Near Sawrey

Saturday, September 30, 2006

It has been a another great day, the records say it has been the warmest September on record.
No departures this morning, I kept up to date with the footy without watching it, Liverpool lost away again, never mind Chelsea only drew.





John and Margaret who used to be at Ees Wyke Hotel were in the village with some former guests and John popped in to Buckle Yeat to say hello,we have not seen them for ages, they are both well.

We went a short walk to the lake and along the shore and back home, it started to rain, we kept going and just avoided getting wet.

Friday, September 29, 2006

A couple of vacant rooms last night so not to busy at breakfast time.
I took the opportunity to catch up on the vat returns.

A full house tonight, and everyone arrived by 5pm. All new faces except a gentleman in the single room, he has been before and has brought some friends for a few days.

Matthew has gone to Lancaster to meet Sarah, she is doing her masters at Lancaster University.

We had a walk to the pub for an hour before tea, Friday night seems to be quite busy with locals early doors.

Thursday, September 28, 2006



A Kendal day today, a trip over the lake on the ferry, our local MP was on board Tim Farron LIB DEM he never recognised us.
A quick dash round Morrisons and then a clip out at the hairdressers, lunch at Artisan then home.
There has been a shower of rain but all in all not a bad day.





A coach load of Japanese tourists have descended on the village and are looking for Hill Top which of course is closed on Thursday's it would have been closed by this time of night any way. Meanwhile the coach is left chugging away outside Buckle Yeat, I might have to and have a word.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Today was Christmas cake making day, Helen and her Mum Margaret set to and began the process of preparing the cakes.


This is the fruit in the bowl at the first stage of the mix.



The cakes have just come out of the oven.
We were busy with teas and the rain kept of till we got finished, it has arrived now so no walk tonight, I will get my exercise trying to kick the ball when I watch Liverpool play tonight on the TV.

A couple from Colorado checked in today, they are blog watchers and booked because of it, we have had a few bookings that way so I will have to carry on blogging.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006





Another sunny summer like day.
We finished early with teas due to lack of interest, me and Helen then set off at 4pm up past Moss Eccles and then on over the tops, down to the Wray road through Colthouse and on to the Sawrey Hawkshead road, we had planned to get into Hawkshead but under estimated the time it took to walk it,the master plan was meet Matthew at work and get a lift home. However we flagged him down at 5.45 on his way home so we did get a bit of a ride home.

Monday, September 25, 2006



Another busy breakfast, everyone seemed to get talking to somebody so made the dining room buzz, it beats a silent breakfast time.

The two sets of Scottish guests left as did two ladies who called by chance last night, I think they had a bit of an argument about how to split the dinner bill from the previous night, I didn't help matters by forgetting to give one her credit card back after they paid for their accommodation ( separately of course )They got 20 minutes away and the lady realised and had to get her friend to turn back, it was another test of their friendship.

It has been another stunning day with people sitting outside all day, one couple had to come indoors because it was to hot,late September!!

Sunday, September 24, 2006



Rain first thing but then a sunny afternoon, just a couple of changes this morning and a room to let. We picked up a single via the new style VIP (Visitor Imformation Point)this one is in a hotel in Grasmere, the guy who used it and checked in is an Aussie called Bruce, well he would be wouldn't he.

The tearoom was dead quiet this afternoon, I think everyone was watching the golf, we closed early and I watched the golf, seems fair!

Saturday, September 23, 2006

Liverpool are on a roll, a 3-0 win his afternoon against Spurs. The sun shone again and it does not feel like the end of September.
We had a foursome from Scotland check in this afternoon, when we finished teas we took another £100, courtesy of Mr McGregor that's £160 in total (didn't he do well) to Liz who is charge of the finances of the children's playground, we then walked round past Righting House and then past Fold Farm before we taking the footpath back into the village.


Nancy & Charlies colourful garden in Far Sawrey.


This is Righting House situated at the top of Cuckoo Brow Lane.

We called in at the Tower and had a beer on the way home,they were very busy and most of our guests were in.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Another sunny day, the weather forecast said we were about to be hit by hurricane Gordon.
I set of to Liverpool to pick up Denis and Margaret back from a holiday in Spain, I had a clear run there and back without any hold ups.





This is a shot of Ferry House taken from the ferry, it has been turned into 13 luxury apartments at silly prices. Before Ferry House was a research centre it was a hotel.

We watched the last few holes in the Ryder Cup tonight, Europe finished a couple of points up, long may it last.

Thursday, September 21, 2006





Tropical weather in Sawrey today, I got the lawnmower and strimmer out, last time for this year with a bit of luck.
The sub-contractors from United Utilities turned up to reinstate our drive after they dug it up last week, they did a great job, taking a sample of gravel to the quarry then bringing 2 tons back and spreading it on the drive, I have to ay fantastic service.



We let the vacant room by lunchtime, the new guests arrived soon after so me and Helen went a good long walk down to the shore of Windermere and the to Cunsey, back through to Eel House and then up the Dub and back into the village.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Just the one room changed this morning.
Peter the plumber arrived to advise on our forthcoming bathroom refurbishment plans.
By the time he left we decided to leave the tearoom closed and head into Kendal do the shopping and go into the plumbers merchants and begin the process of cost estimates and delivery dates for the job.



We had an e-mail from Jan & Jeff telling us about Buckle Yeat being on one of their favorite sites that they check every day ie Lakelandcam.co.uk. I will put a link in the side bar tomorrow.

Liverpool have won 2-0 against Newcastle tonight, Xabi Alonso only scores from his own half, did you see it Geoff in Benerraba.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Esthwaite Water from Castle Wood.



All the Japanese guests left this morning, the 5 girls gave us a bottle of wine, the wine was from Turkey ( bizarre ).
We had a cancellation tonight and thought we were going to lose out, but at the last minute Bowness Bay TIC rang and booked the room for a couple from Lincoln.
We had quick walk up through Castle and Bishop woods before tea, it's good to get out for a walk and breath of fresh air.


Near Sawrey from Castle Wood.

Monday, September 18, 2006

The weather has been really good today with long spells of sunshine, we have had a busy day with teas.
Another 3 Japanese girls checked in today, I had to pick them up from the ferry, it means we have a total of 8 Japanese ladies in tonight, 2 of them are off to Ireland early in the morning.
Just as we finished work the heavens opened so no walks tonight.


This is the marrow which took 2nd prize in the show, it is on display at Sawrey Stores.



Simon from Far Sawrey sent this picture of his sons birthday party on Saturday, apparently the candles were trick ones the kept re-igniting and so he was out of breath before he managed to blow them out.

Sunday, September 17, 2006



Yesterday when I picked up the papers at Sawrey Stores there was one very excited young man, Alan who lives by the church, it was his 9th birthday and every Saturday (sweeetie day)he spends part of his pocket money in the shop, so the ladies from shop had made him this very special cake,I would have taken a picture of Alan but he was off quick to take his bike home and for a basket to carry the cake home.


We had a visit from a couple of our New Year gang this afternoon, Betty and David who now live in Grange-over-Sands, they are both well and looking forward to New Year,steady on lets finish with summer first!



Not sure what species of butterfly this is but I do know the plant, it is a Buddleia otherwise known as a butterfly bush.



A final shot of yesterdays marrow show, this is the row of monsters.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

It was a sunny day again, we had quite a few departures and arrivals in fact still waiting for the last people.This morning a last minute booking for the single room was checking out and he revealed he was researching an article for "Holiday Which?"


Sawrey marrow show today, and this is Roger, Alan and young Joe checking out the scales, Joe cleaned up with a 1st for local vegetable, a 3rd for best pair of marrows and a special prize for keenest young grower, no arguments there.


The show sponsors were Hawkshead Brewery.
It was a great turnout with a raffle, a guess the weight of the marrow ( won by Nancy) and a raffle for a bottle of whisky.


Most unusual vegetable winning exhibit.
The winner of the heaviest went to Chris from Far Sawrey with a beast weighing in over 9olbs, 2nd went to a girl working at Sawrey house called Nanette, her marrow was just 2lbs short of the winner and 3rd went to Alan from Cunsey
The proceeds of the show were donated to the local MS society.

Friday, September 15, 2006





These are a couple of pictures taken yesterday in a rainy Hawkshead, today has been sunny and warm all day.

The digger arrived at midnight and dug up the drive repaired the fault and restored the power to the village, all while we slept.

We have had Andy and Mark today replacing the double glazing units at Sawreycroft, they were complaining about the hot weather.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

It was the Westmorland County Show today in Kendal, it could not have been wetter, rain from first thing till late afternoon. We had some guests who spent the day there and said getting off the showfield was proving a problem with vehicles stuck in the mud.
The power has gone off this evening in part of the village, we are ok at Buckle Yeat but at home we are off, I had a walk to sub-station and spoke to the guy trying to sort it out, he was quite pleased with him self because he had traced the fault, great I thought, then he told me the problem is slap bang in the middle of our drive at home.
It's 10pm and we are waiting for a digger to arrive and proceed to dig up the drive, I think it might be late night. They say the joint has been affected by water, the recent flooding still seems to be causing us problems.

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

After a damp start the day improved and we had people outside for teas, we have been busier these last two days than most days in August.
Only one room left today,one couple left to go home to Chipping Norton and two more arrived from Auckland New Zealand.





Matthew has been on the phone, he has been in Peterborough for a couple of days and whilst Sarah is at work today he has gone to London to catch up with a mate from school who has just started his Masters in London.

We have had one or to enquiries for accommodation of late who quote the blog as their reason for booking which is pleasing.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

These are pictures from yesterday, I have started using a different browser to upload photos.



This is the bride and groom leaving for their honeymoon, the bride was trying to throw her bouquet into the garden of the Tower Bank Arms.



Breakfast time in Post Office meadow.

Football is on later, Liverpool away to PSV Eindhoven, it has been mentioned by Peter a guest who arrived yesterday that I did not include any reference to the football at the weekend when Everton beat Liverpool 3-0, I forgot, or I should say I am trying to forget.
We had an e-mail from Margaret one of the New Year crew, her and her husband John now live in France, sad news her pet rabbit Bob has died, Margaret once wrote a story about Bob and had it published, copies may still be available on amazon.com
Heavy showers this morning but very warm.
Just one room checked out this morning, two of yesterdays wedding guests.
It's the Sawrey Marrow Show this Saturday 16th September at 2pm in the Braithwaite Hall Far Sawrey, my exhibit is not going to feature, it was planted far to late.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Problems tonight with the Blog so struggling to upload any photos.

It has been a brilliant sunny day, and there was a wedding in the village, a girl called Kathy who lives up Market street was married at St Peters in Far Sawrey, she and her future husband Nick walked up and then back from the church, they then had a reception at the Tower Bank Arms.

Matthew has gone down to Peterborough for a few days, it's Sarahs birthday tomorrow, (happy birthday Sarah)

We had a walk down to the fish farm before tea.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon,not a lot of tea customers about today.
We have a foursome in planning a bigger group visit next March, they are from the Birmingham area and have been coming on and off for years, they are a great crowd.
They are always known as the Beverly Sisters to us, I'm not sure how many of them are actually sisters.
Next year they are celebrating special birthdays and wedding anniversary's





A big change over day yesterday, most rooms left including Peter and Susan from Leeds who kindly left a nice box of chocs.
Derek and Vicky are back for week number 4, they were here for breakfast.
Hill Top was free entry yesterday so we were expecting crowds but it was just steady all day.
The power kept going off last night and we just had to hope we would not wake up to trying to serve breakfast without it, as it turned out we didn't.
Its another lovely morning with plenty of sunshine.

Friday, September 08, 2006



A really misty morning but the sun shone later, it turned out a stunning September day.

Another day with no changes so after we finished the rooms and I cut the grass and Helen cleaned some windows we went home to do a quick tidy up and set off on a walk, we went up behind Sawrey Hotel on to the tops, under Scale Ivy then along the ridge before climbing back up above Wyes Een and back into Near Sawrey.

We took lots of photos, the weather was fantastic and there was a great shot around every corner. More pictures later on in the week.

Thursday, September 07, 2006


It's a stunning September morning and this a shot I took on the way to work.

Today is a day we do not see very often and that is no departures and no arrivals.



On the way back across the ferry it was like a flight path we saw a fighter jet and then a military type helicopter.

After we did the Thursday shopping run we headed home and after we did the worse bit ie put all the shopping away, we went a walk up to Moss Eccles.



The farmers have been out in the good weather doing a second cut of the grass.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006


There is a massive crop of fruit around this season as is seen by this neighbour's tree which has lost a bough due to the weight of apples.

A lot busier with teas again, I think it is the case of less people but more money to spend.

A dreary start to the day but it turned out sunny in the afternoon.






After we finished work tonight we had a half hour with papers then had a walk down to Esthwaite Water and then back home for tea, as I write this me and Matthew are watching England struggle against Macedonia, good job we have the legend that is Peter goal machine Crouch.

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

A nice surprise in the post this morning a cheque from United Utilities, compensation for the flooding last month, I was straight on the phone to ask why we never received anything at home where the problem was worse.



This is Wilfin beck yesterday showing how much water was rushing through over the weekend.



I spotted this car "flying" through the village yesterday.

Susan and Peter from Leeds arrived this afternoon and as usual at this time of year they fetched some beans and tomatoes from their greenhouse.
Just the one room free this evening, a cancellation, no takers today though, full tomorrow.