As you will no doubt be aware things have been quite interesting on the weather front in Cumbria of late with the north of the county bearing the brunt. Lake Windermere remains high as do all the lakes and rivers but they have receded to manageable proportions with roads now passable and businesses open as usual in the Lake District.
We have escaped unscathed other than a wind swept outside and very soggy garden as you would expect. I have however started a guerrilla war with a couple of Wrens who have taken a real liking to my hanging baskets and ousted plants so they can burrow in and shelter. What with the wind and them, my attempts at winter baskets look rather forlorn at the moment. When I thought I had resolved this by repacking them the Wrens outwitted me and now mock me from the top of the vine in the greenhouse. The amount of rain lately has swollen the wood on the greenhouse door so I can't shut it completely much to their delight and I fear they have won for the moment. I'm regrouping and considering a pincer movement .... well perhaps when the weather improves and I can get into the garden, until then they are welcome to the greenhouse.
We will be attempting to trim up with Christmas lights and decorations over the next week or so, outside may have to wait a little while for a weather window but we remain optimistic as ever.
This leads me on to :-
Windermere & Bowness Winter Lights Masked Parade & Sing-a-long Seeking Santa Cruise
We have escaped unscathed other than a wind swept outside and very soggy garden as you would expect. I have however started a guerrilla war with a couple of Wrens who have taken a real liking to my hanging baskets and ousted plants so they can burrow in and shelter. What with the wind and them, my attempts at winter baskets look rather forlorn at the moment. When I thought I had resolved this by repacking them the Wrens outwitted me and now mock me from the top of the vine in the greenhouse. The amount of rain lately has swollen the wood on the greenhouse door so I can't shut it completely much to their delight and I fear they have won for the moment. I'm regrouping and considering a pincer movement .... well perhaps when the weather improves and I can get into the garden, until then they are welcome to the greenhouse.
We will be attempting to trim up with Christmas lights and decorations over the next week or so, outside may have to wait a little while for a weather window but we remain optimistic as ever.
This leads me on to :-
Windermere & Bowness Winter Lights Masked Parade & Sing-a-long Seeking Santa Cruise
4.30 - 7.00pm Windermere masked parade through Windermere led by Santa who turns on the winter lights, followed by fireworks. This is a free event, for information & booking Santa Cruise tickets 015394 46499 or www.windermerewinterlights.org
We are pleased to announce that the parade is going ahead as planned - wellington boots recommended!
We have been advised by Windermere Lake Cruises that the Sing-a-long Seeking Santa Cruise will be going ahead as the water level of the lake has lowered. There are a few tickets left for the cruise - contact phone number above to book.
Roads, accommodation, shops and parking in and around Windermere and Bowness have been largely unaffected by the floods.
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Make all your Christmas dreams come true in Windermere and Bowness in 2009!
Join in the fun on Saturday November 28, 2009 with the Sing-a-long Seeking Santa Cruise from Bowness pier, the Fourth Annual Winter Masked Parade through Windermere village and the Winter Lights Switch-ons in both communities. All this excitement will be topped off at the Grand Firework Finale in Queens Park!
There will be live music and entertainment, food, drink, mulled wine during the day. And there’s plenty of opportunity to get in some Christmas treats in two of Lakeland ’s most scenic shopping villages.
The day starts (perhaps after coffee and cakes in one of our many glorious cafes!) at 10am sharp when you board a Windermere Lake Cruises steamer bound for a special rendezvous with the man in the red suit – our sensational Sing-a-long Seeking Santa Cruise, with Astral Circus Childrens Entertainer.
Arriving back at Bowness at 12 noon you will be greated by Santa's Donkey and elves, you can then enjoy the delights of Bowness and Windermere, perhaps doing some important Christmas shopping.
But make sure to get to Windermere railway station for 4.30pm, when Santa on his sleigh will lead the Winter Masked Parade through Windermere Switching-on the Winter Lights along the way to Queens Park where The Lakes Gospel Choir will perform both before and after the Grand Firework display.
Cruise tickets available now (£10 per adult and £5 per child) from Thresher, Crescent Road, Windermere or Breeze (Earth Collection), Quarry Rigg, Bowness or via the Contact Us page on the website above. Your ticket for the Santa Cruise also provides FREE entry to an exclusive 3/4 hour cartoon show at the Royalty Cinema, Bowness at 12.30.
Please check the above website regularly for updates – we look forward to greeting you all this Christmas 2009 – let’s make it extra special for everyone!
Schedule of Events
10.00am Boarding of Sing-a-Long Seeking Santa Cruise at Bowness Piers.
Departing 10.30am, returning approx 12noon
The Sing-a-Long and Astral Circus will perform on Quarry Rigg from 1pm until 3pm
4.20pm The Parade (which is free) gathers at Windermere Train Station.
At 4.30pm the parade leaves the Station and heads down Victoria Street, Crescent Road onto Broad Street to Queen’s Park Recreation Ground where you will be entertained by The Lakes Gospel Choir.
6.00pm Fireworks display, Queen’s Park Recreation Ground. The Firework Display is free, however, donations are welcome via Marshals with collecting buckets to help make this event happen.
