Whitehaven 1

After dropping off the rental car and getting their shuttle back to Heathrow we found our way to Euston via the tube (just needed one change) and managed to get an earlier train to Carlisle than we had

Me & my Dad!

planned and then a subsequent earlier one to Whitehaven. Instead of getting a taxi up to Wils (Lens Dad) and Esmes we found a welcoming Joan (Len's sister) at the station. She just happened to pop in there at that time to check the train arrivals after visiting the supermarket next door so we had an instant lift! Such good timing!

Knit & Purl in the greenhouse!

We had of course seen Wils and Esme for the few days around Matt and Annas wedding but it was lovely to see them again - an inspirational couple at 93 and 88 (as from the 14th September) respectively. Esme is such a whizz in the kitchen - she has produced about 4 different cakes since we have been there as well as bramble jelly and lovely lunches and dinners. When we left for Keswick this morning she was about to make some tomato relish from some of the beautiful tomatoes that Wils is growing prolifically in his beloved greenhouse.

We have now been staying with Wils and Esme for the most part of 2 weeks and the time has flown with lots of people to catch up with. Our first port of call was to see Mark (Len's son), Tracy and the girls, Sian, Kaitlin and Mia, before Sian headed off to Newcastle University for her first year doing Fine Arts - every year the girls are all a bit more grown up and Mia especially seems a few inches taller than last year. Mark has been doing major renovations on the house and the improvements he has done are making a big difference.

L, Sian, Mia, Kaitlin & Mark