Inside, outside, no contest

Mr FF went down to Manchester yesterday for meetings and after some deliberation, 3 hours each way car journey v day in the garden, I decided to do the decent thing and go with him, especially as I knew he had an early start and would be finished in the afternoon so we could call in at The Lake District on our way back.

We were up before 6 am, quick showers and away, we stopped off at one of his favourite truck stops for coffee and bacon rolls en route and made good time. I hadn't been sure what to do with myself while Mr FF was busy and eventually asked him to drop me off at the Trafford Centre which wasn't too far from his first appointment. Big mistake, I'm not a fan of shopping malls at the best of times, I much prefer to be outdoors, and this one was an ornate shrine to consumerism. All the usual high street shops, nothing whatsoever individual, lots of fast food outlets with the one redeeming place, Carluccio's an Italian deli and restaurant where I had an excellent coffee and bought this tea towel. The lovely sales girl also gave me a couple of postcards and a carrier bag with the same design.

I was soon bored and spent quite a while sitting waiting inside as there was nothing but car parking outside, though I did pick up the makings of a picnic so that we could get straight to the Lakes. Mr FF collected me up around 2 and we were in the National Park in less than 1.5 hours, where we found the perfect spot. A National Trust property with parkland right down to Lake Windermere that was full of people enjoying the sunshine in a very British way. Picnics, folding chairs, blankets were in abundance and every possible game was taking place, cricket, football, frisbee, canoes and kayaks were on the water finding their way round the swimmers and splashers, it was a delight to see so many people making their own entertainment in such a gentile way. I had my book Mr FF had the paper and we soaked in the sun, took a stroll along the lakeside and watched the fun. I did overhear a mother tell her little girl not to venture into the bushes as a very large squirrel lived there, I looked but I couldn't see it.

Late afternoon we went to one of our favourite Lakeland tea shops for a good brew and cakes sitting outside by the river. We know how to enjoy ourselves and it doesn't involve multi million pound buildings full of statues, fountains and run of the mill shops, just beautiful scenery, good fresh air and massive slices of carrot cake.