Its fair to say I hadn't relished the thought of turning 50. I have very clear recollections of thinking that was ancient and even though the nearer you get you realise that definitely isn't the case, it's also no good kidding yourself that you are 'young' anymore either! However, several months past and I'm not sure I feel any different than I did 20 years ago really... I still have the same fears, joys and passions as I ever did and probably some of the same insecurities too. But I also know that I have a greater confidence in my own abilities and weaknesses and am better at accepting that I need to be accepted for who I am not who I think I should be.
I am not a big socialite. I have a few special and precious friends who 'get' me and understand that to be a bit on the introverted side is not to be antisocial. For the week of my birthday in June I spent a lovely few days in the hills, enjoying fabulous scenery, lovely food and easy company.
This was the lovely view from the window of our hotel room in Portinscale, Derwentwater just behind the trees...
Beautiful early evening walk down to Keswick, I think Skiddaw on the right...
The sun just beginning to set over Derwentwater...
Gorgeous skies...
The next morning dawned a bit cloudy but, determined not to be put off, we set off from the hotel towards Newland Valley, through beautiful lush green landscape, the advantage of plenty of rainfall!
The path took us across the back of Catbells, a peak I have walked several times, but from this angle we avoided the most crowded popular ascent path and had stunning views back across the valley with Bassenthwaite Lake just visible in the distance...
Looking across Catbells, Derwentwater on the right, Bassenthwaite on the left...
Even in cloud, there is a sense of awe in the scale of the hills here - they are not huge mountains as such but the amount of space that remains largely untouched is clear and beautiful
We walked a good distance, across Maiden Moor and up onto High Spy before dropping down into Borrowdale to Rosthwaite. We certainly knew we had stretched our legs (there's not much preparation for up and down in Norfolk!) and enjoyed the fabulous food at the hotel - the most amazing sticky toffee pudding and homemade ice-cream I've ever had...
...and the lovely people at the hotel made us a special breakfast with Bucks Fizz and a card, which set us up for another walk, this time at Buttermere, which must one of my favourite lakes. We had thought of climbing up onto Haystacks but the cloud was pretty low and rain not far away so we did the lakeside walk. Where the path was more of a small stream...
But the lake was peaceful and atmospheric...
And the coffee in the pretty cafe a welcome stop at the end...
My friend had arranged a special treat that evening with dinner at Lyzzick Hall Hotel, not far from Keswick and with stunning views across the mountains...
Elegant, if slightly faded, luxury...
and beautiful as well as delicious food...
It was a lovely and memorable day, spent with one of my closest friends.
Next leg of the trip was across to York so we took in a bit of Beatrix Potter, as this year is the 150th anniversary of her birth and a number of exhibitions on to celebrate, in pretty (but crowded!) Hawkshead and Hill Top...
but also at Allan Bank, Grasmere, an unusual National Trust property inasmuch as it is largely unrestored with public access to space to write, paint, think and dream. You can see why the huge picture windows framing beautiful views must have inspired the likes of Beatrix Potter and Wordsworth who also lived here for a time...
End of June was foxglove season and there were swathes of these upright pink blooms everywhere...
York was part work and part pleasure, much of it too special and personal to share here - suffice to see it was a week I will remember, with the best G&T...
Different, but equally lovely, walking...
and more beautiful food in the company of people I love dearly...
And if that wasn't enough...back home to my boys, determined not to let the birthday go by discreetly!
I am very lucky to be surrounded by such lovely people. Maybe 50 is not so bad after all!
S x
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