Monday 3 October 2022

September

I do realise we are now into October, and as the title proves just how infrequently I have posted lately, I thought another little catch-up might not be a bad idea. 



The new school term began slightly later than usual, which meant we enjoyed a longer than average summer break and so we used this time to take another trip to London. We stayed for two nights, enjoying a full day out in the capital, taking in Tower Bridge, The Museum of Natural History, St. Paul's Cathedral and Hyde Park. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we made the most of the good weather, enjoying a picnic in the museum garden and spending much of the afternoon cooling off in the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. 






Back home once more, we barely had chance to unpack, when we set off again. This time, to Ullswater for a day of paddleboarding, before travelling further north to spend the night in what should have been a camping pod, but thanks to a double booking, we ended up staying in a safari tent instead. It even contained a double bed, which made for a very comfortable stay. A fish and chip supper, followed by an evening beside the campfire provided a lovely way to round off our summer.

Two days later we started back at school for the autumn term, and as usual it felt good to fall back into a familiar routine once again. 




Determined to eke out every last moment of summer, that weekend we drove to Blackpool so that we could see the Illuminations, eat fish and chips, and best of all, enjoy fresh doughnuts bought from the pier. Our faces almost pressed right up against the glass, just to see the wonder of the batter being dropped into the hot oil and transforming into this delicious sugary treat, right before our eyes - I really need to get out more :)  




The last two weekends, we've been out walking, taking in three more Wainwrights and we have, at last, completed all of the Eastern Fells. I'm looking forward to exploring further afield now, and I am challenging myself to make it to the halfway point by the end of the year. 

Looking back over the month, I can see why I've had little opportunity to post. And now that the seasons are shifting, summer is but a distant memory. It's time to slow down, prepare for the colder months ahead, and embrace all that autumn now has to offer. 

J. X


 




52 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing such beautiful photos of your travels and of your own special part of the world. I always linger over each one and dream of visiting there! Happy autumn, my friend!

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    1. Thank you, Billlie Jo. Autumn has certainly arrived now. It has been wet and windy for much of the week. X

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  2. You have certainly had a very full summer. Lots of my favourite things on your London trip and the camping sounds great fun. Bet you are ready to embrace a few slower days. B x

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    1. Looking back, I realise just how much we packed into our summer. As we head into autumn, I am now ready to hunker down and enjoy some much slower days. X

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  3. Spectacular, Jules! I wasn't able to comment on your last post. I was afraid I had lost touch with you. Love your blog and your gorgeous photos. You are living your best life.

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    1. Thank you, Stephenie. I am working on it :)

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  4. It sounds like you had a wonderful summer, Jules, and took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy it to the fullest. Hope you have a lovely Autumn ahead of you. :)

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    1. Thank you, Bless. Winters are often dark and damp here, that's why I always aim to fill our summer days with nice things. X

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  5. Fabulous photos and tales of adventure.
    My Dad would have been very impressed with you doing the Wainwrights, he did them all as a young man. xxx

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    1. Thank you, Vix. Walking the Wainwrights is quite a challenge, but we are taking our time. I am aiming to get them completed before Lily is old enough to dig her heels in and refuse to tag along :)

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  6. What a wonderful summer you have had. Lovely photos - thank you for sharing them

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    1. Thank you, Sue. It felt good to get away on holiday this year. X

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  7. I remember watching donuts being cooked in America - fascinating and impossible to resist.
    Huge well done on your Wainright progress, I hope the weather is kind this Autumn so you can continue.

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    1. The doughnuts were delicious :)
      Thank you. Here's hoping for some bright autumn days. X

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  8. You did pack a lot into your summer and all your photos are wonderful. Enjoy the autumn months now.

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    1. It has been wet and windy this week, which is why I like to make the most of our summer. X

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  9. Your super photographs help me to realise just how much you have packed in to your holiday time.

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    1. Looking back, we did pack a lot in, but it never felt hurried. X

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  10. Such wonderful photos (as always) and what a lovely summer. xx

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    1. Thank you, Joy. We have some wonderful memories. X

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  11. your grabbed vacation 'by the throat' and squeezed every bit of joy out of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    🍁 🌻 🍂 🌰 🍂 🌻 🍁

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  12. Super photos.Thanks for sharing.
    Barbarax

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  13. Once again, completely jealous...all the photos of your adventures look wonderful! Sigh...

    I have to ask (one of those across the miles differences) what is the green sauce with your fish& chips? Here it would most likely be ketchup or tartar sauce...just curious! Thanks so much, Mary

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    1. The green 'sauce' is actually mushy peas! The choice of what to have as a side with chips can prove quite controversial :) Some (like me) prefer mushy peas, or you can have gravy, curry sauce, or even cheese. And of course, you can simply just have ketchup or tartare sauce. X

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    2. Jules, thanks so much - I never would have guessed mushy peas...it's so fun to learn about the differences we enjoy. Yes...I would choose peas too, or maybe cheese; that's a weakness for me. And it makes me laugh...it sounds like the "controversial" hot dogs here - traditional would be ketchup, mustard, or relish, but some regions get very creative and top them with mustard & sauerkraut, while others use creamy coleslaw - each is sure that theirs is the best! Mary

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    3. And not to mention whether or not to have vinegar on your chips :)

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  14. You really did pack a lot into your summer, as you should when you get the opportunity. Your photographs are lovely to see.

    Happy October wishes.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. When the weather turns, like it has this week, I am always glad to have made the most of summer. X

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  15. Your summer sounds a lot like mine, full to the brim with lovely things. I am not posting very often at the moment either, I haven't found my rhythm with it again after a busy summer. I know it will come back at some point just not there yet!

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    1. I hope you soon find your rhythm once more. I usually find it takes a while to settle into the autumn days. X

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  16. Eeek, just look at Lily standing on that glass floor, definitely not something I'd be doing. It sounds like you've stretched out every last minute of the holidays and made lots of lovely memories.

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    1. Big sister wasn't keen at first. It does feel strange looking at the river and cars down below. X

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  17. What a beautiful post. You are wise to make the most of the end of the summer. The photos are gorgeous. Don't you just love London...

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    1. London is a wonderful city. We are hoping to visit again in December, to see the Christmas lights. X

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  18. Hello Jules. All of your photos are breathtaking! I will say my favorite being the sun setting by the beach. I'd love to visit London someday - really England and Scotland both. Hope you are having a nice weekend,

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    1. Thank you, Julia. I hope you get your wish. Xx

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  19. Thanks for the catch up Jules. What a lovely holiday summer you have had. I have not been further north than Perth but your pictures make me want to journey onwards.
    Glad you had fun in Blackpool and London although I'm not sure I could manage the glass floor lift! Have a good week x

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    1. Mull is only as far north as Perth. Next time just turn left on your way up :)

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  20. Looks like you had a busy and lovely month. The Safari Tent sounds like a real treat and those fish and chips do look scrumptious.x

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    1. The fish and chips were some of the best I've ever had. X

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  21. lovely. just lovely. Didn't realise just how much I needed to see the world through your eyes until I read this post tday. You always see the loveliness, it's so calming. Though now I'm craving fish & chips! Thanks for that! ;o)x

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    1. That's such a lovely thing to say, Sadie. Thank you. X

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  22. Oooh Jules, I'm reet in the mood for some fish n' chips now. The safari tent sounds fun. Sometimes double booking can work out well! Blackpool pier must officially have the tastiest fresh doughnuts. I remember them well from my childhood. Well done on all the walking, you'll have calf muscles upon calf muscles after all that ;) xXx

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    1. You've never lived until you've eaten fresh sugared doughnuts, out of a paper bag from Blackpool pier :)

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  23. Your bottoms can have hardly touched the sofa cushions lately! Soon the draw of the fire and comfort by the hearth will replace such adventures until the wheel turns to spring again. x

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    1. They've touched it far too often recently :) I'm ready for some fresh, bright days. The weather has been much too damp and gloomy for my liking. Xx

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  24. My apologies for being absent from your blog for so long Jules - several weeks of intermittent problems ended in a completely dead pc and being without one for over two weeks. I now have a new one which is working well but it's taking ages to catch up with my own blog posts and read/leave comments on everyone else's.

    It sounds like you packed a lot into the remaining summer days and your photos, as always, are gorgeous - I love the sunsets, especially the pier one :)

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    1. I've been absent, myself, just lately, as Blogger has been playing up for me, once again.
      Technology is a wonderful thing when it all works as it should. A pain in the backside when it doesn't :)

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  25. Gosh you've been busy! The safari tent sounds like fun! All your pictures are gorgeous :)
    Jillxo

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    1. Thank you, Jill. And it's lovely to see you posting again. Xx

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