I Wandered Lonely As a Crowd

ST LUKE'S: Back from the North. We had a lovely Christmas amid the dry rock walls and meandering creeks of Lancashire. We spent most of the non-Christmas time driving through the hills and heaths that rolled into the fog like waves on an ocean. On the first day we briefly visited the Yorkshire Dales on our way to Fountains Abbey, the sobering remains of a 12the century abbey. Included in the price of admission are a sumptuous 19th century water garden spread over the acres of a rambling National Trust area.

It was amazing to walk through the soaring walls of the abbey's cathedral, the perfect symmetry of the arches and forgotten stairways to nowhere. Definitely the best architectural relic I've ever seen though I really haven't seen that many.

On our second free day we drove up to Lancashire and went walking in the Lakes past Ambleside. It's probably just easier if I post pictures when Kate gets back. The beauty of the lakes, the towering hills, the improbably strong dry rock walls and the bold, broken granite really can't be put into words. Well not unless your Wordsworth.

Finally on Boxing Day we drove down to lush, picturesque Blackburn to see the Boxing Day game. It was a sell out so I managed to offload our spare ticket outside the ground then watch as Tugay set up Benni McCarthy score. Saw the most famous footballers I've ever soon play (Gerrard, Emerton, Neill, Reina etc.) and heard the Kop sing "Never Walk Alone" but, against the odds, Blackburn got up, we didn't beat Man City and consequently we're now in 17th spot rather than 13th.

Got back to work today and now have to slog through another two before it's off to Devon and Cornwall for New Years.