A Week in The Lake District: Hard Graft, Good Ale and Headspace

These last few days I’ve been away for work, well, I say work it was actually to do some work on my parents cabin – Ullswater Cabin at Neaum Crag in The Lake District so it wasn’t a paid job as such, so I unfortunately didn’t have the resources to send my highly skilled guys from John F. White Ltd Cabinetmakers, also we were pretty busy, so I was going to do it myself.

To be honest I kinda wanted to… Obviously I didn’t like the thought of leaving my family at home but these jobs needed doing.

The dog (Woody) and I left after bath time on the Tuesday night, I had a big to-do-list and I wanted to attack it first thing on the Wednesday. The M6 is a dream after 7pm, I’ve done this journey many times in my life and this was probably the fastest!

As I turned up the dark lane which would lead me to The Cabin, a bloody big badger ran out in front of me, I didn’t know that they were an animal that lived, I thought that they were only ever roadkill…

Upon arrival I unloaded the necessities and climbed into bed, I wanted to be well rested ready for the big day that followed.

I woke before my alarm, which is totally unlike me, I thought about the day ahead, then thought “OH S**T” I had forgotten my spirit level… I formulated a plan and put it to the back of my mind. (I had a lightbulb moment later that day, my Dad had one stashed away in The Cabin)

First things first, Woody needed a walk, so I took him “up the top” which is what my family and I call a tiny little hill at the top of the park called Crag Head, it’s a lovely little fell which looks out over Loughrigg Tarn and Fell, Elterwater, The Langdale Pikes and The Tibberthwaite Fells. So no matter where you look, there is a view.

Whilst on our way up I paused to look for some reason, and there was a deer, staring me straight in the face, we both froze, I slowly pulled my phone out of my pocket to take a photo, unusually he/she remained still long enough and I got a photo.

A hard days graft followed, I’m no stranger to one of these but this was serious, it had soon became apparent I had bitten off more than I could chew, the thought of a beer at the end kept me going.

The Britannia Inn was that reward and a beautiful pint of Bowfell Bitter it was. There is nothing better than a pint of ale after a hard day’s graft! As I sat and quaffed my ale I analysed my day, I had done really well on my own and Woody had caught some serious sun!

Day two started the same, with a walk up the top to take in the views, I could seriously get used to this I thought. As I walked back down a wedge of swans noisily flew above us, a serious formation oh and loud! AND… It doesn’t end there, as I opened the door to go out and start I saw a red squirrel! The wildlife was off the chain!!!

More hard work was done, and again the evening beer kept me going, which this night was in Ambleside and the Royal Oak followed by a beer at The Golden Rule, Woody was the best pub dog as usual, attracting the usual comments of “I wish my dog was as well behaved” and “It’s clear you’ve worn him out…” I smile and nod and try not to say… “Not really, he’s just a lazy sod!”

 

Remember those noisy swans? Well the buggers woke me this morning! Thursdays big day had bought me an easier Friday, it was a day filled with little fiddly jobs which every Tradie knows takes the time! But, the sun was shining again, an absolute rarity in The Lakes and I got it all done by late afternoon.

I headed for Grasmere and took Woody a walk, I looked up at Helm Crag, Tarn Crag and the amazing Sour Milk Gill, I paused for a moment and watched a heron flying through the valley, I thought: “don’t they fly slow?” and as I thought that exact thought, it took a massive poo mid flight! Maybe that will help him fly faster?

So, here I am, sat in my local, reminiscing about the last few days. It’s been a real pleasure. Hard work, yes… but the good kind. The type you feel in your hands, your muscles and your bones. It’s rare these days that I get stuck into some proper graft, real woodwork, good honest work.

No disrespect to the office world, I mostly live in that world too now, so I know its worth! But there’s something different about working with your hands. Something grounding and real.

There’s no feeling quite like finishing a day of it. That satisfaction hits you as you step back, look at what you’ve made, and know you’ve done that.

Also being out there, in the fresh air, with the sun on your face… that’s been the real bonus. Surrounded by nature, noticing the small things, the wildlife, the sounds… it all adds something you don’t get within four walls or on a building site. It slows you down, in the best possible way.

So, as I sit here finishing this, a half-finished pint of Spun Gold Ale on the table, I realise I’ve been doing a fair bit of soliloquizing this week (a word I picked up last night while reading in the quiet corner of the pub). Turns out, a bit of time on your own will do that to you, I’ve played it off as talking to the pooch, but truth is I’ve full on been chatting with myself. Something I haven’t done since the COVID 19 Lockdown.

It’s been a real pleasure being up here. Surrounded by nature, blessed with some incredible weather, and given the chance to get stuck into some proper woodwork, the kind that reminds me who I am and what I’m capable of.

I won’t lie to you… there’s a part of me that could quite happily stay in this slower lane a bit longer. Away from the noise, the rush, the constant pull of the rat race.

But I am really looking forward to getting home. Back to my girls. Back to my own space.

And while I’ll miss the freedom of pleasing myself, talking to myself, moving at my own pace (Which has had to be pretty damn quick!) And doing what I want, when I want, it’s not something I’d choose over them.

A bit of time away to reset… then back to where I belong.

Do more of what makes you YOU!!

TM

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