical interest. I'd long wanted to visit the Minster  (which was well worth a visit) as Hexham born Nerea, was baptised in St John of Beverley church in Haydon Bridge and St John, (former bishop of Hexham) is buried in the Minster dedicated to him

Mini iPad

I'm moving into mobile technology! That said, my enthusiasm has diminished a little as there was no chance to test our new mini iPad in the centre of technological excellence known as Reading. No, there wasn't a 3G signal or free wifi any where which is hard to believe (well, the 3G bit anyway. Free Wi-Fi is maybe overly optimistic although at the price the hotel charged for  basic Bed and Breakfast, I think they could offer a better customer experience). So I'll need to travel elsewhere to embrace the concept fully. (Or maybe I just did something wrong!)

Larkin' About with The Antonious Players

I had a wonderful evening on Sunday at the jewel that is “The Theatre on the Lake” in Keswick.

“Larkin’ About”; celebrating the life of Philip Larkin, certainly lived up to expectations, with John Telfer and Sunny Ormonde  (Alan Franks and Lilian Bellamy from The Archers) tackling the roles of Larkin and his multiple lady loves with enthusiasm , conviction and comedic timing. I wept with laughter at their “Baby, it’s cold outside” duet, Sunny responding to Larkin’s entreaties in a broad Yorkshire accent, playing the role of Betty, Larkin’s secretary and one time lover, to perfection. A superb production!

Bereft without Broadband!

Our broadband provider had a major issue this weekend with their internet systems going down. Being without access to the “interweb” made me realise how dependant on it I am.  For everything.  I wanted to wish a friend “happy birthday” on Facebook; I couldn’t!  I wanted to check a recipe; I couldn’t (I have a shelf or three of cookery books but it was a specific recipe  I needed.  I’d hoped to confirm the time of an imminent theatre visit; I couldn’t!   Maybe I need to revert back to keeping a diary and notebooks……or upgrade to a 3G smart phone

Tomb of the Eagles

Sitting on the flat topped cliffs outside the amazing Tomb of the Eagles, looking out to sea, it was easy to believe that the Bronze Age peoples who once inhabited the area may have surrendered their dead to the ancient practice of sky burial. The rituals and customs of these early tribes remain something of a secret, possibly because their nomadic lifestyle left little evidence behind.  But,  the cliffs offered a perfect platform for the spirits of earthly bodies to soar to the sky while sea eagles cleansed the bones for their eventual ceremonial burial in the tomb close by

Orkney

Churchill Barriers

The weather gods of Orkney were certainly looking favourably on us during our recent visit for we had five days of unbroken sunshine.  Yes, it was cold but the ever changing backdrop of sea and sky more than made up for that.  It’s the restless sea, constantly shifting  that infuses the island with a shimmering light that seems to be rare outside of coastal regions. The endless landscape appeared luminescent at times, radiating an unnatural glow that made it possible to believe in the mystical properties of the Islands. Our stay certainly felt magical, a much welcomed opportunity to relax

Castle of Yesnaby

Kirkwall Harbour

Yesnaby

Ring of Brognar

Waves