Cockermouth - It's more than a name

I have been a having a lovely relaxing time so far. I still haven't managed to sleep through the night. Feel a bit like the puffy-eyed monster (not that I am complaining because, frankly, I am in the UK and you, most likely, are not). I am loving the weather. It is cold and keeps promising snow. Sadly the brazen hussy that is the weather keeps promising but not delivering, instead teasing me with flurries of snow and frosty mornings.

Yesterday, Grandad took me out for a Christmas dinner at lunch time. It was a HUGE meal and you got a pint of beer all for £6.99! Afterwards, I waddled out, unable to breath correctly due to the massive meal sitting in my gut, and went back to grandads. I had done some shopping for grandad earlier and I thought that it was the perfect time to give him his Christmas gifts. Here is a picture of him holding up the bottle of whiskey, Williams tea-towel and he is wearing his new jumper which he keeps telling me is 'champion'. He says that he has not been this warm before, and even his stomach is warm - bless. If he asks, it was not expensive. I don't think it was, but Grandad might disagree. He deserves to be spoilt just a bit. He certainly has spoilt me while I have been here.

We had toasties from the toasted sandwich maker that I had bought him. I showed him how to use it, and I would like to think that it will be his new thing for snacks. His current snack making tool is a deep fryer for chips that, to be honest, has seen better days, and smokes like you wouldn't believe. He put it on the other day in the room with the sink, and it was so smokey that he had to open the door - outside, in the cold - to let it escape.
I am fast learning how to save money on all sorts of things in the house, thanks to him, and I swear the only reason he is still going strong is because of the old addage, 'what doesn't kill you, make you stronger'. He is hardy, my grandad. Oh, and when I was talking to him the other day, he also, in passing says to me we are related to Winston Churchill. So there you go. Us Allaker's are related to THE Churchill! Distantly, but still related. How cool is that!!! He says his memory is going, but he remembers far more than I do!

Today I woke at the grand time of 4.30am, lay in bed for a bit then Billy texted (thank the gods! Something to do!) I was heading over to Cockermouth in the Lake District that morning so went for a walk around the shops in Consett because everything was covered in a thick white frost that looked like snow. Can you believe that there were markets on! It is 0 degrees outside and here they were, these hardy souls, selling shoes and sweets and meats. And it was busy! I thought to try out wearing tights and a dress today too. Started out well. Was very confident that it wouldn't be too bad. That was before the wind chill and the damp. But the one thing that I am learning is that it might be bitterly cold outside but it is VERY warm inside. It is just a matter of balancing the cold vs. the hot. I think I am about an achieved level at the moment. Pretty average and only passing... just. I am glad for my thermals. Never would have believed that something so thin could bring someone so much joy and warmth. Between the thermals, my woolen coat, gloves and scarf, I am doing well. Oh, and Mary, really glad that I didn't go for the waist coat. It would definately not be enough for a Consett winter.

My uncle Jim drove me down to the Lakes. I was feeling a bit green by the end of the trip. It was some old roads that make your stomach drop when you go over a dip. It kept promising snow. Damned hussy! By the time we arrived at Uncle Jims I was grateful to be out of the car. I don't like being a passenger on long drives, I have decided. The sun tried to make a break through, but bless it, it was too foggy... or perhaps we were in the hills and actually driving through the clouds... It sounds cool, but when you can't see a hand in front of you, it was pretty stressful, and uncle Jim drives like he owns a porsche... oh wait, he does.

We arrived into Cockermouth around 12.30pm and since then, Aunty Pauline and I have been for a walk around the newly renovated town. It looks simply beautiful. And for my English junky teachers, Cockermouth is the town where William Wordsworth was born and raised. I even took a photo of his house which is now a museum.

I really do love the buildings here. We stopped into the church and had a look at the glass windows and the amazing architecture. I was doing some reading on it, and it has been on that site in one form or another since medieval times (of course, it has had to survive wars and fires and floods, so I think the current church in only about 250 years old...)