The sun has got his hat on ....

I got up early yesterday morning, and was very productive in the non-procrastination department ... did a job  I'v been putting off since the beginning of April ... filed my tax assessment online! Very boring but necessary, and actually only took an hour! Felt like a reward was essential, so rounded up my Darling Daughter and headed out for lunch and an afternoon in Ulverston.

After lunch, we drove to Ulverston, parked the car and walked down the leafy lane into town, passing local curiosities on the way ... Toll Gate House

a painted on window ...

and a glimpse through a back gate, to reveal a stunning front door ...

The 'pepperpot' on the hill ... when I was a child and we'd been away for the day, or on holiday, the first sighting of this monument always signalled that you were almost home ...

The lovely, cobbled main street ...

complete with new shop, since we last visited ...

very patriotic! ....

Lovely, summery displays ...

A seasonal view of the teashop I took you to in March ...

 The lovely 'junk' shop, filled with painted furniture and lots of vintageness ... sadly closed today!

The clock tower above the bank, that chimes every hour ...

and the lovely 'Sting In The Tail' filled with lots of fun and games, and eccentricities that you remember from childhood ...

All packed into a really, lovely, old building ...

 Elegant townhouses ...

 Picturesque pubs .... and back to the car, and home via the scenic route over Birkrigg Common ...

Wild and wonderful ...

Which way shall we go? ...

Chicken just roaming free ... she even stopped what she was doing and posed for me!

Strutting peacocks, but not prepared to put on a show for us! ...

Sheep enjoying the sunshine ...

And a magnificent view of Morecambe Bay ...

Well, it would have been rude not to, wouldn't it?

Rainsclouds overhead, so back to the car ...

and along the coast road to this long causeway ...

Skeletons ... what tales could these relics from the past tell?

Sign for ferry across to Piel Island ... don't think was safe today though!

and the bleak Piel Island, with its majestic ruined castle, pub and row of cottages, passed down through the years ... this island is the stuff of Enid Blyton ... smuggling, hidden coves, picnics with lashings of ginger beer!

We walked across the bridge to the Lifeboat Station, the pretty row of houses looking out to sea ...

Millions, posing by the lifeboat ....

One of the crew?

Gatehouse, which I think is now unoccupied, but what a fabulous place to live, and what a view, framed through the archway ...

and Piel Island again, viewed from the shore ...

Back to the car, and just had to show you this ... we always called it the house with 11 chimneys ... but it has 12! My Dad always said it was built by a local businessman and the chimneys were added for each of his 11 (12!) daughters ... would love to know if this is true ...

Back home and my little Bellis Perrenis plants (fake!) bought from Sting in the Tail ...

And today, back to the gloomy, grey weather where these are making me happy and reminding me of A Grand Day Out!

PS: I haven't forgotten about my promised Giveaway ... news soon, must stop procrastinating!

Enjoy your day ...

Love Claire xxx