"Ullswater Memories" by Joyce Cowern

Memories....

Our accommodation this year’s Nationals was provided by Pat and Chris Whiteside, who generously asked us if we would like to share their bungalow, so giving us the pleasure not only of their company but an ideal location close to Pooley Bridge. This year we enjoyed the company of sheep just outside the back door and the most beautiful view looking towards Howtown.

We soon settled into a well-oiled routine, where I would fetch the daily papers each morning and, being early, took advantage of warm baguettes and rolls on sale at the village store. Waiting for this emporium to open, one would have to be patient until the newspaper rack and endless baskets of balls, toys, hats, plastic ducks and advertising hoardings had been trundled out of the shop, so preventing anyone to park outside it. I returned with the papers just as Chris made Pat’s morning tea and we eventually departed with lunch, flask and plenty of time to prepare the boat.

On my way to the shop, I looked over the wall at Ullswater House, the first B&B that we stayed in all those years ago. We spent three or four of our Nationals with Mrs Booth and her tabby cat. The upstairs dining room boasted a “dumb waiter” and we always knew when she was ready to take breakfast orders as the yoghurts and a bowl of tinned prunes could be heard being hauled up from the kitchen below. We were comfortable there and apart from the slamming of public toilet doors next door and some late revelling at the Swiss Cottage across the way, we had little to complain about and John Miller, with a little persuasion, managed to procure his fried bread. Sadly, Mrs Booth had to retire due to ill health but I noticed that a tabby cat was still sitting in the garden.

The Elms B&B, decorated with flower boxes of petunias stands by the small island junction, adjacent to the church and has also changed hands, but for the three occasions that we stayed there, we were very comfortable and this is where we were introduced to porridge laced with Drambuie. Not too many signs here, only a request to make our towels last “to save the environment”, and a request to leave the teddy bear outside the door if we didn’t wish the room to be serviced! I noticed again that their car park was full all week and there were no vacancies so “business as usual” as I remember that the last time we were there, there was concern that the foot and mouth scare would prevent visitors from coming to the area.

Four years ago, we were tempted by a “17th century” cottage, high up, looking over Ullswater and hidden by a barn. This was booked for our family too, including two toddlers. We took four hours to clean it. Frank bleached the kitchen cupboards, Helen and I vacuumed behind the furniture and in the bedrooms. My irate ‘phone calls to the landowner were met with surprise and not a lot else, so we got on with it. I woke up next morning with pneumonia but with swift diagnosis and treatment at Penrith hospital, I was soon on the way to recovery and Frank had the joyous task of helming all week, and assisted by Alice Nicholson.

The cottage boasted an old rope swing hanging from a tree and when Catherine and children visited with their bikes and trikes they enjoyed the slope of the track and the walk along the mountain trail above us, showing Ullswater in all its beauty.

We have never camped at Ullswater Yacht club but Catherine mentioned that when she joined us once, she only had to stick her arm out of the tent with a mug each morning, and someone would fill it with tea!

I am sure that you will all agree that our evening at the Italian Restauramt in Penrith, organised by Madeline Hatton, was again a welcome opportunity for us to enjoy an evening together. The quiet room was soon filled with the hub of conversation and laughter! I took a moment to reflect that the babies brought along to our first Nationals at Aberaeron, were now adults, and the “singles” now had grown up family of their own. The largest table in the restaurant hosted a new group of teenagers, enjoying their time together, and long may that friendship continue...

Juicy 11
August 2009

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