Forget The Resolutions, Just Enjoy It!

2012: A New Year...A Time for Resolutions!
Well, maybe for some. I myself haven’t bothered to go as far as making any new year’s resolutions as I can’t think of a reason why I would want to make myself miserable or disappointed in a few weeks or months time when I fail to keep them. A New Year is just another year in our lives and we can make it a good year or an even better year than the last; or we can just continue the way we were at one minute to 12 on New Year’s Eve, thus eliminating any unnecessary pressure we might be about to put on ourselves.

When I hear people say things like ‘I’m glad that year’s over and done with, bring on the next’ it makes me quite sad because I for one would rather not wipe the previous year off the table and forget it in its entirety. Even if it was the ‘worst’ year in the history of the world, surely we can always find something that was good, that made us happy and that is worth holding onto.

So for 2012, instead of resolutions, I pledge to enjoy it as much as I can and be as happy as I can for myself and others– even in the face of adversity, setbacks and challenges that may come my way. So let’s break open the champers and have a bloody good year!

January may still be cold but to prevent hibernation, wrap up warm & head outside for a wintry walk...certain to take away those winter blues!

A Wintry Walk in the Lake District

Autumn in the Lakes

Tarn Hows

"nowhere else have I seen wood and water, hill and valley, greensward and purple heather, rugged crag and velvet slope, grey rock and bright blossoming shrubs brought under the eye at once in such magnificent contrast" - Alexander Craig Gibson (The Old Man; or Ravings and Ramblings around Conistone, 1849).

When you think of all the colours of Autumn you think of reds, oranges, golds, yellows and browns. Walking along the path around Tarn Hows in the South Lakes you can see all these colours and many more. The Autumn reflections of the conifers creep across the water and cause you to take a double glance at which is tree and which is reflection. Between the seventh and ninth centuries when the Viking settlers arrived from Scandinavia, they left their mark on the Lakes through their language. The word 'Tarn' comes from the Norse word 'tjorn', which means 'teardrop'. 'Hows' comes from the Norse word, 'haugr', which means 'hill'. So Tarn Hows is 'a small lake set amongst the rolling hills'. In 1929 Beatrix Potter bought 4000 acres of land which included Tarn Hows, before leaving it to the National Trust which has preserved the area for us and future generations to see.

A bit of info...

It is easy to walk around the tarn as there is a relatively flat 1.5 mile circular path, making it accessible for wheelchairs, buggies and young and old! Although 600ft up in the hills, it is easy to reach the top by car via a narrow B-road. Then all you have to do is park up and off you go! Click here for a map of the area.


Don't miss...
Tarn Hows is located close to the tiny village of Hawkshead. You could easily spend the afternoon wandering around the lovely gift shops, taking a stroll up to the 17th Century Church of St Michael and All Angels which overlooks the village; before relaxing in one of the charming tearooms for a cream tea (one of my favourite things to do!) If that's not enough, visit the Old Grammar School where its most famous student, William Wordsworth once studied or take a trip to the Beatrix Potter Gallery. Just down the road in Near Sawrey you will find Hill Top Farm, home of Beatrix Potter - one of the Lake District's greatest admirers.

View from St Michael and All Angels Church, Hawkshead

St Michael and All Angels Church, Hawkshead

Hawkshead houses

Autumn Leaves

View from Sawrey House (next to Hill Top Farm)

The view from Sawrey House (next to Hill Top Farm)

Hill Top Farm (home of Beatrix Potter)

And finally, this blog wouldn't be complete without a hello from
Peter Rabbit and friends at Hill Top Farm!