Day 21: High Water and St. John's Church Keswick

I could easily write a blog recording the weather changes from our window over a couple of hours. This morning we thought, weather permitting, we would take Christine and Eddie in the DerwentWater boat trip. The morning began miserable, came clear, rained, then looked clear. 

By 11.30 we decided to chance it and walked to the boat ramp, only to find that the water had risen overnight and the boarding jetty was partially under water, so no ferries were running today - and probably not tomorrow - until the water level falls and the jetty is accessible.

It was clear, but very cold, and we decided  to walk to the Keswick church of St John, whose tower dominates the town, and which has a large number of Victorian Celtic Crosses. It was founded by John Marshall of Castlerigg Manor, son of a Leeds linen manufacturer and friend of Wordsworth, who died before it was finished and dedicated in 1838













The church is on a hill, surrounded by a graveyard. The Western side faces across the lake and the Fells - as if it is paying homage to the environment.

The Eastern side snuggles into houses, as if it is being nurtured and supported by the people

The churchyard is peaceful, well-ordered and uncrowded. There are numerous Celtic crosses.

The most interesting is amongst the Marshall family graves, under a tree on the Eastern side of the churchyard.




































Inside, the church is very wide, with quite a bit of stained glass.

It has a large number of needlepoint kneelers.

 

It also stores a very long ladder in a most sensible way along one wall.

We walked back into town, visited a couple of charity shops in search of bargains, then repaired to the Dog and Gun for lunch. We were pretty restrained. Sue had a wrap. Eddie, Christine and I had scampi, veg and chips. Alf had Cumberland sausage.

The weather has turned very cold. Snow is forecast for the next three days. The rain has receded somewhat but the clouds rise and fall over the Fells.

We met up in the evening at the Pack Horse for a drink and snack. Eddie had cheesecake, Sue and I had ice-cream, Alf passed and Christine won the day with her cheese board.

Tomorrow we hope to drive to Sawrey to visit Beatrix Potter's house. It will depend a bit, however, on the weather.

Day 20:Keswick and Cousins

This morning dawned and continued grey and miserable - through the window. The Fells emerged slowly out of the cloud,  disappearing and partially revealing themselves from time to time.  We were content to watch them, chat and stay in the apartment. I stitched my robin. Around 11.30 we thought we'd walk down the main street. Sue remembered another pencil she would like to have.

Unfortunately the pencil shop does not open on Sundays. Most other shops, however, do.

One we ventured into sells items relating to sheep - underwear with pictures of sheep, jumpers, and various other items of clothing. The sheep outside has a sign asking you not to sit on it.










In one corner of the Sheep Shop is a selection of Craft beer and related products all bearing the Crafty Sheep Dog label. This strikes me as odd in a shop that sells mostly wool products, but it does have its own logic - or at least association.














Across the road from the Sheep Shop is the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Pub, a quite large and solid establishment.













Apparently it served as a Magistrates' Court and Police Station from 1901-2000. Prior to that it was the site of a Workhouse founded in 1642 by Sir John Bankes, who was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1640 to his death in 1644.

Almost any building, it would seem, if you wait long enough, will turn into a pub!

There was also an interesting 'Technology' display by Keswick School in one of the shop windows in the same street.















As we were having our pub meal much later today, we called into a tea house in Lake Street for morning tea. Like all good tea houses, it was upstairs.
When we arrived at 12.30 pm there was plenty of room. By 1.10 pm is was completely full, even though it seated 60-70 people, and there was a queue waiting for tables.














When we came out it was still drizzling but we could see the Fells to the East of the town. It got gloomier the closer we got to our apartment.












At 4pm we donned our coats, hats, gloves and boots and headed out to the Pack Horse Inn where we had arranged to meet Christine and Eddie - cousins who had driven up today from Cheltenham to spend a few days with us. It was a long and wet drive but I'm so glad they so generously came. We had nearly four hours of laughs, stories and good cheer.

I love that we always pick up where we left off and relax instantly into each other's company.

The forecast for the next two days is for rain, more rain, and possibly snow. Whatever it is, I expect we will enjoy being together and find things to do.

I'm counting my blessings tonight.

Day 19: Pencils, market and thread

Rain does not deter Keswickians, or those who frequent Keswick. We had a slow start in view of the rain clouds low over the fells and the lake. We could see neither from our window. 

We left when the cleaner arrived at 11 for our weekly clean and linen replacement, to go on a quest for the Derwent pencil shop, which,we thought was in the grounds of the Pencil Museum. Graphite from neighbouring Borrowdale has been used since medieval times and mined for several hundred years. It was the basis for the very successful local Derwent, Lakeland and Cumberland pencil industry. Unfortunately the Pencil Museum was damaged in the floods last year and is currently closed. The shop turned out to be in the town so we ended up parking back at out apartment.

  The shop is a treasure house of pencils and drawing pens, sketching pads and colouring books. It was tempting to stock up on many things that I will never use.










I asked if they made fabric pens.The only ones they have are Inktense which draws on to fabric and becomes permanent when washed. I thought that my SitnStitch group and some of my grandchildren might enjoy trying these out, so I indulged.






We then visited a local artisan shop that had an attractive range of felted cushions and lampshades (the orangey one high on the left.I couldn't work out how the felting was done. I think the background fabric was wet-felted, and the felted figure appliqued on, but how the appliqued figures were felted eluded me.









The market was in full swing in the rain. Stall holders covered their perishable goods in plastic and soldiered on.























Dogs and owners were warmly dressed.





































We, of course, soon repaired to our chosen pub, today the Pack Horse Inn. Today I had chicken and leek pie. Alf had Beef and Ale Pudding and Sue had 3 small starters that turned out to be gigantic.

 Fortified by this hearty food, we ventured back to the thread shop where I asked the assistant (younger and lither this time) if I could take photos of the shop. She was a bit surprised but agreed.




The grey coat is hanging behind the chair where the shopkeeper sits and knits.  As you can see, this young assistant found it easier to stand!


I did buy a bi more grey thread for my robins' nest!

























































 On the way back I photographed - and paid - the didg busker. working in the soft rain.


Our apartment is wondrously clean. There is, however, an extra car parked in the apartment carpark which is going to make it a manoeuvre to get out.  We are hoping this is a temporary and not a week-long issue.

Tomorrow afternoon Christine and Eddie arrive. So looking forward to seeing them. Wonderful that they are coming in spite of the weather. It is now raining steadily again The silouetted  trees appear and disappear in the cloud.