Haweswater

Morning/Lunch
It was nice to have a night with two thirds of my kids under my roof, although my plan to go out and run while they all had a lie-in was thwarted by the weather; there was snow everywhere, this morning. Instead we all went down to The Royal for brunch, even if by the time we got there the emphasis was very much on the UNCH.

And we had a good meal. Right now, I'd say the best place in Kirkby Lonsdale for a proper meal out - posh, if you like - remains the Sun but the Royal has surpassed Avanti as the safest pair of hands for a nice meal. However, both Dan and Abi underestimated the size of the 'large' nachos. As Charlie said, it wasn't greed that drove them, just fear of the small. 

Mid-afternoon
The Minx arrived in time for a brief and belated birthday celebration for Charlie before she - the latter, that is - and Hannah set off home for Manchester. And I had to say au revoir to Dan and Abi. It's odd; I've had nearly twenty years of getting used to days without my kids but I found it very hard to part from them on a day when I was supposed to being seeing them.

But the Minx and I were off on a trip, my birthday surprise! Up the M6, off at Shap, and, for a moment, I wondered if she'd found some way for us to stay near the ruins of Shap Abbey. But no, we carried on through Rosgill, Bampton Grange, and Burn Banks, until we found ourselves travelling along the side of Haweswater, all the way to the hotel. What a brilliant surprise!

You might have heard of the Haweswater Reservoir. Once, Haweswater was a pretty English Lake in the valley of Mardale but, in 1929, the Manchester Corporation was given permission to build a dam and flood the valley in order to collect more water for Manchester. Most controversially, this involved the flooding of two villages, Measand and Mardale Green.

It also meant the destruction of centuries old pub, the Dun Bull Inn. By way of compensation, the Manchester Corporation built the Haweswater Hotel, somewhat insensitively including their coat of arms in a stained glass window on the main staircase. All round, they don't seem to have been the most compassionate of organisations. 

Evening
After a very pleasant afternoon, during which we enjoyed the deep, square bath and I finally finished 'Lincoln In The Bardo', we had dinner in the restaurant downstairs. It was very good (would recommend). My fear that that the steak and ale pie would be a stew with a pastry topping was dispelled by the sight of a slice of what must be a very large and well made pie. 

After that, it was a drink in the bar and bed. I felt nicely prepared for being fifty-two, tomorrow.

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Reading: 'Lincoln In The Bardo'