August is pretty well in the middle of what counts as a summer here. The middle of summer means the start of the local football season but more importantly its the time when all the hedgerows around the countryside paths start to drop their ripening fruit.
Around our way that means blackberries, raspberries, other things we know not what they are and various small plums. This year for some reason is the first we have taken any notice but given we did, we went picking, peeling, pipping and stewing. The wild plumbs are small but so flavorsome and the raspberries Gail picked from a hedge near one of her work locations were bursting with sweetness and tang.
Speaking of Gail's work, she was scheduled for four days off in a row this month and we took advantage of it by booking ourselves into a great B&B next to Derwentwater in the Lakes district. http://www.swinsidelodge-hotel.co.uk/ The place was everything promised on the web, fantastic food, perfect location great hosts and luckily we also got a smattering of decent weather with some sunny breaks while we were out on the water. Derwent lake is a really pretty spot and the little ferry which circles the seven or so public piers is a magical experience. Unfortunatly we didn't charge the camera battery so only have shots from our trip on Windermere lake but the three days were superb including the drives through the fells to Buttermere and the walks through the forests around the lakes.
