genialgemsandothergabblings

I have to say that one of the nicest things to happen to the family in the past year is the arrival of George, my niece Lisas lovely Staffordshire Bull Terrier. A dog with a more loving disposition would be hard to find. You are greeted with a shower of affection by him as soon as you enter the door. For a few tasty treats he will perform  his array of doggy tricks and then allow you to have a lovely stroke and talk with him. Everyone in the family has benefitted in some way by his addition especially in getting people out and about  using legs again!

Valentines weekend we spent up in Keswick in the lake District, relaxing a little and doing the usual things you do when you visit, such as a boat trip on Windermere from Waterhead down to Brockhole to have a  scone and cup of tea. The pictures were taken then and the stark looking trees seen in one photo  are covered by common European cormorants who seem to like it there a lot, judging by their numbers! The lovely couple that run the Cartwheel Guesthouse where we stayed found out it was my birthday and left a lovely surprise on the bed for me when I returned that day. They said it has been really quiet up there and there is still a lot being done to restore the mess left from the floods of last year. as we saw when we popped over to Cockermouth. They have the main street up through town and are trying to get back to normal in time for the season. There was snow on the high fells but none at low level. Whatever time of year you go though, the peace and beauty of the ...