Thursday, September 6, 2007

GOODBYE MACCLESFIELD HELLO SCOTLAND

Sunday

Sunday morning 2nd September. The Pickles returned from their American Adventure, surprisingly intact given their long catalogue of death defying escapades. We returned our four legged charges to their owners without any detectable evidence of a replacement, and set off for the Lake District.
Kerry had booked a B & B in Grasmere. Grasmere - the home for several years of William Wordsworth when he wrote many of his famous poems, one of which was of course “I wandered lonely as a cloud” -- It was the perfect location for my first visit to the Lake District. To savour the atmosphere, we booked dinner at Villa Colombina, an Italian restaurant next to Dove cottage, Wordsworth's home in 1800. We understand Bill, as he was known locally, used to order take away pizzas quite regularly. We both ordered a seafood risotto. It was another risotto "to die for". They sure know how to make a good risotto in the U.K. The next morning after a pleasant breakfast with a family who had recently moved from Weymouth to York, we embarked on a walk to Alcock Tarn. The weather was beautiful and the views spectacular as the following photos will testify. From these viewpoints, there is no possibility of becoming lost, hence the absence of geese.
Monday

On Monday we headed over the border to Dunning in Scotland, home of the famous photographer Carol Dorsett. The weather was spectacular, as it always is in Dunning. Carol and Ted took us on a breathtaking walk along the River Garry, or was it the Tay or the Clyde? Again the photos below show the walk beautifully.
In the evening Ted told us the story of a young boy from Dunning who was hidden from the Nazis by a French family for four years during the second world war. The Dunning Historical Society decided to seek out this family and they put together a magnificent film of the process. They found the family - a really impressive achievement and film. The people from Dunning visited them in France and the French family visited Dunning. It was quite moving. Not to be outdone, Carol took us on a historical tour of Marks and Spencers in Perth. Photographs would not do justice to the ladies department.
Kerry climbing Alcocks Tarn
A view from the top of The Tarn
Carol and Kerry striding out
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