A field with a view. 1/20, f16, ISO 50 @ 105m.

Sometimes a gentle amble across fields and along country lanes can be just as refreshing as a trek across mountains.

We were ‘up North’ to visit Shirley —Peewiglet — Worrall, in her new home, indeed, I think we had the pleasure of being her overnight guests. Shirl has long wanted to move into a more rural setting and she has certainly picked a great spot.

Shirl’s village is close to the meeting point of Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria. Her village may not be in a National Park but somehow it feels better for it. This is a real village which retains a school and a post office. The pub is over the road, oooh, at least 30 seconds away. And what a nice pub it is! There’s a farm just a few hundred years down the lane and this too has its advantages. The permanent smell of cows will no doubt keep away those with the really big money. Hopefully, this will remain a vibrant, rural community.

I was struck by how welcoming and friendly the village was. In the pub we were greeted as long lost friends as, already, Shirl has become part of the community. Apparently, the way to get stuck in is to go along to the weekly quiz night.

Heavy exercise was not on the menu, but there was still lots to do. Shirley I entertained the village with our guitar playing well into the early hours of Monday morning. We ate great local food, home made sausages, award winning black pudding and we cooked a rather fine slow-roasting joint of belly pork flavoured with a pastis sauce — the pastis came in handy at other times as well.

Shirl’s village is in lush rolling hills, but almost everywhere you look there are views of more dramatic hills that seemed to shimmer and fine in the distance and whisper “climb me.” Next time.

These are lanes that were made to be walked, gardens meant to be drooled over and allotments that inspire wonder and admiration. And then there is the vegetable plot, given to Shirl by a local farmer after the last plat owner had been forced to give it up after a knee injury.

This is a secret plot, hidden away from the road and seemingly only known by the chickens from next door. Shirl has inherited a del kept plot, with loads of mature compost, a raspberry enclosure and a home built green house. Although the site seems to be a sun trap it is kept secluded by mature hedgerows that are heavy with sloes. the making of Sloe Gin seems to be on the agenda for the next few weeks. The plot has a chicken house and run and a couple of sheds — one of which features a gas fire. I fear that when Shirl is established in here, we might not see her for some time!

Shirl and Piglet have certainly landed on their feet in this place as the town is solid, historic, warm friendly and welcoming.

We had a lovely weekend. Thanks a lot Shirley. Go get that bottle of pastis and drink to the future! We’ll be back. Soon!