They say that home is where the heart is. If that's so then I don't live at home for my heart definitely belongs in the Lake District. When I am there I am at peace; its beauty soothes me and its grandeur inspires me. It is where I would choose to be if I could.
Last year L and I spent a week in a B&B in Windermere. We had a great time and said we'd go back this year. When it came to booking it we had already decided to stay in a different area of the Lakes, as Windermere is just too much of a tourist trap, and wanted to stay in a holiday cottage rather than a B&B. So, we had a look at what English Country Cottages had to offer and booked a week in a village near Keswick in the Northern Lakes. The cottage was excellent and we settled in for a relaxing week.
The weather was just about what you'd expect up there in late September; cloudy, showers, moderate temperatures, but we were prepared so it didn't bother us at all. We spent a couple of days lazing around and visited a few of the tourist attractions in the area. Last year we went on a lovely walk around Grasmere but L isn't really up to that sort of thing in her current condition so we were limited to a few strolls this time around. It got me itching to do some proper walking in the area, though. It's a long time since I last did that.
I've been walking in all sorts of places, from the Brecon Beacons to the Highlands to the Picos de Europa mountains in Spain (which make the Highlands seem small) but none of them had the same effect on me that the Lake District does. There's something about the scale of Cumbria that resonates within me. Its hills are tall and majestic without being out of reach, its valleys stunning but not too broad, its lakes beautiful but not too vast to get around.
It is an area of stunning natural beauty that sings to me when ever I am there. Come rain or shine, mist or snow its effect on me is the same.
If money were no longer an object I would have no qualms about leaving London and the south behind and moving up there permanently. One day I might just do that.
It's where I belong.
Friday, October 01, 2004
Thursday, September 30, 2004
A Visit to the Dentist
This morning I went to the dentist for the first time in more than 12 years.
I only know it's at least that long because the last time I went I got
referred to an orthodontist who in turn referred me to the hospital to have
my wisdom teeth checked out and that appointment was on my 16th
birthday. I have never felt the urge to go back to the dentist since.
My teeth have always been fine and I haven't suffered any problems with
them so it just didn't seem worth it. I probably wouldn't have gone today
if L hadn't made appointments for both of us. And my position seems to
have been justified. Apart from my wisdom teeth no longer being there (I
finally had them removed when I was seventeen - just over ten years ago)
and a tiny spot on one of my second incisors where decay had started and
then stopped years ago, my teeth are all fine.
Naturally, there was quite a build up of plaque - a left over from the days
when I didn't clean my teeth properly - but that was fairly easily removed
and now it's gone the brushing and mouthwash should keep it from coming
back too quickly.
All in all, it was exactly what I'd expected. However, I don't think I'll
leave it as long before my next appointment.
;-)
I only know it's at least that long because the last time I went I got
referred to an orthodontist who in turn referred me to the hospital to have
my wisdom teeth checked out and that appointment was on my 16th
birthday. I have never felt the urge to go back to the dentist since.
My teeth have always been fine and I haven't suffered any problems with
them so it just didn't seem worth it. I probably wouldn't have gone today
if L hadn't made appointments for both of us. And my position seems to
have been justified. Apart from my wisdom teeth no longer being there (I
finally had them removed when I was seventeen - just over ten years ago)
and a tiny spot on one of my second incisors where decay had started and
then stopped years ago, my teeth are all fine.
Naturally, there was quite a build up of plaque - a left over from the days
when I didn't clean my teeth properly - but that was fairly easily removed
and now it's gone the brushing and mouthwash should keep it from coming
back too quickly.
All in all, it was exactly what I'd expected. However, I don't think I'll
leave it as long before my next appointment.
;-)
A Change in Season
It's odd how being just a few hundred miles north makes such a difference to things like when the sun rises and sets. We only spent a week in the Lake District but when we got back sunset was noticeably earlier than it was when we left. We now have to put lights on almost as soon as we get home from work as dusk descends. It's also darker when the alarm goes off in the morning.
Autumn is definitely upon us and the gloominess isn't the only sign. Outside our house a couple of trees suffered an explosion of colour while we were away as they became covered in red berries and their leaves began to lose their green hue.
It won't be long before the grass will crackle underfoot on the way to the station in the morning and small clouds of steaming breath will mark my progress down the street. My summer jacket is heading for the wardrobe and my winter coat returning in the opposite direction. Gloves and hat will soon be joining it.
The world is slowing down, getting ready to sleep through winter, hibernating until spring comes and it is time to wake again.
Autumn is definitely upon us and the gloominess isn't the only sign. Outside our house a couple of trees suffered an explosion of colour while we were away as they became covered in red berries and their leaves began to lose their green hue.
It won't be long before the grass will crackle underfoot on the way to the station in the morning and small clouds of steaming breath will mark my progress down the street. My summer jacket is heading for the wardrobe and my winter coat returning in the opposite direction. Gloves and hat will soon be joining it.
The world is slowing down, getting ready to sleep through winter, hibernating until spring comes and it is time to wake again.
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Upcoming
The following is a taste of what is likely to appear here over the next
few days. It will also serve as a handy reminder for me when I wake up
in the morning.
Further expansion of my new-found theme.
Posts about our holiday and my love of the Lake District.
How late Summer suddenly appears to have turned into Autumn.
A new regular feature.
Me getting back behind the wheel again after so long.
Barbeques and weather.
Plus some other random stuff, probably.
Enjoy!
few days. It will also serve as a handy reminder for me when I wake up
in the morning.
Further expansion of my new-found theme.
Posts about our holiday and my love of the Lake District.
How late Summer suddenly appears to have turned into Autumn.
A new regular feature.
Me getting back behind the wheel again after so long.
Barbeques and weather.
Plus some other random stuff, probably.
Enjoy!
The Basics
Okay, first of all the facts. I can attempt to put my feelings into words later but, for now, I'll limit myself to how, when etc. Though I doubt any of you really need me to explain the 'how' bit, do you? ;-)
L and I have been thinking of starting a family for some time. If I'm honest, it's always been what we wanted to do and it was only ever a matter of time before we got around to it.
We agreed that before we could start trying we wanted to have bought a house, own a car and be fairly financially stable. When we bought the car in June we worked out that we weren't spending anywhere near what we were earning and that there was no imminent prospect of that changing. With very little credit card debt and a couple of loans that will be paid off by early next year, it was obvious that we were as financially stable as we were likely to get. At that point the decision boiled down to a simple yes/no question: did we want children or not? The answer was a resounding yes.
Of course, we were prepared for the disappointment of it taking months, maybe even years - assuming we could have kids at all. What we weren't ready for was for it to take weeks. Two or three to be precise. All of a sudden, there was a positive test in the bin (Clear Blue, naturally) and we were faced with the realisation that we had changed our lives irrevocably. For the better, of course.
That was just over two months ago. By the way they work these things out, L is now almost 14 weeks gone, giving us a due date around the end of March / beginning of April. We always said we'd wait to tell anyone until after the first trimester and the only people to know earlier than that was the immediate family (and only then because our hand was pretty much forced by other circumstances).
And now, here we are. L had the first appointment with the midwife this morning and everything seems fine. We're into the second trimester and looking forward to the scan at 20 weeks (they don't do one at 12 in our health authority) and antenatal classes etc.
And, of course, looking forward to the day I can hold my own child in my arms. That will be a wonderful day.
L and I have been thinking of starting a family for some time. If I'm honest, it's always been what we wanted to do and it was only ever a matter of time before we got around to it.
We agreed that before we could start trying we wanted to have bought a house, own a car and be fairly financially stable. When we bought the car in June we worked out that we weren't spending anywhere near what we were earning and that there was no imminent prospect of that changing. With very little credit card debt and a couple of loans that will be paid off by early next year, it was obvious that we were as financially stable as we were likely to get. At that point the decision boiled down to a simple yes/no question: did we want children or not? The answer was a resounding yes.
Of course, we were prepared for the disappointment of it taking months, maybe even years - assuming we could have kids at all. What we weren't ready for was for it to take weeks. Two or three to be precise. All of a sudden, there was a positive test in the bin (Clear Blue, naturally) and we were faced with the realisation that we had changed our lives irrevocably. For the better, of course.
That was just over two months ago. By the way they work these things out, L is now almost 14 weeks gone, giving us a due date around the end of March / beginning of April. We always said we'd wait to tell anyone until after the first trimester and the only people to know earlier than that was the immediate family (and only then because our hand was pretty much forced by other circumstances).
And now, here we are. L had the first appointment with the midwife this morning and everything seems fine. We're into the second trimester and looking forward to the scan at 20 weeks (they don't do one at 12 in our health authority) and antenatal classes etc.
And, of course, looking forward to the day I can hold my own child in my arms. That will be a wonderful day.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Ready to go again
That's right, I have once again picked up my quill pen ready to transcribe my thoughts into this small corner of blogland. I hope you all had a nice summer. I certainly did, without the pressure of writing here every day (there were enough pressures elsewhere as it was).
L and I have just spent a week in the Lake District, trying to relax and rest and, while I don't feel particularly rejuvenated, I have come back with new inspiration and ideas for Clear Blue Skies.
More than that; for the first time I have a long-term theme for this blog. A theme that will, I'm sure, last as long as I feel like posting (and long after that, too). It is a theme that will quite naturally evolve as time goes by, with a fairly large-scale change in about six months or so.
So, what is this theme, you ask? Well, for the next six months or so I will be writing a lot about what impending fatherhood feels like. After that, I'll just drop the 'impending' bit.
I'm going to be a dad!
L and I have just spent a week in the Lake District, trying to relax and rest and, while I don't feel particularly rejuvenated, I have come back with new inspiration and ideas for Clear Blue Skies.
More than that; for the first time I have a long-term theme for this blog. A theme that will, I'm sure, last as long as I feel like posting (and long after that, too). It is a theme that will quite naturally evolve as time goes by, with a fairly large-scale change in about six months or so.
So, what is this theme, you ask? Well, for the next six months or so I will be writing a lot about what impending fatherhood feels like. After that, I'll just drop the 'impending' bit.
I'm going to be a dad!
Monday, July 12, 2004
Taking a rest
Have you ever had something important to say only to find that you can't find the right words? I've been trying to come up with an eloquent way of putting this but I haven't come up with anything so I'm just going to say it.
I'm giving Clear Blue Skies a rest.
There. I've said it, now. That wasn't so hard, was it?
I said, two weeks ago, that I was cutting back a bit. That I would still be posting, if more erratically than before. Well, I simply can't do it. Not being able to post every day is putting pressure on me to post when I can and I don't like that. It's not as if I don't have any content - I had planned to be currently filling my backblog with my exploits as I travelled from New Orleans to San Francisco at this time five years ago. That, and the imminent saga of me having to relearn how to drive, would have have given me enough material to last through most of the summer.
No, to cut a long story short, I'm not enjoying it any more. What I do manage to write, I don't like, but I can't get myself to write anything better. It's starting to depress me so I'm going to stop.
I'm not going to get rid of Clear Blue Skies completely - I may find that I want to start writing again in a few months. Ever the optimist, eh? And there's no way I'm going to quit blogland altogether. I will still be reading (and commenting on) a few of the blogs I really enjoy.
But, for now at least, I'm going to shelve the ideas I've got for future blogevents, put my never-ending quest for MBWLA points on hold and let my first blogday pass unnoticed.
Starting now, Dave is officially on hiatus. See you around.
I'm giving Clear Blue Skies a rest.
There. I've said it, now. That wasn't so hard, was it?
I said, two weeks ago, that I was cutting back a bit. That I would still be posting, if more erratically than before. Well, I simply can't do it. Not being able to post every day is putting pressure on me to post when I can and I don't like that. It's not as if I don't have any content - I had planned to be currently filling my backblog with my exploits as I travelled from New Orleans to San Francisco at this time five years ago. That, and the imminent saga of me having to relearn how to drive, would have have given me enough material to last through most of the summer.
No, to cut a long story short, I'm not enjoying it any more. What I do manage to write, I don't like, but I can't get myself to write anything better. It's starting to depress me so I'm going to stop.
I'm not going to get rid of Clear Blue Skies completely - I may find that I want to start writing again in a few months. Ever the optimist, eh? And there's no way I'm going to quit blogland altogether. I will still be reading (and commenting on) a few of the blogs I really enjoy.
But, for now at least, I'm going to shelve the ideas I've got for future blogevents, put my never-ending quest for MBWLA points on hold and let my first blogday pass unnoticed.
Starting now, Dave is officially on hiatus. See you around.
Monday, July 05, 2004
Car-Sharing
Talking of changing the way we treat the environment, there's quite a lot of discussion going on about these proposals to introduce special lanes on some parts of motorways for the exclusive use of cars with more than one person in them. This is an effort to get people to travel to and from work together and, if it can be made to work, could tremendously improve conditions on our most congested roads during rush hour. If congestion is reduced, then the amount of harmful gases released into the atmosphere by car exhausts would also reduce, which would be a fantastic outcome.
Now, I'm not going to write anything about the potential benefits/problems with this scheme beyond what I've said above. Instead, I'm going to start from the statement 'Car-sharing is a good thing and could help to reduce congestion (and, by extension, emissions)' and ask you how we can encourage people to do it more.
Could you give some sort of tax break to people who share journeys to work? Would a car-sharing scheme that could put people who live and work in the same area in contact help? If so, would you do it locally or nationally? Could companies be persuaded to set up schemes somehow?
Discussion of these and any other ideas is welcomed.
Now, I'm not going to write anything about the potential benefits/problems with this scheme beyond what I've said above. Instead, I'm going to start from the statement 'Car-sharing is a good thing and could help to reduce congestion (and, by extension, emissions)' and ask you how we can encourage people to do it more.
Could you give some sort of tax break to people who share journeys to work? Would a car-sharing scheme that could put people who live and work in the same area in contact help? If so, would you do it locally or nationally? Could companies be persuaded to set up schemes somehow?
Discussion of these and any other ideas is welcomed.
The Year After Next?
L and I went to see The Day After Tomorrow on Saturday afternoon. If you haven't seen it yet then I suggest you do before it leaves the big screen. Some of the effects are very good but would lose a lot of their impact if viewed on your average widescreen telly.
I really enjoyed it, not because of the special effects or the storylines of the characters in it, but because of the simplicity of the theme and the message that goes along with it. Quite simply, if we do not act now we could face catastrophic climate change.
The film depicts a worst-case scenario, where the shift is so sudden that most of the northern hemisphere is covered by ice within a couple of weeks. Critics have pointed this out and talked about scaremongering and in doing so seem to have completely missed the point. Anything less dramatic would not make people think any differently about the possible effects of climate change.
We need to start believing that change of this sort of magnitude is possible, even likely, if we continue to abuse the environment as we do now. It may not happen anywhere near as quickly as in the film (it wouldn't have been so dramatic if it had happened over a couple of years) but the key point is that once it starts to change, there would be very little we could do to stop and the civilised world would change beyond recognition.
It is possible that it is already too late for us to do anything about it but if we don't try to change our treatment of the environment, on both large and small scales, and waste whatever chance we may have then we will only have ourselves to blame.
I really enjoyed it, not because of the special effects or the storylines of the characters in it, but because of the simplicity of the theme and the message that goes along with it. Quite simply, if we do not act now we could face catastrophic climate change.
The film depicts a worst-case scenario, where the shift is so sudden that most of the northern hemisphere is covered by ice within a couple of weeks. Critics have pointed this out and talked about scaremongering and in doing so seem to have completely missed the point. Anything less dramatic would not make people think any differently about the possible effects of climate change.
We need to start believing that change of this sort of magnitude is possible, even likely, if we continue to abuse the environment as we do now. It may not happen anywhere near as quickly as in the film (it wouldn't have been so dramatic if it had happened over a couple of years) but the key point is that once it starts to change, there would be very little we could do to stop and the civilised world would change beyond recognition.
It is possible that it is already too late for us to do anything about it but if we don't try to change our treatment of the environment, on both large and small scales, and waste whatever chance we may have then we will only have ourselves to blame.
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