On 27th December Peter and I went up to the Lake District. We stayed in a handy pub in Conniston, near enough to Maalie's, handy for walking and one that would take dogs. Fat lot of walking we did. It poured. We hurried out for one minute at a time, just long enough for Badger to have a pee, then back to the car. I would have taken a picture of the scenery but it is hard to focus on mist and fog.
The 28th saw us arriving at The Royal Maalie Court. What a lovely place. Relaxing, friendly and full of food and drink. Kick off your shoes, flop down and make yourself at home. Wonderful to see Simon again and to meet his daughter Suzie.
Maalie had our day organized down to the last minute. Off to Furness Abbey.
This Abbey was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monastries. It was a beautiful place, very atmospheric. Simon thought he was a monk.
We wandered about, exclaiming at the architecture, shivering but glad that at least we were outside.
Simon and Suzie huddling up for warmth.
Mmm ... it's not as good as Sidney Opera House. Enough of this. Let's get to a pub. Off to the Black Dog. Hey, this is wonderful. Food, drink and Maalie doing the driving. Simon burried himself in a plate of Tiger Prawns. "Bloody great mate" he exclaimed appreciatively to the waitor. The waitor beamed.
Back to the Royal Court for a zizzzzzz. I decided that I needed my quota of daylight hours so took Badger for a cold, blustery, wet and exhilerating walk along the Duddon Estury.
Goodness gracious me!! Badger is in the sea. Swimming. In this weather. Bloody Hell. Never mind. It's warm back at the court and Maalie won't mind a bit her shaking. Bugger. She's rolling in the sand and mud. BADGER!!!! Come here you ....... dog. Never mind. Maalie won't mind a bit her drying herself on his carpets.
Back to the Court. Sneak Badger in while Maalie is watching 'Extreme Bird Watching and Ringing with James May' on More 4.
Off we go now to visit Ringing Ken and Linda, friends of Maalie, and now our friends too, after that lovely trip to Spain. Cake. Tea. Warm fire to sit in front of. Pity we couldn't have brought Badger to dry off. Never mind, she will be doing very well at Maalie's.
After a pleasant time with Ken and Linda, it's off back to the Court. Phew, Maalie hasn't noticed all the sand and dried mud on the carpet. Now it's time for 'evening buffet'. In other words, all the stuff he wants to get finished before he's off on his travels again. It's serious drinking time after all the driving he's done today.
Good Grief. What a glum pair.
Ah, that's better.
Glad to see Simon could still manage two at a time.
Peter joined in with gusto.
So it was back to Conniston, and who do you think had to do the driving? Who do you think was the only sober one? Who do you think didn't guzzle McEwens Export all evening? Yes .. well. When we got there, the bar was still open. "How about a snifter before we go to bed" I asked longingly. "No, I don't think so. I've had enough" said Peter.
Shit.
37 comments:
Another post Lorenzo? Well done old girl. I find it hard to believe you got through a day like that without resorting to drink. Are you ill or something? Still, plenty of time to get your own back eh?
I would LOVE to explore this Abbey!
Ah - Red Cans - the sweet smell of Christmas!
W
The Abbey looks amazing... even more atmospheric in the weather you had, freezing your butts off!
Gosh, simon looks really tall beside suzie at the abbey... never realised he was such a tall dude!
If maalie never knew about that mud on the carpet he does now! Not a lot he can do about it from Italy though... poor wanderer!
It's just occured to me how much Simon looks like Bad Max in Eastenders.
L.
You should have sat yourself down without him! Badger would have been lovely company . . .
Wonderful, Lorenzo! I'm glad the boys had you and Badger to look after them!
I think Maalie's reference to xxvth was the verification word for his comment on my blog.
I'll try to get a good post up and running, but I'm just so busy sunning myself in the hot 27-30 degree weather we're having down here! ;-)
Happy new year to you too.
Lashings of ginger beer!
I would love to go to the lakes and I love that photo of Duddon Estury (Have you got a larger image you could email me? It is worth a lump of out Stilton left over from Crimbo .. sorry I mean Christmas)
Glad to see you are back lorenzybum!!
I was NOT drinking two cans at once rather one at a time! :O)
BAd MAx!! is that good or bad???
Bad Max is a rotter Simon! He just happens to look like you! He was having an affair with his son's girlfriend while his own wife .... oh never mind.
Stop showing off JLS! It's cold, miserable, drizzing little spikey bits of rain and I've got to take Badger out.
Martin: the photo of the Duddon Estuary I nicked from one of Maalie's early blogs. If you google Askam in Furness you will get a few pictures but I find it difficult to enlarge them without them going blurry and misty.
Lorenzo.
Maalie often differentiates between "ringing Ken" and "drinking Ken". But it seems as though he does a lot of drinking with "ringing Ken"!
I reckon there be a geocache around that Abbey somewhere...
Tort: I called him 'Drunken Ken' by mistake and got a thorough ticking off.
Lorenzo.
Wonderful pictures of old ruin and I'm sure he'll never notice the mud on the carpet.
L - I know you from somewhere, arnt you the girl who used to come to the Deli on Sundays? xx
Now, now Ann!
LtL
Sorry about the Wordimp pilfering, but it IS the only obvious meaning and we were clearly both feeling mentally lazy earlier today!
I didn't think Simon and Maalie looked glum at the table, they were probably just thawing. Maalie seems to have warmed up by the next photo. If you crop it, that one would make a great thumbnail portrait.
McEwan's Export. Is that a ginger beer? I've never had one.
Craver; that would be useful news to a Cockney. For full explanation, visit me on blog or look up ginger beer on cockney rhyming slang sites.
Lorro; No job, but first application form arrived today. Got another interview with govt lacky tommorow to establish why I don't want any csa money from my ex or any govt involvement in our co-parenting arrangement. I'd imagine the lost personal details of 25 million people may be a good enough reason for some, but that won't tick enough boxes so I'll probably just try bursting into tears or setting light to my hair in front of them.Obviously I'd try using logic and common sense, but I expect that may fall on deaf lugs.
re garden, I feel you wouldn't be able to afford my travel expenses which would be more than any remuneration for time spent busting my vertibrae on your extensive grounds. This is becuase I only use helicopters as part of my new year resolution list, which also includes an escalation of sarcastic witticisms, I hope.
Lorenzo,
Nice time, looks like, was had by all. And beer to boot.
Hey, I wonder what you folks think is the best beer. One of our stores here has a section where you can make your own six pack from beers. What six beers of the UK would make your list?
Good pics as always.
hello Llama dear - just popping by to say hello and that I haven't died, well, not quite yet.
the pictures are wonderful - makes me wish for a vacation to the UK!
Does Ringing Ken Resonate Kindly?
Joe x
Do not worry about the photo but it was jolly good of you to explain why you cannot send me a 24" x 15" copy of it in a gilt edged frame.
Todays word is yabadabadoo ... yes, it really is
gilt frame Martin? Only 22c gold is good enough for you!
Lorenzo.
Oh God. It appears suspiciously as though Rex might be heading for one of his more 'energetic' phases.. I'm preparing to have my ears chewed off all weekend.
If I ever get that way, I will - I want to see you throw a pot, meet Father Anne and have a cup of tea in that lovely little store!
Why hold just one can when you have two hands?!
Matt and I take turns. Last time we went out is was his turn to drive and I made sure I made up for the previous time and drank lashings of cava.
If I'd been you I would've insisted on that nightcap, or at least company while you partook of one, or two.
I see, you are handling the Fluids Dept.! :-)))
22c Gold, yippee! that is so kind of you, I will melt the frame down and make some nice blinging teeth with it.
Thanks for the 'TOP SECRET' photo you sent me, I promise not to ever divulge to your brother or make public that you 'half inched it' from his blog ... oh poo, I have just made this public knowledge ... oh well, it's not my problem!
tee hee
sounds like you were very buzy.
badger sure gets around!
Is Stickland trouble making again Lorenzo? He's clearly bored and should be sent outdoors for a ten mile hike in the current Westcountry gales. He's probably trying to distrct you from realisisng that you're winning on Wordimperfect so far today.
Cute typo eh? :-)
FUDDAFUDDAFUDDAFUDDAFUDDAFUDDAWADDAWADDAWADDAWADDAWADDAWADDA.
............................................................................................................................That's just me whizzing over in my helicopter. Next time look up and I'll give you a wave. I know you're in cos I saw your car on google earth.
Hmmm. I had to buy a new bag for my hoover,
P.S. You didn't mention Pete's remark in the Abbey that "the buttocks were splayed to take the load".
Post something else fun to read so I have a distraction from work, please. Grants, grants, grants - ever so much more reading and writing to do - and I just want to go back to sleep!! It's cold and dreary here - again!
I will enjoy whatever you post dear llama - wherever you find the photos - perhaps you should add author to your artistic endeavors!
hi, happy new year to you and your family..good to see you posting after a long time..hope you see more places in 2008
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