On the way to Scafell Pike
On top of Scafell Pike
The solid truth. Little Britain is NOT a TV show. It is an actual live footage of the lives of the average Pom. Like 'The Truman Show'. Even the B & B last night was run by a short, fat, balding man in a wheelchair. And the people. Very nice - but ask for directions even to the next village. "Hmmm, Ennerdale Bridge .... think its that way (West) ..... hmmm but it could be that way (east). I had better ask next door" Asks next person "ooooo.... I'm not sure" Ditto next. Finally I stare at them all milling around and rudely ask "Hasn't anyone EVER been out of this tiny village ?"
The Lakes District is beautiful - especially in good weather. We should really spend 3 weeks here. But the area and facilities are still 1930s rather than 2008. Myriads of small, narrow, twisty, windy roads with high rock walls or hedges right to the road. They are the width of a narrow lane yet take (sort of) two way traffic. Traffic delays galore. Modern facilities like petrol stations, supermarkets, internet, even food outlets are rare (and expensive). I am reminded of eter seller's travelogue re 'Balham - Gateway to the South" . To paraphrase "Time has bypassed England - and so should we". England should be shut down, handed over to the Disney Corporation - and re-opened as an Old Sovereign Town" type venture with little trains to cart us continuously through the good spots.
But you can see the allure of the fells - the remoteness and beausty of it all. No wonder the Poms use them to get away from it all. (A 57-year man was killed in a supermarket queue two days ago after a woman accused him of queue jumping then mobiled her boyfriend to sort him out !).
We have done a fair bit of fell-walking. Yesterday was a clearish day so I walked up Scafell Pike
- Englands highest peak at about 3100 ft. Doesn't sound much but it is as good as walking up mountains 2-3 times the height. Great scenery see photo at top). Having a car is great - except I have to ferry a horde of pseudo C to C walkers each morning and evening. Wainwright would turn over in his grave (if he had one - which he doesn't).
2 comments:
Big Brother, Big Sister & Dulcinea are not impressed. Dulcinea is especially disappointed by Graeme's lack of physical abilities, such that he chose the car over shank's pony. Shame!!
The senior moments about ownership of the pole (or is that, the Polack?) suggest that it is better to be here in freezing Melbourne, losing to St Finbar's by 1 miserable game (Big Bro was to blame), than enduring the chaos of c2c.
Jonathan is starving but we will resuscitate him next week, hopefully before he dies of malnutrition &/or neglect. DHS is involved!
Would you really want to replace the Lake District's “myriads of small, narrow, twisty, windy roads with high rock walls or hedges right to the road” with six lane motorways, or plaster the landscape with supermarkets and petrol stations?
Post a Comment