Skelwith Bridge bimble

I had school stuff to do today (Monday) – a meeting in the morning and a Full Governing Board at 4.30pm. Well you can’t say I’m not committed…But I also wanted to spend some time with Mr Pat inbetween times so we headed off for lunch at Chesters with Miss Loopy Luna 🙂

Before it was Chesters, it was Kirkstone Galleries – a prestigious outfit where you could refit your kitchen or floors. There was also a great coffee shop which sold slate mementos, pictures and the like. My classy friend, Mary Moor, first introduced me to this piece of heaven and it’s her I blame for my love of good things – she also initiated me into what was the Liberty factory shop in Burnley, the delights of Boundary Mill, and the sheer magic of Skipton Market on a winter’s day….

I digress, Chesters is now terribly chic and sells many lovely things. I love the food and the oat milk cappuccino and the cakes are truly cosmic. You wouldn’t know the history of the building or the area – but there are clues to a more industrial past, if you look. I love that the old salesroom is still there at the back with all the different types of work surface which were available.

There are lots of articles and resources that tell you about life in the Langdales – farming, obviously but also slate quarrying, gunpowder works and fine linen manufacturing. Man has had a big impact on the landscape…

We headed up on the path through the woods at Skelwith – after Sunday’s enforced bed rest, it felt unbelievably good to be out. The air was cold and fresh and invigorating – every lungful was a joy and felt like freedom.

We only walked as far as Park Farm before we turned round. The views in just that small distance were brilliant.

People talk about the secret of happiness – everyone wants and needs different things but there is no magic formula. Maslow pretty well nailed it for me in his Hierarchy of Needs. We are so privileged to live where we do. Getting here has been no easy journey but it was the best move ever! I don’t care that we don’t have fitted carpets, or that the cobwebs are taking over, or that winter is long and hard – none of those things matter. A walk in the winter with Mr Pat, a doggy and glorious views pretty well do it for me.