Pottering about. (August 7th 2006)

We went on a boat, at Windermere, not the usual car ferry either. Well, the usual car ferry but not in the car! We went across on foot as we were going looking for where they'd filmed Beatrix Potter. Io thought we'd actually meet her, she's not quite up with it yet. I tried to explain the Rene Zellweger stuff, but she still didn't get it.

Anyway, the walk was up Claife Heights. Dead woody. Loads of marvellous smells everywhere. Not very high but a great steep climbing bit at first, past an old ruin (no, not Hairyface). There were supposed to be lots of Tarns on top. But some were totally not there, dried out and vanished and some were on their way to vanishing.

We found a tree which had been overcome by the heat and was having a lie down. It was still growing and everything.

We had lunch overlooking Windermere, which was full of little boats, bobbing about.

After a bit more wandering we found some Tarns which were still wet, so we had a paddle about in one of 'em.

Io seemed to have forgotten about nearly being drowned a few days earlier in Crummock Water. She had a good old splash about. The hewmings, Hairy, Screature, Uncle Tony and Wappy Sarah were full of how this was getting close to Beatrix's favourite Tarn, but wasn't quite it yet. Io got quite excited again but when we got to Moss Eccles Tarn there was no sign of Miss Potter or her boat!

The hewmings all sat on the wall and dangled their feet into the water. They tried to get YT and Io to go for a splash but we, quite sensibly, refused. It was really deep - and Io wasn't too happy about how she could get out again, to be honest I wasn't either.

Then Hairy remembered that the local pub was serving Hawkshead Brewery beer. Well, you can guess what happened... they dragged us off for a swift drinkie or four. How does he know all this stuff about beer?

The pub turned out to be the Claife Crier bar, and they not only did beer but fud too. That weren't too bad as we got chips!! (Four lots!)

We were sitting there under the table scoffing away and Io came up with the idea that she'd found the reason that the Potter woman was called Beer Tricks. She obviously knew Hairy and his drinking habits!! I thought that was quite good for her, it showed promise.

We caught a boat back too.

Well, the same boat again.I just had to finish by pointing out that Uncle Tony's knees are nearly as knobbly as Hairyface's.