Cumbrian 'Foodies'

Myself and a friend, for this blogs purposes we will call her Miss Pink (Miss P or Pink), have starting taking days off and trundling around to see what we find to introduce me to. Pink has been living here for fair while and as a girl after my own heart loves to do things 'old style'.

Last week on a quiet Thursday we decided begin at Ortons very own hand made chocolate factor. I've always heard of it as 'Ortons chocolate factory' but apparently its actually called 'Kennedys' after the brother and sister team that began it in what was an abandoned schoolhouse.
  

It is still in the same schoolhouse, a shop and tearoom wrapped around the chocolate making section with lots of windows so you can watch everything being made! They make it look simple but its one of those kinds of 'simple' that, if you look closely, you think 'I would make a shambles of it!'

In short, if you are a sugar craver this is the place to go! We had a white chocolate drink, which nearly had me keeling over in shock, and my eats of choice was a cheese toastie while Pink happily satisfied her crumpets craving. The menu is quite small and more as snack lunch rather than meal lunch so don't make the mistake of thinking it will fill you. Unless of course you plan on eating all the chocolates in sight! With the bill they brought out some flower shaped plain and dark chocolates, a nice touch I thought.

Moving on from Orton we wandered towards Sedbergh and found the Cross Keys Inn which is set right in front of the most stunning set of hills and a waterfall no less! This was a complete change of pace, a beautiful building which seems to be an old one run by a couple. Its an odd set up when you go in, it feels like walking into a private front living room which some people will like but its not my style. In saying that there was an enthusiastically warm welcome and the food was filling, chunky (chips) and home-made. Pink enjoyed her veggie options we both struggled to breathe by the end of the food madness!

Afternoon Tea

The local Ladies asked me to join them for Afternoon Tea, (note the capitals). I readily agreed as I have found them to be full of fun and mischief on a level which I had never expected to be hiding under the folds of, what I consider, 'proper' Englishness!

Donning my hastily assembled Afternoon Tea glad-rags I found myself at Appleby Manor (See pic above and their blog here). Now this place is beautiful. It is a four star hotel with all the luxuries like spa and pool, (which are hidden away who knows where), and caters to everything from full hotel stays to the notorious Afternoon Teas.

With Huge Log fireplaces surrounded by cushy antique style chairs and a newly refurbished conservatory which is a fantastic spot to look out over the garden and pathways. The gardens are a riot of colour and at this time of the year that is no mean feat. I was told all of the grounds are looked after by one man, a man who is the owners father no less! A parents job is never done it seems so I may stick to dogs.

The smartly presented 'Tea' was astounding. To me, being a typical Irish lass, tea is a pot filled with water and you know... tea. This was a whole new world of cakes, pastries, sandwiches, jams and a generally stunning show of gluttony. Bonus!

That evening as I revelled in my new-found refinement, (after all I was a Lady by association by now... wasn't I?), I mentioned to a friend of mine that I had made it through without throwing anything over myself or anyone else and I deserved some congratulations on said new-found refinement. Her response: "Refinement my arse, its scoffing cakes and cream into ones gub whilst bitching about all and sundry." I could only laugh and look forward to my next scone with jam and cream!

... and then there was light...

I have had the thought 'this is random' so many times since I moved to what even us Irish term as 'the sticks' that I realised I needed a better way to catalogue this life change of mine, other than the dusty caverns of my somewhat lacking mind!

And what was this life change I hear asked? Well now, there's a few stories and a half! To sum up... I have moved around a bit. Originally from Ireland, (the north for those of you keeping track), then to Scotland and mostly lived in the main cities and a few of what at the time I considered to be small towns. By small towns think... 40,000 people, a university and actual coffee shops (oh my!).

Five years ago I met Himself. Now, at that stage Himself was just another him. But, as these things happen, Himself wound me around his little finger and made me realise that I actually wanted to think further into the future than my next JD. Anyone wondering who or what JD is needs to move away from the screen 'cause lets face it folks we aren't going to relate ;).

So.. Himself and I, a year ago, decided that we had 'had it' with city life. Not Edinburgh, Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester nor London would ever tempt us... and so the life in Cumbria began.

These days, (for the last year), I live in a house with a stunning view out of my back door, in a village of no more than fifteen, (yes I said one-five, Fifteen), houses with Doggit and Himself. I am now Mrs Himself and with all these changes now is the time folks, for me to put pen to paper so to speak. 

Here is the step-by-step blog that reveals all the ups, downs, rights (on the wing) and the utterly random moments I stumble over as I stumble over them! Just to please those wanting to visit my new frontier... I'll even throw in some reviews and pics of places I find along the way!