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| THE HF HOUSE AT MONK CONISTON |
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| NICE ROOM |
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| STEVE BOSSING THE GUESTS AROUND |
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| LOCAL RESIDENTS |
Friday 26th of July, 4:00pm, and after leaving home at 10:00am, we are still driving north on a very conjested M6. We eventually arrived at HF Monk Coniston in the Lake District at around 6.00pm, to be welcomed by House Manager John Croxford. Along with two other leaders, I would be guiding HF guests on walks in the local area for the next week (or, at least 5 days of it). Rubi, by accompanying me, is able to enjoy all the privileges of being a guest at half the normal price.
The names of the other two leaders are Angus and John, and our duties included the provision of evening entrainment as well as walk guiding. We got on well together and made a good team. Some guests came to the house to enjoy 3 days of singing, so there was one further leader, Su, who led this activity. These guests even put on a concert for everyone on Tuesday evening.
Unfortunately, the weather during the week was generally wet and foggy. The best day for me was the Monday, where I led the 'Fairfield Horseshoe', a tough 10 mile trek across several Lake Distict peaks starting from Rydal and finishing in Ambleside. Rubi joined the group for that one too.
My hope to take guests up to Wetherlam on tbe Friday was foiled by fog and rain, which discouraged guests from choosing this option, so I joined Angus on his lower level walk instead. Most embarrassingly, I managed to trip over a large rock in full view of guests, which left me with a grazed shin and elbow.
Rubi also injured her toe when Mick, one of the guests, demonstrated some self-defence techniques on her. Thus, neither of us were in the best order for the next part of our holiday, which was be to walk the length of Hadrian's Wall.
Other than these mishaps, we had a great week with a lovely group of guests. Also, on our day off on Wednesday, we managed to squeeze in a trip to the Stott Park Bobbin Mill, a working museum now which once supported the local weaving industry and is now looked after by English Heritage.