Three Years at the Lakes
For the last three years, every fall half-term, I’ve gone up to the Lake Districts with Tom’s family. It’s been amazing to track our lives through these visits; the first time I went was during the Covid lockdown, back when Tom and I were just friends, the following year we were dating, and a few weeks ago I went up to the Lakes as one of the Robinsons.
Year 1 (2020)
Since I’m writing this almost 3 years delayed, it’s hard to recall what my first impressions of the Lake District were, but I know that almost every sight was photo-worthy. The buildings all looked like something out of a Thomas Kinkade painting, slate walls with wooden doors and welcoming lights shining from the windows. Across the little river that runs through Ambleside is an old toll bridge house that became (and continues to be) one of my favourite things to photograph. Autumn leaves were in their full array of colours and rain, clouds, and sun were often competing to see who would control the day.
Most days were spent on various walks around the hills, with Ruth’s trustworthy map necklace to guide us. Slate walls criss-cross the countryside, dividing the landscape into quilt-like sections. Every hilltop would have a new beautiful vista, showing lakes, villages, or just the wide expanse of rolling fields for miles and miles. Every new landscape was met with an approving “stunnin’” from Trevor.
The expressions “everyman and his dog” takes on a whole new meaning in the Lakes, because every single group you walk past, hiking or in town, has a four-legged companion with them. And after the hikes, while their owners settle in a pub with a pint, the pup either snuggles under the tables, or the more friendly ones will look for attention elsewhere. British dogs are always so well-behaved, because if they’re not, then they can’t come into the pubs, but every now and again you’d get a young friendly one, which was always a delight to sit down after a long hike, have a pint, and an eager pup to pet for a bit.
On the rainy days, and in the evenings, we’d often settle on the couches to watch movies. I was very delighted to discover a lot of new favourite movies, many of them classics: Once, Cyrano de Bergac, The Witch, The Man Who Would Be King, and more that I’ve probably forgotten. I’d spent time with the Robinsons before, at Christmas, but it was a beautiful thing to be welcomed back and feel like I was one of the family (which has worked out very nicely since now that’s official!). Time spent in the cottage itself was warm (sometimes almost tropical if Ruth was in charge of the temperature) and relaxing, with lovingly made meals and quiet reading evenings.
Scafell Pike, the tallest “mountain” in England, was our goal for the long hike of the weekend. We walked through a farm, past a lot of sheep who seemed very put out by our presence, up some scrambling passages and through the rocky hills to the top. The mist had descended by the time the time we reached the peak; you could barely see a few metres in front of you. These country walks were one of the few things that didn’t really change with Covid, you stay in your groups and politely nod to strangers along the way, after the months of restrictions, there was something very liberating in being able to forget it all while you’re out in nature.
On one of the days, we went to Keswick and hired a small rowboat to go out on the lake. I managed to get a few photos before the rains returned and had us scrambling back to shore.
It’s weird to think back how strange things were during Covid, when it’s largely disappeared from our collective daily lives, but I’ll always be grateful that when I otherwise would have been stuck in my one room flat for my entire half term of a challenging PGCE year, I was able to spend time with one of my best friends in a beautiful part of the country.
Year 2 (2021)
So much happened between my first trip to the lakes and my return; mainly, that Tom and I had started dating in February and that I had completed my PGCE year and had my job as an English Teacher at a school in Kent. Due to Covid, I hadn’t seen anyone in my family since I left in September 2020, so I was overjoyed that Mom was able to fly out and spend time with the Robinsons and me at the cottage.
Our big hike for this year (since that seems to have become the agreed upon tradition) was Helvellyn. The weather was gorgeous, the with sun casting sharp shadows and highlighting the vibrant green grass. The main part of the hike was a sharp ridge to scramble up, with majestic views of the tarns below. The best part of hiking in England is that there’s always a pub at the end of every path.
We were kept slightly cloistered in the cottage or doing short trips around the town because, for the vast majority of this week, it was pouring buckets. The small babbling creaks became gushing rivers, calming waterfalls became violent forces of nature, and water decided to claim the paths and roads as well. I don’t think my shoes were dry the whole time, but Tom was insistent on going outside for some strange reason.
In our few days back near Birmingham, Tom, Mom and I went to Tamworth Castle, where we got to check out their Anglo-Saxon exhibit featuring the video that Regia filmed back in August. They had a really good layout, information sheets and interactive so I can highly recommend it to people. Go see me on the slightly-medium screen. We also went to Litchfield to see the cathedral and walk around one of the prettiest towns in the Midlands.
Year 3 (2022)
And back to the now! I’m now a Mrs Robinson as well (though not legally yet… still need to change that). But I’m now settled into the Midlands, my new job, and with my new husband. It’s been amazing to have this one place to be a milestone for the last few years, and I’m looking forward to many more years of paths, pubs, and my favourite people
