(Another) week in the Lakes, Progress on the plot and Starting a new job

Started writing this in the Lakes.
Finished writing this during my first week in the new job.

What a difference living north of the border makes when driving to the Lakes. Up at a reasonable time, pack up, drive for two and a half hours then arrive at holiday home. Very civilised. We have a cosy double room in The Watergarden Suite near Ambleside. Room for the two of us and we have a "spare" bedroom for the overflow of our walking gear.
A nice apartment with views of the Fairfield horseshoe and plenty of slightly complicated gadgets including an oven with a menu of settings, a double shower (two shower heads plus room for two) and lights aplenty.
Wifi also available which is useful.
Saturday was beautiful with sunshine, blue skies and the Fairfield horseshoe calling. So it was completed in just over 6 hours from the door. Just as challenging as memory had it and just as long. Sunday saw us walk from the door via Grasmere and Easedale Tarn to Stickle Tarn in Langdale where we met up with Jacqueline and Ian who had completed a walk in the area. Met at the pub for a well deserved post-walk drink. There was one part of this walk where the path climbed a wet rock face without visible sign that it was in fact a path!  It also included large amounts of lakeland bog - knee deep for Gary and too much of it for comfort for me. However all obstacles dealt with eventually and so ended two good walking days.
A rest day was called for on Monday so Jacqueline and I tested the spa treatments at Underscar in Keswick. (Ambleside's branch was fully booked) Relaxed and looking and smelling gorgeous, we returned through high winds and heavy rain to Ambleside.
Tuesday's forecast was for more rain, hail, thunder and snow on the tops. First signs of winter appearing. Quite a temperature drop too. After a quiet morning, we tramped off acrosss Loughrigg - testing new boots - in the pouring rain, hail and gale force winds, exactly as forecast. 
Wednesday dawned like a day from a different season - bright, sunny, clear blue skies with a bit of an autumnal nip in the air. Off we went to Coniston where we climbed the Old Man and carried on to Dow Crag where we walked the ridge to complete a circular walk from the car. All of this in hats, gloves and several layers. Bright and blue it might be but it was definitely winter temperatures, completed with a howling wind adding a high wind chill factor. So cool was it that second lunch had to wait until after 2pm when we could find some shelter to sit comfortably in. The late afternoon / early evening light was glorious - shadows, golden bracken and a blue, blue sky. Headed home happy to a promise of frost tonight. Luckily, we have all we need for a curry at home.
Thursday was frosty with a cloud inversion across the valley. Walked up and across Loughrigg taking numerous photos as we went. The light was glorious again and the fells looked on fire with clouds rolling along ridges. A few of the best attached below.

View back to Coniston Old Man

Across to The Langdales - fantastic clouds

Early morning cloud inversion from the apartment to Fairfield (Frost on grass)

A fine walk was complemented by a fine meal at Zefforellis that night. Yes it is a vegetarian restaurant; yes we all had an enjoyable meal. Quality food and atmosphere as always.
We packed up and headed back north; another fine drive of less than three hours door to door. 

Return to reality - the boxes were still waiting for us to unpack them!
Some progress from the Scottish solicitor - agreement seems likely on our revised conditional offer for the house plot. All being well, planning permission will be renewed by early 2012 so we should be able to complete the purchase. The croft will take longer but that's to be expected.

So to Tuesday 25th October - a key date as it is when I start to earn a living again. 
My first day back in the world of work goes well although it may take my brain a while to start firing on all cylinders. There will be plenty to do over the next two years which should keep me out of mischief. The drive to work was a delight - it took all of five minutes.


Here's to the next two years.