Escape from Covid: Speeton: April 2021

At last the big day arrived. We were going to the seaside. But first Chris and Ian had to do a days work. I would have liked to have lazed in bed but the piano tuner arrived for a much postponed tune at 8.45. Misty almost took him out in her excitement, but hey-ho, such is life. Ian had decided to work at home in order to get in as much pfaffing as possible before departure. The piano tuner pinging in his office meant he had to pack before work. Yes!

I decided on a glance at the weather. I was gonna need my big coat.

Not much chance or rain but blooming cold. Never mind. The seaside’s not the seaside unless it’s freezing and blowing gale

The seaside

I spent the day dusting, hoovering and packing. My case was so dusty due to none use I had to clean it first. Most of the room was taken by thick jumpers. Misty also spent the day packing. Carefully choosing her toys.

I think I’ll take this ball to the seaside

I had a fraught trip to the supermarket after dinner where I had to queue to get in, like the old days, and was held up for ages by a woman near the Scotch Eggs, and two old dears near the posh beer. Soon we were loading up the gear. It’s always amazing how much stuff is needed for a simple weekend away. So much so that Misty had to sit in front of Chris’s legs for the two hour journey.

The two hour journey turned into two and a half hours due to heavy traffic, hailstones, and a sat nav malfunction, but we eventually arrived at the old chapel. It’s a really lovely holiday let, with an incredibly out of tune piano.

Lovely sitting room

True love

Lord of the manor

Arrival gift

The old chapel

A warm kitchen

I had made a lovely pie which we heated up immediately. Unfortunately I had made a schoolgirl error And forgotten the peas. Nevertheless it was a culinary triumph, marred only by a lack of oven gloves. Surely a health and safety risk. Ian had to take his life in his hands and use two tea towels.

After tea Neil, the owner of the old chapel, called round to see if all was well. Could be better was the answer. He promised to provide oven gloves at the first possible opportunity.

That sorted, Neil tootled off and Ian and I ventured out for a short trespassers W with Misty. We turned left at the duck pond, passed the medieval church, through the BULL field, and caught our first sight of the sea. Beautiful.

The duck pond

The medieval church

The sea!

As we walked back past the duck pond, a couple of bats were swooping overhead, and on returning to the chapel, the front was lit by a floodlight.

The wanderers return

We had returned just in time for gogglebox. A nice bottle of Uncle Phil's red, and a box of Neils celebrations went down a treat.

And so to bed. Tomorrow would be a busy day.

Since Christmas no one has been allowed to go anywhere or do anything, we have all been in lockdown. But now, at last, lockdown is easing and Boris is allowing us to leave the safety of our homes to venture out into the big bad world. Granted, we can’t go with anyone who doesn’t live with us, nor can we go anywhere that we might meet another human being. We can’t eat or drink inside, just at a table under an awning open to the elements on at least two sides. But to us it seems like bliss and Ian, Chris, Misty and I intend to make full use of Chris Whitty’s magnanimity. We are going to Speeton!

Kathy and Einar have already ventured out, risking life and limb on a trip to the lakes. I mean that literally as Kathy steered a boat on lake Windermere.

Captain Kathy

We are going to emulate them in a daring escapade reminiscent of Escape to Victory, but without Pele.

Our destination is The Old Chapel in Speeton, halfway between Filey and Flamborough. We will be walking, bird watching, star gazing, and eating specially made pie and lasagne. We may even meet some old friends along the way, at a social distance of course. Fish and chips may be involved at some point. After over a year of Covid and several months of not going out, I can’t wait!