The truth about swans

My ten year old stood and watched a swan preening itself on the choppy, chilly waters of Talkin Tarn this morning. He was thoroughly engrossed for a few minutes, and as we continued on our way round the lake he asked if people kept swans as pets. So we quickly replied that the Queen keeps them and they all belong to her. Then came the inevitable "why?" followed by much scratching of heads and shrugging of shoulders. It's like that moment on QI when you know you have just said something and actually, erm, it might just be one of those urban myths.

So I decided to check out the truth about swans and the Queen. And I didn't even need to wade into the murky waters of Wikipedia as the first site that came up was The British Monarchy. 

During the 12th century the Crown claimed ownership of all mute swans. In those days swans were a delicacy at banquets, so the royals wanted all of them for themselves. Well, you would, wouldn't you?

Today all mute swans in open water still technically belong to the monarch, but the Queen, God bless her cotton socks, only exercises her right to them on certain stretches of the Thames and its surrounding tributaries.

Each summer considerable pomp attaches to a ceremony known as Swan Upping, where various costumed officials row the Thames on six skiffs for five days, counting swans and cygnets. The cygnets are weighed and measured and swans are given a health check. School children are invited to take part in this historical ceremony. 

I wonder if I will remember all this next time someone asks me why swans belong to the Queen.

Merry Christmas to you all and if we didn't see you in 2013 we will try and get your way next year.

The Next Act at Platform 4

Carlisle Community Choir have been together since October 2012 and trod the boards in public for the first time yesterday at Carlisle's Citadel Railway Station.  We serenaded passengers as they arrived and waited for trains and were featured in this Radio Cumbria round-up report. We are about 45 minutes in and you can hear some of our singing and comments from our audience.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p018rbsz

There are a few video clips on the Carlisle Community Choir Facebook Page to look at if you have sufficient interest in our fledgling musical adventure.

spring blossoms

Spring has come early this year! Despite yesterday's snow and an unwelcome drop in temperature over the last few windy days the flowers in the garden are doing very well. Double blossoms on the Japanese flowering cherry, plenty of daffodils up the drive and even the tiny little daffodils which I forgot to plant until a few weeks ago are showing plenty of bright spring colour.

the firework maker's daughter in keswick

Keswick on a cold January morning, shivering in thin winter sunlight. A short walk through Ashness Wood where we look down at the bright waters of Derwentwater before a  hearty picnic of cheese sandwiches, Christmas cake and fresh pineapple chunks.

Then a brief drive to the lakeside and we buy tickets to see The Firework Maker's Daughter by Philip Pullman at the Theatre by the Lake. We take our seats at the very back of the auditorium and look at the assortment of bronze gongs and xylophones at the sides of the stage that make up the gamelan orchestra. Despite the distance from the stage our lofty perch allows us to see all the action, although seats at the front would certainly mean we would  see the actors' expressions more easily. The house lights dim and we watch expectantly as the gamelan players start to create an oriental setting with their instruments. Young dancers shimmy across the stage and we are transported far away to Indonesia where Lila is trying to wheedle the secret of firework making from her father Lalchand. Her quest to find Royal Sulphur takes her on a long and dangerous journey to the Emerald Lake and the volcano at Mount Merapi. Along the way she is helped by Hamlet, a talking elephant, and a motley crew of would-be pirates who provide plenty of comedy.

Two hours later and we are discussing our favourite bits over chips on the way home. We love the shadow imagery at the back of the stage - tall umbrellas, pagodas, palm trees, Chinese lanterns all conjured up in light and shade.  The funny pirates. And the soundtrack of discordant  gongs and cymbals as well as barbershop harmonies and the gentle vocals made by the actors visiting the lakeside home of the Goddess. Sam is still singing snatches of "A Million Rupee Idea" as we get home. All in all a very good start to 2012 and a lovely way to spend a bank holiday Monday. Who needs the West End?

Ashness Bridge

Looking across Derwentwater to Catbells

edinburgh great run

Next Sunday I will be running 10 km (6.25 miles) through the streets of Edinburgh! The race is the Edinburgh Great Run and the course goes through the ancient (and hilly!) heart of the city as well as Holyrood Park. From what I can see there will be bands playing in another park (The Meadows) and between 7K and 8K we will be running past Edinburgh Castle.

I have received my race number: 9362 if you happen to be tuned in to Channel 5 where the whole event will be covered from 9.30 am!

Cumbria Wheelchair Sports Club does a great deal to promote sports for disabled people, including basketball, tennis, athletics and rugby. The costs of providing sports chairs for athletes to use is high so if you could sponsor me, the money would be put to really good use and I know a lot of people who would be happy to have better, faster chairs!

visit by dan and isobel

canadian canoeing

It was such a hot afternoon today. I'd planned to go down to Ullswater and have a good walk in the sunshine. After about 5 minutes of walking we were pretty tired so when we came across a boat house hiring out rowing boats and Canadian canoes we jumped at the chance to cool down. Wearing  life jackets probably had the opposite effect, but we all enjoyed paddling around on the lake for an hour. Luckily Sam didn't hear the nice lady warning us that the canoes capsize quite easily, or realise the significance of the waterproof bag I was asked to put my rucksack in.

Spring Flowers

Click on the picture to view slideshow.

.



may day lichen

OK, so I took this in April but I just love the detail on the lichen. Happy May Day!

A long walk up little Latrigg

Latrigg is a small pimple of a hill. No really, it is not classed as one of the toughest of the northern Fells. At an elevation of just 368m it is one of the lowest fells in the Lake District. But this long, dark and frost-nipped winter has provided too many excuses to get out on even the shortest of walks. So today's prolonged walk has left my feet aching long after finishing the walk. It is always a steep ascent to the summit and today was no exception. The views from the top were lovely. The low cloud had lifted by the time we reached the top and we looked down on Keswick, its white houses squeezed between Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite. Across the water the sun shone mildly on the soft green peaks behind Catbells. Feasting on cheese sandwiches we shivered at the top before heading off eastwards down towards Threlkeld and back along the old railway path to Keswick.

 

 

 Today's highlights were:

 

It didn't rain enough for us to have to switch to Plan B - an afternoon in the swimming pool.
Seeing about a hundred different shades of green.
Fresh, clean air and good company for all of us.

Completing a six mile walk.

Coming home to a warm house and tea already cooked. (Thanks, Steve!)

Autumn in Caldbeck

A walk we had in early autumn by the river in Caldbeck.