You should see the size of these crumpets, plump and fresh; they just scream to be smothered in butter and honey and accompanied with a fresh brew of tea.
Ok, you can stop imagining the crumpets and consider some Spotted Dick. This pudding is a traditional English dessert that is great with custard. Apparently it tastes amazing and it's on my list of English recipes to try while I'm here.
As for the Tits, I should leave this for Peter to report on as he has been spending hours with the binoculars checking out all the different Tits. Apparently there are Blue Tits, Great Tits, Crested Tits and even Bearded Tits. Look at that lovely Blue Tit, isn't he just adorable?
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| Yum - crumpet |
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| Spotted Dick |
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| Baby Blue Tit |
So, we have been in the UK for just over three weeks now and are starting to settle in. It was REALLY cold when we arrived so I'm glad I purchased thermals to bring with me. We did have a couple of beautiful days over Easter and we actually put on T-shirts and sunscreen.
The study is only just becoming habitable without the heating on, this is part of the reason for my delay in getting this blog started. It's been hard to leave the comfort and warmth of the kitchen AGA to spend time in the study. The other excuse is that we have been touring around Cumbria seeing the local sites including Carlisle Castle, Carlisle Cathedral, Armathwaite Hall and the beautiful Fells. I have also spent many hours researching and booking accommodation for our visit to Scotland in July.
We have been walking around Greystoke village and the Greystoke Castle Estate that has pathways available for us common folk to use. The Estate is approx 3000 acres and is directly across the road from Layton Manor House. They raise deer, pheasant and guinea fowl which can be purchased from a lovely store in Penrith called Cranstons, who are 'purveyors of fine quality foods and meats'. They sure are, don't get me started on the cheeses! Cranstons supply local Cumbrian produce which is amazingly good quality. Surprisingly the fruit and vegetables here are a lot cheaper than we are paying in Australia. Meat is twice the price though, yesterday rump steak was selling for $61.00 a kilo!
Spring is such a wonderful time to be here. The bulbs, especially the daffodils are rich in colour and line the roads and footpaths for miles. There are millions of snow-white lambs dotted all over the countryside. They are so playful and entertaining, it's nice to have the time to stop and watch them. There can be groups of a dozen or more hanging out together and they copy each others silly antics.
Peter has got the vegetable garden up and running and has planted out some spring vegetables. He is finding out about some of the challenges of gardening in this climate. We have had a couple of frosts and there are monster slugs and other critters that we don't have in Oz. Our constant enemy the Black bird that destroys our garden at home doesn't have the same interest in destroying things over here thankfully.
I have been crocheting and have made two scarves already. It's a bit addictive so I'm going to put that away for a while and get on with some other things like reading and researching my family history. I've also got to get on and tackle that Spotted Dick.
I think I've set up this Blog so you can receive more of my highly entertaining Field Notes by e-mail.
Until next time old chaps,
Sara & Peter
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| Peter watering veges |
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| Layton Manor House |
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| Sara & Gemma at Armathwaite Hall |
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| Greystoke Castle |
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| Morning workout |
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