Weekend Away

Dec 05, 2005

We spent last weekend around Broughton in Furness, we’d decided to go away for Chris’s company do – as a self employed person he can go wherever he wants to so a weekend away was a good idea. It’s the last chance we’ll get to get away this year. Mum and Dad had a weekend away too so we took the dog with us, finding a dog friendly hotel was a bit of a challenge but we found a good one. The people at the place we stayed at in August have moved to a bigger spot on the outskirts of the town, it’s nice but needs a bit or renovation work. Saturday night we were the only people staying there so it was very good!

We drove down on Friday night, getting there at about 9.00, luckily they were still serving food so after getting Kesty settled we had a wonderful meal in their restaurant. On Saturday we didn’t really have any plans so we had a walk round Broughton to find the restaurant we’d booked into and then went for a bit of an explore, we spent some time in Cartmel, where I got some Christmas presents, and drove through Flookburgh in search of the coast. We re-visited Ulverston and had a look round the market, but as the dog was cold and tired we thought we’d better not stay long. After dropping her off at the hotel we went in search of the tower at Millom where we’d arranged with the Broughton in Furness ringers to ring on Sunday. They’ve just been renovated and we didn’t get a chance to ring them on the lakes tour – so this was a grab for me.

The restaurant was lovely, really nice food and a lot of it. When we were having a cup of coffee in the lounge the ringing master of Broughton found us and we spent the rest of the evening chatting with him about ringing and ringers we knew in common. We arranged to have an early breakfast and a late checkout so we would make it to ringing at Millom and Broughton – the service times work out very well. Millom has a really nice church and lovely bells, the way up is interesting as there’s a kink in the spiral staircase, I can’t describe it properly – but it’s a bit odd! The ringing chamber still needs painting and they’ve not got the new ropes on yet, so they’re in a bit of a state. The bells are lovely though. After ringing there we headed out, through the church, and to Broughton for there service. As there was plenty of time we had a coffee at Paul’s house. We’ve rung at Broughton a couple of times now and always really like it. For a light 12 they’re really nice – and easy to ring! I rang the tenor and rang it down without a problem.

We spent the rest of Sunday driving round, we went over wry-nose pass to Ambleside and then headed back home. We made it back in time for ringing at Lowgate in the evening.