We all scream for ice-cream in Cockerham

Yesterday’s reunion with my girlfriends from school was as enjoyable as usual. We lunched on  light snacks before indulging on delicious ice cream sundaes at Wallings Farm in Cockerham. After a turn round the garden centre (Have we turned into middle-aged women who enjoy plants?), four of us took a windy walk along the coast to Cockersands Abbey. Chattering too much on the return, we found ourselves on a higher level path. Faced with the option of clambering down or detouring through a ruined building, we opted for the adventure and immediately reverted to our 13 year old school-girl selves!

It pays to be flexible

Setting off before the rain

The rain came

Some days don't turn out quite as planned but are no less enjoyable for that. And so it was on Saturday. An invigorating hike up Nicky Nook followed by lunch at The Barn in Scorton (with other friends less enthusiastic for fresh air), was fairly dependant on good weather so naturally, it rained. Foolish members of the party still headed for the summit in driving rain but opted for a shorter descent, rushing back to the cafe to steam gently throughout lunch. A delightful afternoon followed with much gossiping before we reluctantly went our separate ways, until the next time

A stormy summit

Lunch

Perhaps I'm in denial?

I consider myself to have fairly good recall but it’s still amazing how many deeply buried memories easily come to the surface during the occasional meet-ups with friends.  Yesterday, several of us met in Morecambe to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea at The Midland Hotel 

and as always, we had plenty of shared experiences to dredge up from our bottle-green, convent school days.  The other surprising thing is that although some stories come immediately to mind, once re-told, others, that clearly occupy an important space in the minds of my friends, remain totally absent from mine.  Perhaps I’m in denial!