Girls weekend

Just got back from our traditional girls weekend away - think we've been doing it for 15 years now. A weekend in a cosy cottage, somewhere nice, usually close to a pub. Plenty of eating, drinking and walking. Slightly less of the latter now.

This year we went to Giggleswick, in a cottage we've stayed in 3 times before. Lovely jasmine and something red round the door (Cotoneaster?).

Went on the train, got there lunchtime, lunch in the Black Horse which is all of 20 yards from the cottage, and the landlord always recognises us.  Then a short walk into Settle, a look round the shops, and some supermarket shopping for our provisions for the weekend.

Back to the cottage, light the real fire (my job!), and sausage and mash for tea. Later we walked to the other pub, which is a bit further, about 50 yards. Quite exciing - we saw a fight. Tables turned over and everything. Soon calmed down by the landlady though.

Next morning a short walk, and got a bit lost at one point - could see the path below us, but no way down, so we climbed.

Usual coffee stop, my flask has been photographed in many locations.

A dash of artificial sweetner from the hip flask sets the coffee off nicely. Lovely view of Giggleswick School as we came over the top.

Then lunch in Settle, a quick drink, a walk round half of the town trail, and off to the station to meet one of our friends who was arriving. back to the cottage, more fire, more drink, and Christmas lunch. Chicken pheasant and all the trimmings. Even the pudding had a sparkler on it.

Then to the pub again where we played dominos. Not sure why. Seemed like a good idea at the time. And we got thrown out at the end of the night by the landlord who asked us politely if we had a home to go to.

Next day another walk, where we saw this amusing weather station.

Walked by the canal for a while which was lovely.

Ended at the craft centre where we managed to get some retail therapy and Christmas shopping in. Lunch in Settle again, and the rest of the town trail. In the evening we ate out at the Black Horse again, but didn't get thrown out this time.

Up and away fairly early on Sunday as there were no trains running due to engineering works and we had to get a bus to Keigthly which wasn't too pleasant with a slight hangover. Then a train to Leeds where we had lunch, and then home. Great weekend as always.