Giant Haystacks, & staff Quidditch trials

Of all the slightly strange things that have happened since moving to the Lake District almost a year ago, the events of last Tuesday night have to be right up there. I'd been working at Honister again during the day, and even though the weather was miserable, come 9pm (& back down in Borrowdale) I needed to get outside for some fresh air. It's an uncomplicated 7km run on the road to Seathwaite and back, and in the wind, rain, & with the single beam from a headtorch you become totally enveloped in the moment. I couldn't say which I prefer, running in the darkness or the daylight, they both other such a different experience that it goes beyond a simple matter of preference. It never escapes my notice though, how we almost need the presence of darkness in our lives, how we need it to help make sense of certain things. Anyway....I digress. It is very unusual to meet anyone else out and about at that time of night, even the road is more often that not totally car free. But as I reached the end of the road, I saw a man crouched down behind the wall holding a torch and a pair of binoculars. Even though it must have been apparent that I'd seen him, and even for a moment after I'd asked if he was alright, he continued to stay there, crouched down. I thought at first he was a disorientated walker who had got lost & stumbled down off the fells. But then he finally moved, spoke, and asked me, "what's going on here?" I replied, stating what I thought was fairly obvious, that I was just out on a run. It took a few minutes for me to convince him of this - he couldn't quite believe that anyone would be out running at this time of night, & in the wind and rain. It turned out that this gentleman was the owner of the farm at Seathwaite, & he had thought that I was a sheep rustler, or at least someone up to no good. Once we'd cleared all this up though, we actually had a very pleasant conversation - mostly about the newly resurfaced road, & the history of all the previous times it had been resurfaced (I wasn't doing much of the talking at this point). I recorded my fastest time on the run home. 

A few days later I was working the evening kitchen shift with Bianca, when Zach walked in from reception & put up a meal tab for what seemed to be one hundred and eleven samosas. "Erm, Bianca....I'm not sure we have enough of the crescent moon shaped plates for that?" Bianca looked at the order, issued a muted 'arrrrrrghhh' (complete with dramatic hand gestures), and said "I keep telling Zach to write actual numbers rather than doing a tally!" Plate shortage panic over. Later that night, back in the staff house, a few of us stayed up chatting nonsense & watched Bianca trying to complete an obstacle course around the living room. It was then that I first had the idea to create an underground Borrowdale news station, nothing fake, all happy, such as an un-lost cat being found. Simon has agreed to interview the fortunate moggy. Transmission could be a bit of a problem - we don't really pick up radio this deep into the valley, so it might have to be via the blog, instead. 

After a fairly busy week at work, and times when I was really feeling quite tired, I was glad to have some days off. I actually had four in a row lined up, and once I'd caught up on some sleep I was looking forward to getting outside to do some running, swimming, & general exploring. It was late afternoon on Saturday when I took off around Buttermere - all part of the plan really as it would be quieter then, & more chance of an undiscovered skinny dip! I managed two actually, and was having so much fun I needed my headtorch to get me back to where I'd parked. The weather on Sunday was just lovely, and after listening to the Australian Open final through Bianca's phone I headed out for a run up Haystacks, & a skinny dip in Blackbeck Tarn. I bumped into an elderly gentleman just by the top of Honister Pass - we got chatting, and he asked me quite seriously if Haystacks was named after the wrestler 'Giant Haystacks'? It took me a moment before I was able to answer, "Erm.....I don't think so, but don't let that stop you having a good day!" That had me smiling for quite a while, not that it was a day that was short of smiles. In fact, as I later told my friend Lizzi - I spent most of the day smiling like a lion. Sometimes I find that a typo (lion/loon) can actually enhance the sentiment behind a message. Skinny dipping was not so straightforward on this occasion - as I was running up past the tarns there were people at both Blackbeck & Innominate. I also couldn't fail to notice that there was a fair amount of ice around the most accessible shorelines. But I was not to be deterred. By the time I had reached the summit & run back on myself, the people had moved on. I skirted round the edge of Blackbeck Tarn, took all my clothes off & got straight in for a quick swim. 

When I got back to Borrowdale and the staff house, I was so, so excited to see that Dave had returned from his holidays! It must have been before Christmas since we'd both been in the valley, and I would often find myself missing his company (and the same with Glen, & Rhys). I was especially delighted to see that he was wearing his orange/yellow jacket - & I asked if he wouldn't mind being the golden snitch when I organised a date for our staff Quidditch trials. At the moment though it is only Bianca & myself who have actually signed up. This surprises me slightly as I posted the notice on the fridge door, & made it quite clear that no previous experience was required. Simon then appeared eating several Kit-Kats, & he started asking what I'd been up to that afternoon. I told him about the running, skinny dipping, & the man who thought a Lake District mountain was named after a wrestler. Simon thought about this for a moment before informing me that Wainwright's ashes were scattered somewhere by the top of Haystacks. "If any of them ended up in that tarn, Wainwright might have been caressing your body this afternoon." Then, changing the subject, we spent the rest of the evening until Match of the Day came on assigning all the staff with wrestling names.

Eskdale adventures, & a C de B tribute video

The working week finished for me on Friday at 4pm. It was one of those cold, clear, impossibly fresh Lake District evenings, so I took straight off up Castle Crag to watch the sunset. From the front door of YHA Borrowdale it’s only a short run/walk to the top, and although it’s not of any significant height (in Lake District terms) it affords the most incredible views. Castle Crag is usually a popular spot, but on this occasion I watched the sky change through every muted shade of pink, yellow, and orange in contemplative solitude. Not a day goes by without appreciating what an unspeakably beautiful place this is to live, work, and simply be. I ran back to the hostel as the stars began to appear, and couldn’t have been happier to find Hanna making a large batch of pancakes for everyone! 

I headed over to Eskdale on Saturday to visit Mick and Rachel for the weekend, and to go for a trail run with Harry (owner of the Woolpack). This run had been planned a week ago, and although I was slightly concerned that Harry would be way too fast for my ambling pace, the promise of finding the best pools in the upper Esk valley for a swim was too tempting to pass up.  I needn’t have been worried, though. Harry quite happily and graciously put up with my general slowness, and it turned out to be quite some adventure/explore. Harry had the tendency to say, “let’s go this way!” on a regular basis, the result of which was often sinking below ankle deep into boggy ground, and crossing rivers up to the knees. I suspect that I enjoyed this part more than Harry though, especially considering that when the right location presented itself I would be going for a full blown swim! Harry was not in the least bit tempted by this, but he did kindly run on so that I could strip off and have a skinny dip! It was a truly magical afternoon with a huge expanse of blue sky over the Scafell range, and the promise of watching Mick & Rachel’s dog eating spaghetti later on hung in the air! Mick proudly showed me his article in Cumbria Life magazine, and said, “It’s funny really, because no one can tell from looking at the photo that my trousers were nearly falling down!” He was absolutely right – I hadn’t the slightest idea. The weather was not as favourable on Sunday, low cloud and grey, but I hit the trails once again. Although I ran in the same place, it was a very different experience this time around. That’s always the case with everything; different thoughts, different conditions, we are never the same person as we were yesterday. However minutely, life is constantly changing yet at the same time being maintained. I very much enjoyed running with Harry, but a solo run presented a greater freedom when it came to skinny dipping! I went in twice this time, and probably because of the weather, I never saw another soul all afternoon. I headed back to Borrowdale Sunday evening, but not before witnessing Rachel trying to surf/roll down the corridor on a cricket stump (found behind the fridge). 

Monday was the start of volunteers week at YHA Honister - & I was 'entrusted' with overseeing the various painting and cleaning tasks up the hill. It was good to spend some time at another hostel, & with a really great team of volunteers. Things started to get a little strange though when I headed down the road. It began when Chris was showing me his newly rearranged office, and let it slip that he was only about two steps away from getting a cobra in a tank. To be honest though, I think he probably has some way to go before he descends to that kind of ultra high powered managerial mentality - he currently has a lava lamp on his desk, & he managed to put one of the hostel awards the wrong way round. But, as long as you don't examine too closely, he is definitely able to pull of the "That guy knows what he's doing!" look which he currently striving for. 

Back in the staff house Tref kindly put some Chris de Burgh videos on his iPad for me to watch & listen to while his was cooking his dinner. He emerged from the kitchen area a little while later, and looking at his plate I asked, "Are you eating a whole chicken, Tref?" He glanced at both Bianca (recently promoted to Catering manager) and myself before replying...."erm no, it's an omelette!" I thought it was quite an easy mistake to make, but I'm not sure I'll be let in the hostel kitchen unaccompanied ever again. We swiftly turned our attention to planning Tref's first music video as a Chris de Burgh tribute act. Tref already had a grand vision in his mind - 'we can film Don't Pay the Ferryman down on Derwent Water!' It's brilliant. Pure genius. I'm just not really sure how well it will go down with the owner of the Keswick Launch when we inform him that we won't be paying him until he gets us to the other side. 

Time sensitive triangles, & a return to the Lakes

A week ago now, my last day up in Aviemore was not uneventful. The snow was even deeper, & my cousin's next door neighbours kindly offered me a lift up to Glenmore as they were headed that way for some family sledging. It was a bit of a squeeze getting five of us in their small car, though (as well as the two baby/child seats). But we managed, and headed up the road with Baa Baa Black Sheep (& other nursery rhymes) on full blast so as to keep the kids happy, & drown out the sound of the broken exhaust. They let me out by the side of the Loch, & (still wearing shorts) I began my run cross country back to Aviemore. My route took me up to Rothiemurchus Lodge, by which time the snow was at least knee deep in places. This made running pretty tough going, and the few people I did see either looked at me slightly impressed or as if I was some sort of escapee. The sun was shining, with large patches of blue sky, and it was one of those days which made me feel so utterly alive and filled with joy.  

I drove back to Borrowdale the following morning - a journey that was not so much measured in time, but by how many times I could listen to Chris de Burgh's latest album (just over 6). The staff house was fairly quiet when I returned, with several people being away on holiday and that sort of thing. But I did see Bianca almost immediately, and we stood outside admiring the recently created garden paths, and watched a Robin hop about on a branch. I told Bianca that Robins are my favourite type of bird, apart from Toucans..."but I don't think we get those here." Hanna also appeared a little later on, and the conversation went almost exactly like this: 

"Hey, Kirsten! Do you want some pizza bases? There's loads in the freezer which need eating....that's what I'm having for my tea." 

"Just that?"

"I've also got loads of tomato sauce paste, it has been open for a while, but I think it smells ok. I can't really tell though....I've got a cold. Oh...and I have all these mushrooms, a few have gone mouldy but the rest will be fine....do you want me to make you a pizza?" 

"Thanks, but I think I'm ok." 

I was happy to find that everything was as normal at YHA Borrowdale. And...speaking of all things YHA, Chris informed me one afternoon that he'd love a knitted jumper with a big YHA logo on the front. "You know, with the oldest type of YHA triangle?" 

"I didn't realise that triangles were time sensitive?"

"Well, when you put it like that...I suppose any three sided shape would do." 

Chris, if it's possible, seems to be excelling himself when it comes to slightly off the wall ideas. First there was the 'sticky table test', which involved pitting a varnished table against a sanded table, placing various items on top & seeing which the mugs stuck to more. That was all very well until Bianca wandered in, and asked why the heck there were napkins, teapots, and mugs of hot water strewn over two dining room tables. "Don't move them.....the competition still has ten minutes to go!" 

That was nothing though compared to his plan to revolutionise staff training at YHA Borrowdale. How I allowed myself to be talked into doing a spot of 'acting' for these inspirational videos, I'm not entirely sure! But one thing is for certain - Chris had a lot of editing to do in order to put together a minute of footage in which I wasn't laughing. Despite that, I am fully expecting an Oscar nomination, and a legacy of countless generations of motivated and well informed YHA team members. 

I spoke to Mick and Rachel at Eskdale during the week - a well timed phone call as it turned out, as it meant I was able to listen to Rachel eating Cornflakes. After a few moments of that though, she put Mick on the phone. He was telling me how he has a double page spread in the next issue of Cumbria Life magazine (modelling men's lingerie topless). Rachel was later able to inform me that this wasn't entirely accurate - it was actually about his art work! There was also something in the conversation about a JCB digger accidentally cutting power to the valley, and a strange request for Mick to obtain a sheep to be slaughtered (definitely not granted).  

The highlight of the week though, apart from an invigorating nighttime skinny dip in Blackmoss Pot, was when Tref sang not one, but two Chris de Burgh songs to me whilst sat behind Reception. It may actually have been one of the ten greatest moments of my life, and there is no doubt that Tref has an exciting future as a C de B tribute act (should he want it). It's good to be back. 

2.5 kidneys, & every available Chris de Burgh video

It has been an extended Christmas break for me, a gap in between contracts, and a chance to spend time with family in both Cheshire and Scotland. I'm actually still in Aviemore as I write this, the snow has arrived, and everything feels pretty magical. I'll be returning to the Lake District tomorrow though, and I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone there. I've been reminded again of the importance of taking time away, even from something you love, and from a place that feels like home. 

It certainly hasn't been a quiet, uneventful three weeks, though! In fact, if anything, things became even more chaotic. That is the absolute maddening joy of having a big family. On the morning I was traveling down, I received a text message from my mum. 'Just to let you know - Rob, Claire, Maeve, Claire, James, Oscar, Rory, Jen, Hamish, & Brian are here today. You might have to sleep in your van.' To be fair, it's likely that I would have been kicked out of the house anyway....something to do with playing indoor rugby & bows and arrows with my niece and nephew (much to the disapproval of my lovely but order-loving step dad). I think the tipping point was when I suggested that we all had a scrum in the middle of the living room. The world was soon afforded a little peace though, as one by one, Rob, Claire, & I came down with a 'killer' bought of the flu. The most worrying symptom of the illness was my sudden lack of desire to eat chocolate, & a close second was being awake at 3 in the morning trying to explain to my mum why we wouldn't make very good Russians. After a week in bed, and having watched every available Chris de Burgh video on YouTube, I was at long last able to leave the house. The destination was Snowdonia, for a little walk, and to call in at Rory & Jen's for a 'coo-eee' & a cup of tea. Rory was actually out on a Llanberis Mountain Rescue call out when we arrived, & Jen wasn't back from her long, long run. So we spent the intervening time searching their kitchen cupboards for some regular tea bags.  

Perhaps one of the most interesting/bizarre conversations I had over the festive period was a Whatsapp chat with my friend Jane. I can't quite remember the dialogue that preceded her saying, 'I have two and a half kidneys', but that & what followed was fairly memorable. My initial reaction (after verifying that said information was not a typo) was one of astonishment - that I had known her for so long, but didn't know this. "How is that not the first thing you ever told me about yourself? Surely you must introduce yourself to everyone with your name and then that bit of information?" I was then keen to know whether this extra half kidney was there by accident or design, and if it worked and she didn't need it had she ever considered selling it on eBay? Apparently she hadn't, but thinking it to be an excellent idea she went to look into it straight away. After a brief silence I received another message from Jane, "I've added a description of the item....one (fairly) careful owner, but I'm not really sure how the 'buyer collects' option is going to work." 

It hasn't all been madness, though. On the quieter side of things, the quieter side which everyone knows is really a raging storm, a chance to think. We throw ourselves headlong into other things to avoid this place, or at least to avoid experiencing it all at once. I was chatting to a good friend a few days ago, chatting and listening to her speak about the recent and heartbreaking death of her mother. In many ways life is entirely about loss. Everything comes but to go. That doesn't mean we are ever able to make sense of it, though. It is never, ever easy. Because it stays, and can stay with us forever. Though often thought of as an absence, loss can hold a far greater presence in our lives than perhaps anything else. In all this, death makes life impossible to ignore. It is the great reminder to leave nothing unspoken. Whether it's sorry, thank you, forgiveness, love, gratitude, friendship - remember to tell people, & what they mean to you. 

 

Slightly later than planned (due to the flu) I headed up to Scotland, to Aviemore. I had been wanting to visit Glen Affric for some time now, & on the first available sunny day I drove north and slightly west inland. It was breathtakingly beautiful, and despite the temperature being barely above freezing (if at all), I couldn't resist a quick skinny dip! I'm not sure it was entirely sensible, given that I still hadn't recovered 100% from being ill, but I did at least find a completely ice free pool! Al & Naomi had some choice words to say about my sanity when I got back, and my friend Kirsten (the other Kirsten) commented on my Facebook photo, "haven't you just recovered from bird flu?!" (No. Not bird flu). The skinny dipping continued in Glen Feshie, and along with nighttime trail running in the snow around the forests of Glenmore, Al and Naomi tried to make me promise not to do anything too crazy. I reluctantly ruled out rowing to the Orkney Isles in an inflatable dingy, and sledging on the A9 down into Inverness (both of which I had been trying to talk Al into). But anything & everything else was still on the table, and everyone seemed pretty happy about that.