Family Reardon (the host family where I was supposed to go, until EF (falsely) decided that the family would not be appropriate for an EF student - instead they put me in a Jehova-witnesses-family - yeah, EF, a very "good" choice!) from Ormskirk (near liverpool) had invited me to visit them in their caravan in the Lake District.

I left school early on Friday to get the coach from Birmingham - it took me about four hours, the bus was one hour late... We had a stop at Tebay, a little service area not very far from Penrith. It was so beautiful there (although the motorway was a little distracting^^), and the sun was shining (the days before the weather wasn't that good, so the sun shine was something new), the gorse on the fields was blooming in a wonderful yellow colour... We had half an hour there, so I did a little walk around the fields, enjoying the first glimpse of the magnificent landscape there - first time in quite a while that I saw mountains...I hadn't realised it while living in Birmingham, but now I suddenly knew that I had missed the nature - BUT no, my lovely parents, this doesn't mean that I will come walking with you when I get home - my love for nature isn't THAT advanced =)

Finally I arrived in Penrith, where Debbie and her daughter Hazel met me. We drove through the wonderful, magnificent, beautiful landscape of the Lake District and I totally fell in love with it...

First stop was at a tiny little pub in a very tiny village, where we had dinner. I had goujons, fish in strips, with chips - almost fish and chips, but with a posh name... There was an open fireplace in the pub, and it was a wonderful homely atmosphere - there were some Australian chaps in there, with whom we talked quite a lot.

After dinner we drove to their caravan - small but comfy. The area is just SO beautiful... If I ever have some spare money, I will buy a little cottage in the Lake District - and before some holidays would be great - mum?dad?

The next day we went to Beatrix Potter's house - we had planned to get there quite early, but our beds were just so comfortable...

Then we went to Keswick, went over the market, Hazel showed me the lake, I bought some books (and some birthday presents...)...We then went to another pub there for a drink. And then the absolute highlight of the day - the Castlerigg stone circle!!! It really reminded me of the Calanais stone circle in Scotland - not just because of the stones, but also because of the similar landscape! I love it there!!!

Then we went back to the caravan, where Hazel had to study for her pharmacy degree and I had to continue with my English lit. coursework.

Later we had to do the unpleasant job to empty the chemical toilet of the caravan... Not a very nice activity, but necessary...

In the evening we relaxed while watching "Gladiator".

The next day Hazel and Debbie showed me "Secret view" - you can see it on the photos. Afterwards we drove to a little village (and when I say little, I mean little like in 4 houses), but then it started raining so we turned around and drove back, down the mountain - until a stone was in the way and ripped of one of the front tyres

Posted May 6, 2008 6:24:55 AM