September 2025 part 1

April 2026

We were very pleased that Harriett had wanted to visit us for a few days. We stopped off in Warrington at Steve and Karen’s house before we drove to Manchester Airport. Harriett and her boyfriend, Zak, flew from Amsterdam, where they are both students at the...

March 2025

I joined the U3A photography group outing to the Lakeland Wildlife Oasis at Hale Milnthorpe. On another Friday, I was back out with the photography group, this time at Colbeck. Alan, the group leader, gave me a lift as usual. I try to contribute by paying for the...

February 2026

February 2026 Good news at the start of the month – Sam will be coming to stay with us later this month. The Guardian newspaper online has changed. Previously, I’ve had access to the full paper at a reasonable price but that has changed. I’ve now started to get a free...

January 2026

A very happy New Year to both my readers. We spent New Year’s Eve at the Village Hall, wine tasting, with our Penrith friends, Phil and Deborah. We had an evening meal there and saw the New Year In. We do get on very well with them. They had breakfast with us on New...

November 2025

The month started with a photo in the local paper (Cumberland and Westmorland Herald) and another on their annual calendar. A couple of our neighbours joined us for a Sunday evening roast beef dinner. We went to the leisure centre in Appleby, Annabel in the swimming...

October 2025

I started the month walking with the Culgaith walkers, led by Big John. These short walks are aimed at people’s health and well-being and are supported by the Ramblers. Back at the village hall we were treated to coffee and homemade cakes. What was not to like? The...

September 2025 part 2

Another appointment at the surgery, this time for a Doppler test – to test my circulation. Luckily, it was not a problem. In the afternoon, I sat outside but my stomach began to feel peculiar. Annabel drove to the pharmacy in Appleby to buy some Gaviscon. I didn’t...

August 2025 Part 1

Part 1: Visit to Athens with Tom and Tara’s family. Tom and Tara very kindly asked us to join them for a holiday in Greece, as April and Cooper had been particularly keen to visit. We drove to a hotel near Manchester Airport in the late afternoon, and Tom’s family...

July 2025 Photos

We went to ‘Art in the Mart’ at Kirkby Stephen to an art competition. April’s ‘Dragon eye’ was awarded ‘Best Young Artist’. Accompanied by Tom, Tara, Cooper, Grandpa and Grandma Hollis aka Mic and Annabel. April swam one hundred lengths in 50 minutes at Appleby...

Blog June 2025 part 2

This is really an opportunity to add photographs.

I have cheated a little with dates for this blog, as so much happened in August.

Dumfries Gardens

Dumfries House and fountain

Annabel and I set off with Angela, a local friend, on a U3A trip to Dumfries House in Ayrshire, which has magnificent gardens, an arboretum and an interesting fountain. (For all those who failed their GCSE or O level Geography, Ayrshire is in Scotland).

This is the home of many of The King’s Foundation’s flagship education programmes. For more information, please follow this link: https://dumfries-house.org.uk/.

The gardens were quite spectacular and in prime condition, as this topiary indicates.

This shelter took my eye, as it seemed to be innovative, eye-catching and very welcome in the rain.

An interesting Chinese-style bridge over the river.

A dragon decoration which would have pleased April.

This wonderful ceiling decoration for children was very appealing.

And now some flowers in the extensive gardens…

Flowers with an unusual looking fountain.

And now, some flowers and insects but no fountain

Bee a-pollinating

Butterfly a-fluttering. The flowers were covered with them.

An impressive tree trunk in the grounds

Blog: September 2025 Part 2

“Kynren, an Epic Tale of England” in Bishops Aukland.

All of the Cumbria Hollises watched this epic tale outdoors. It was very well presented and lasted into the evening as night fell. I wasn’t prepared for the performance and its cast of thousands, all volunteers, including horses. Epic, one of the most impressive performances I’ve ever seen, apart from my own regal performance in primary school in Rugby circa 1959/60 “The King who took Sunshine”.

The Viking Village

This stockade was extensive as well as impressive.

The Beacon inside the stockade

Part of the Viking village

Brazier

Ancient woodturner with impressive-looking Viking contraption. Tom has one of these gadgets!!

Tents with stockade in background

Closeup of accommodation.

Viking Ladies reflecting on their accommodation. There is an old saying “a woman’s work is never done”. Obviously, these two must be men in disguise. Can you spot the target? Her husband uses it for target practice, but he has very poor eyesight!

Local arsonist, Ann Vill, forging ahead with his hammer.

Part 2

Kehren – The Performance

Part of the 7½ acre stage for this outstanding performance. Also included were Stephenson’s Rocket, Roman chariots, geese, donkeys, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. Uncle Tom Cobley and all were nowhere to be seen!