The Lake District is always stunningly beautiful but under a couple of inches of snow it is breathtaking. Tracks of fallow and roe deer, badgers and rabbits in the garden. So pleased to host all the wildlife can overlook the damage to the garden!! Lazy morning just Ian and I waiting for the family to arrive. Log fire roaring. There has been a power cut since we were last here and all the clocks including the central heating were 7 hours slow but the house was sti...

Just finished unpacking, washing and putting everything away and we are off to the Lakes house tomorrow so can start reps king! Will continue up there to update the web site each time I am away. Last year -2011- it was 32 times!

Actually made it to the Airport through heavy rain and a closed M62. Pictured the first pint of the hols! Just had to repackage my liquids etc which were in a clear plastic bag which shut with poppers. Apparently the bags need to be air-tight-never seen that anywhere. Think they just wanted to sell me a bag for a £. Had one in my bag though!

Two significant bits of news this morning for those of us contemplating a cruise in the near future! Very tragically the Costa cruise ship with 4000 people on board has run aground off Italy with chaotic evacuation plans. I'm sure this will concentrate the great minds at P & O and it will be safer than ever to cruise. As they say- lessons will be learned. Secondly the RN ship Fortress Victoria has captured 13 Somali pirates. So glad that innocent mariners ar...

Lovely dinner at Carol & John's last night. Carol has realised that we are away for Burn's Night so a possible themed evening looms!Difficult when you don't know whether it will be Formal or not.More pressure on the packing!! Just going to get out the possible hand luggage cases to see which one holds the most.