This blog is being sponsored by T Mobile! (Not really). Thankfully KO has the phone service which is based in Europe. Wherever we go, on trains, in pubs, on the lake, or in the inn his phone service has worked every time and he has been able to give me a hot spot so I can chat with all of you. So kudos to KO and T Mobile for connecting me to the world. In addition a shout out to KO for lugging our suitcase up and down the hills of these quaint little towns, even at 6 a.m. I am grateful for all his help. KO also takes the photos and figures out how to insert them into the blog. He’s an electronic whiz!
The road from Edinburgh to Windermere, in the Lakes Region, was full of drama and delays. A trip that should have taken two and one half hours, ended up taking ten hours! Apparently bank holidays and striking train workers were conspiring to upset my Type A carefully planned punctuality. The universe has a way of sending us a lesson when we get too attached to things and this definitely taught me one about “You think you are in control, well I’ll show you!” When I described our plight to the station agent, he looked bored and disinterested. He proceeded to tell me that he had worked twelve hours that day and he had already been regalled with sordid stories like ours for weeks! No sympathy or compassion there, it’s just the way it is here. Then this guy informed us that our early morning train may or may not show up and the replacement bus may be AWOL as well. I ask you, “Is this any way to run an airline?” This is where my daily meditation practice and staying in the moment really came in handy. KO was, of course, his usual unflappable self.
Our visit to the Lakes Region, even though it was cut short by a day, due to train snafus, was magnificent. Adorable towns with Victorian architecture peppered by lofty church spires, colorful wildflowers spilling out of their stone boxes, glistening lakes encircled by imposing mountains and delectable food greeted us there. Our lodging was an Air b and b in Windermere as our base. Our room was huge compared to our cramped quarters in Edinburgh. A large kitchen was at our disposal and I did prepare brown rice, red lental dahl and blanched watercress and kale on the gas burners. The owner was so generous he told us to tour around for our only day while he washed all our clothes, dried them on the clothesline, folded them and placed them by our door!! He was a “ prince among men.”
The air b and b was a scenic twenty minute stroll down hill to the enchanting village of Bownes-on-Windermere. The town was teaming with tourists as it was a Bank Holiday. Bownes perches right on Lake Windermere and has adorable local shops, pubs, restaurants and ferries that carry you to other waterfront towns. We located an open air table for breakfast called Mio Mondo. We could people watch while we enjoyed a delicious Vegan English breakfast. Munching on baked beans, hash browns and amazing vegan “sausages” created from creamy beans, corn and peas, we fortified ourselves for a day of sightseeing.
The Lake Country was the home of Beatrix Potter. This talented woman was the genius who gave us Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddleduck, Benjamin Bunny, and many other forest friends. We watched the movie, “Miss Potter” in preparation for the visit to her neck of the country. We found out she was an artist, writer, conservationist, mycologist and very independent lady for her time. She purchased land parcels so builders and developers couln’t spoil the landscape. She self published her first books. Unfortunately Beatrix let her mother’s opinions almost destroy her happiness. You see her mother thought marrying a tradesman was below her station. Beatrix did finally defy her mom and become engaged to her love, only to have him succumb to leukemia one month later. Her mom gave her a difficult time about her next choice but she did marry him in her late 40s and they had many happy years together. The books she wrote are beloved and many of us read them as children.
My favorite stores, which are all over England, are the Oxfam and other charity shops. You can find everything there and pay very little for it. I head for the books
first searching for that perfect romance that takes place in the Cotswalds, Cornwall or the Lake country. Next the used clothes are my destination. Unique items not found in the states catch my eye. I ended up buying a lacy aqua tea hat, with a veil, for a relative. Looking forward to these shops when we arrive in Cornwall.
We queued up with all the holiday crowds to ferry across the lake to the next town. The ride was so lovely as we were surrounded by crisp white sailboats, imposing mansions from the 1940s, multicolored mountains in the distance and the pleasant breeze on our skin. We have been so fortunate to have clear, warm weather as this area can be beset with rain and fog.
Ambleside was a less crowded place and we walked uphill one mile to town. The quaint tea shops all over offer a place to rest while you can enjoy a scone( a type of biscuit with currants), a sweet treat( the windows are brimming with the most beautiful cakes you have ever seen) or a nice cup of tea.
We opted for a bowl of Potato Leek Soup. It seems like this is the signature soup of the UK as it is offered everywhere! After a look in the shops, we boarded the bus back to Windermere. Riding on the top, with the tall trees whizzing by, felt like we were in a treehouse in the sky. After returning to our guest house, it was time to get down to some serious macrobiotic cooking to balance ourselves once again.
I wanted to say a few words about staying healthy while venturing away from home. I always bring certain items with me on my trips. These items include umeboshi concentrate, a macrobiotic remedy for tummy trouble, and probiotic packets that
do not require refrigeration. I pack fiber packets as well in case we can not find enough veggies to keep us “regular.” I believe in homeopathy and I take the ones that help in emergencies. Arsenicum album is for food poisoning and has helped me out of a few jams when I have eaten bad food. Apis is helpful for bug bites. Passiflora Incarnata helps with jet lag. I pack dry brown rice in a baggie and soak it overnight and prepare it the next day.If I have eaten “wide” on my trip the brown rice often centers me. The idea I love about macrobiotics is that we learn to balance our eating and we know the steps to take if we want to counter the occasional beer or sweet cream tea with scones. Having these “first aid” tools serve to avert possible sick days on vacations.
Hopefully this aids you supporters out there and a big thank youfor reading my blog and tracking our macro adventures.
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