Flooded fields, Arts and Crafts

Started the day with Ann's delicious cooked breakfast, perfect eggs, bacon and tomato. 

Ann gave us the latest on the storms, how her son Robert had taken stranded motorists into his house, how he had removed a tree blockage near the house, how some roads had been flooded and cars abandoned.

But everyone was well, and no bones broken. However it was still raining in great waves across the valley, with fierce winds bending the fir trees nearby. We asked Ann for any board games she had, and were rewarded with a huge boxfull. Thing is, they were all for young kids. We played Junior Scrabble, without scoring. A bit frustrating. Then Connect 4  which L had never played. When she beat Nic twice, we stopped there.

Had early lunch and ventured out, through showers and flooded fields, to Blackwell, the Arts and Crafts House near Windermere.

We had been once, with Mary, many years ago. It was enchanting, with glorious wooden panelling and stained glass.

We learned of the architect Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott, who designed the house for the Holt family, brewers from Manchester. He designed everything, including furniture, light fittings etc.

We had tea and a cheese scone, filled up with fuel and got back to Ann's. A quick pack and transfer of stuff into the van, a sit by the hot fire, and it was almost time to go to the Three Shires for an expensive dinner.