The Garden

I have always loved gardening although I've never professed to be an expert by any means. So I've thrown myself into my new garden with some gusto and very quickly realised just how much time can slip by, albeit very pleasurably. Things are coming together quite well although I'm constantly trying to squeeze more time out of my day to spend in amongst my plants and greenhouse. The garden is a topic that some of our guests and myself spend quite some time mulling over, and I've learnt a lot already..... so thank you.

Hugo is however on a quest to thwart me by trampling through the flowers in an effort to get me to play with him whenever he can. Try as I might I can't get him to walk around the flowers to get to where he wants to be!


My retired neighbour on the left as you drive into our car park is an expert vegetable grower and has been gardening all his life in his large allotment over the low wall between our properties. He is not only my point of reference regarding all things local as he is born and bred in Bowness (or 'bonus' as the locals pronounce it), but also with respect to the garden (after my Mother of course). We appear to be in competition with tomatoes and runner beans at the moment and I have no doubt that I will be soundly beaten, though at present mine look to have the edge (not that I'm competative of course).


We are painting the outside of the house and repairing barge boards and window sills etc on the way. I have ordered some David Austin climbing roses for the corner when I get the chance to tidy up the bed and cut back the huge Hydranger that has apparently been there for 30years or so. I am looking forward to next summer when we can enjoy the perfume and the blooms.


At long last it has rained earlier this evening after a pretty long hot dry period of weather. I'm not so sure our guests share my opinion as they had to borrow umbrellas to walk to the restaurants and bars for their evening meal. The sunshine will be back again tomorrow and the evening air is much fresher now after the shower. I hope the weather is treating you well where ever you are.

New Grading Now 4 Stars

We are delighted to say that we have successfully been upgraded to 4Stars following our mystery shopper assessment by Visit Britain last week. Celebrations for us as we have only been reopened a month following our refurbishement.

We have another 2 rooms to finish and this will give us the extra spurt to get on with them and have them open at the beginning of July.

There is always something to learn and we await the full report next week to give us an idea of what else we can put in place for the comfort and enjoyment of our guests.

A couple of things that might be of interest in the coming months are

Lake District Summer Music- Lakes Alive 11th Jul - 16th Aug
Towns and villages across Cumbria come alive with a series of summer time family events. All part of the Lakes Alive programme of world class performance and arts events.

There are classical, modern evening and daytime events with costs ranging from free to £20.00.
Leaflets are available from the Tourist information or to view on line go to www.ldsm.org.uk

Maryport Blues festival 24th - 26th July
A must for blues fans everywhere. Head to the West coast to sample the best music from the UK and North America along with a selection of fine ales.

View on line at www.maryportblues.com

Lighting the Wall Nov/Dec
Looking a head and little further than Bowness is Hadrians wall about 90 mins away at its central point. You'll see it in a new light as a winter lighting and events programme brings the magic of its striking landscape to life as never before.

View on line at www.hadrians-wall.org

Real Ale by Rail
Visit some wonderful real ale pubs within easy walking distance of lakes Line Stations of Oxenholme, Kendal, Burneside, Staveley and Windermere. Leave the car behind and use rail to visit some great pubs and some great attractions at the same time.

Discounts are available until 31/03/10 on production of a current rail ticket when you place your order. 10% discount on beer and food at Station Inn, Riverside Hotel, Eagle & Child, Lamplighter Bar and the Elleray. 10% discount on beer at Burgundy's and Hawkshead Beer Hall.

Leaflets are available from Tourist Information or transpennine express at www.tpexpress.co.uk

Another beautiful day

Yet another beautiful sunny day in Bowness today. It made up for the thunder storms and torrential rain that happened yesterday afternoon when we decided to have a couple of hours in Kendal.

The picture to the right was taken on Sunday evening when we were out for a walk on the way up to a local view point of Post knot about 20 minutes walk from Langdale View.

We always decide that we are going to set out for a walk with the dog late afternoon or early evening but inevitably we end up working later than we intended and end up walking at dusk with the bats swooping past us.


We had a few spectators on the way up Post Knot and at least they stood still to pose for their photograph unlike the Deer that we saw later on in the trees that teased us by waiting long enough to get the camera out then bounced away showing only a bobbing white tail.

Hugo our dog, is learning to behave in the company of sheep although I'm sure that he hasn't quite figured out quite what they are yet. I don't suppose there were many sheep in the Rescue Centre where he came from originally.

I'm writing this after a lovely sunny day when I managed to squeeze a couple of hours in the garden this afternoon and once again haven't managed to get out earlier with Hugo, so I'll say goodbye and venture out in the dusk with the bats.

Ann-Marie

Welcome to our first Blog edition

welcome to our first Blog posting. I have to admit that this is all new to me and the idea of a blog began as most good ideas do, over a soda water or two! The credit for this forum lays with my son David who is also the creator of the website, I'm fairly okay with IT but wouldn't know where to start building a website I'm much more at home in the garden.

The idea is to let those of you who choose to, join in and send us entries, or just read the entries in this blog. Its a way of finding out whats going on, in and around the area, recommendations for places to eat, walks, places of interest etc. Theres a lot happening in the Lake District apart from the most beautiful scenery, fantastic walking and climbing and contrary to popular belief it doesn't actually rain here all that often!

To start the ball rolling :-

Airshow Weekend 25th - 26th July
Windermere and Bowness play host to a series of displays over the weekend including a Vulcan Bomber and the Red Arrows. There will be displays from the Team Guinot wing walkers, flypasts from Spitfire, Hurricane, Chinook, Jet Provost, Hawk and the world beating Pitts 12 aerobatic display.

This is the 9th consecutive year for the Rotary Club of Windermere to host this very successful weekend with the show now one of the major attractions in the Cumbrian summer calender.

Yakovlevs aerobatic display - Sat lunch time
Vulcan - Sat afternoon
Late Sun afternoon - Red Arrows

Lions Family Fun Weekends Aug 1-2 and 8-9
Family fun days including live bands, climbing wall, mini quad bikes, cycle display team, Lions 'Bouncies' & Taylors Funfair. Total Sailing & District Boat Club Parade to be held on Sat Aug 8th followed by a Firework display at dusk.

Give the Driver a Break
The above leaflets are produced by the Lake District National Park and Friends of the Lake District and are out now. They are filled with lots of ideas for days out in the National Park and include discounts for bus users. The leaflets cover Ambleside, and Windermere (the 555 and 599) as well as Coniston, Borrowdale and Derwentwatre, Keswick and Ullswater, Honister and Buttermere, Langdale. New for 2009 are the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Sedbergh and the Howgills.

Sit back and enjoy the view! Pick up a leaflet from the Tourist Information Centre or visit www.fld.org.uk


Thats it for the first installment. Let me have any comments, suggestions questions etc and I'll post and/or reply. I hope to hear from you soon

Ann-Marie