Author: Carol Purves

This morning we went out to clean our streets of rubbish. We also wanted to re-connect with people who we had been in contact with after the floods. It was very sad to see so many houses still empty even though it is now almost five months after they were flooded. Some people are living upstairs and other houses are up for auction.

Although the rest of the country have forgotten, here in Carlisle we are still feeling the effect of the dreadful weather just before Christmas. Fortunately it was lovely sunny morning as we worked and were pleased to make contact with a number of people.

Carol, in a still suffering Cumbria

I had the occasion to visit the Southern Lakes – Windermere, Bowness and Ambleside.  I made a mistake in my thinking about parking the car. I thought as it was still April and the A591 was closed, these towns wouldn’t be very busy. In actual fact I believe I found the very last parking place in the whole of the region and even then only by negotiating with a driver who wanted to share my space.

I had forgotten how beautiful these towns were; the sun shining on the lake was a bonus. It was almost a 100 mile trip. To get there I chose to go by Ullswater and the Kirkstone Pass. I returned via Kendal, mainly because I couldn’t find the road leading to Ullswater.

The devastation of the December floods was still evident – fields piled high with stones in Glenridding, waterfronts boarded up in Bowness, plus roads and bridges closed. Maybe the news propaganda has increased interest.

Carol in southern Cumbria.

It’s great having friends in different parts of England. We’ve met a few times since we were students but my friend Chris now lives in Coventry. A good excuse for me to visit the Midlands. She actually lives just a few doors away from Kenilworth Castle. A  reason to take a few spectacular photos! Went into Coventry, itself visiting the Transport Museum and walking past Lady Godiva in the shopping precinct. No time left for the cathedral. I wanted to know why Coventry grew up where it did, but that was a question too far.

Also spent time with Jen, now living in Buckingham, also a former student friend. A very different place;  quiet, quaint and  quintessentially English. (Oh, that was good).  Much time during these days was spent – Do you remember?

I still have some more ex student friends round the country, so look out for more travels later.

Carol, travelling again.

This book by James Rebanks has very recently been in the Best Seller List. Having read the book, which was given me as a gift, with my friend I was delighted to see the play at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick.

It was so professionally acted and the antics of the the sheep dogs were delightful. I think their acting skills overtook the performance by the actors. That’s not running down the actors; they were brilliant.

I was also impressed by the empathy of the audiences. I could almost hear them saying ‘Yes, I’ve been there.’ I’ve suffered that.’ A wonderful day out in stunning scenery.

Carol, the theatre-goer

Cumbria is open for business. It really is, as we discovered on Good Friday. Repaired and fallen bridges are being mended and replaced. With many other cars we travelled over the restored Eamont Bridge. Judging by the traffic jam it was a much needed route along eastern Cumbria.

Not to be outdone the three of us then went on to Pooley Bridge and walked over and the drove over the new temporary bridge there. Unusually the weather was sunny and bright. Not particularly warm, but then it is Cumbria in March.

This was not the end of our adventures as we drove down the west shore of Ullswater to Genridding. The flood damage there is so great that is is heart-breaking – fields piled high with stones and rocks, presumably dredged from the river. There was no parking spaces left, so we drove cross country to the peaceful village of Caldbeck.

Carol in a restored Cumbria.

To all my readers I wish you a blessed Easter. This is a very sad week followed by a joyous Sunday. I trust that you will obtain the full benefit from studying the Bible and special readings at this time.

Carol

Here we are again, another meeting of the writing group. After a devotion and sharing together the books we have read during the last two months, we read out our ‘homework’ – The Source. What fun we had with it. The devotional contributors referred to God being the source of all things and the source of our faith being love, the love of God for us ‘while we were yet sinners.’

One fun entry had a play on the words ‘source’ (being the beginning) , the ‘sauce’ (as in HP Ketchup) and ‘sauce’ (as in cheek) We ended up with tears running down our ‘cheeks. (the facial ones). I’m glad I learned English as a toddler.

Carol, with sauce.

I’ve just spent a few days in my nearest capital, Edinburgh. With two friends we explored the city like true tourists. Although it was winter, the place was milling with people; evidence that it is a great city to visit.

We went up to the castle and with the help of a guide explored its treasures. The guide was very enthusiastic and crammed our heads with interesting facts. I have to confess that I think our abiding memory will be the icy wind. It really did blow up there. We were there at one o clock and heard and saw the big gun go off.

We then searched for somewhere warm and had a tour on an open-topped bus tour. So many places of interest were seen. It is a wonderful city.

Our last big  adventure was a tour on the Royal Britannia. It is a great ship with so much history.

Our hotel was very central and the food in various restaurant was excellent.

Carol, the explorer

As part of my Lent readings I have been studying a small booklet aboutthe evidence for the Bible. Each day I’ve been amazed at how much evidence there is. Who were the Hittites? Who was David the legendary hero? Sargon, did he live? The census of the entire Roman world. The unknown God at Athens. Did the crucifixion really happen? As I have been reading, time and again facts which appear in the Bible are proved by history.

With so many Biblical facts being proved through outside sources, it shows that the Bible is a book to be believed. Maybe we should study and read it more. Not only for the history but for what it tells us about God.

Carol

Compared with some of your countries, England is very small. It’s only about 600 miles from north to south. Last week I travelled from Carlisle in the north to Bridport on the south coast, a journey of about 450 miles. What struck me was the change in the weather. In the south, spring was definitely arriving. Daffodils, snowdrops and celandine were growing in abundance. The walks we had in the beautiful area were warm and sunny. We even managed to see some tiny lambs.

I then travelled north. Snow on the hills and in my garden greeted me. The next morning I had to scrape my car because the frost was so thick. The daffodils and snowdrops are just daring to show their faces. Out came my gloves and scarves again. Next week I will be in Edinburgh, just 100 miles north. I wonder what kind of weather I will find there.

Carol, the traveller, north and south.