After last weekend’s wander to the seafront, I decided that I wouldn’t be in any hurry to return. I’m not yet comfortable to be in a place where there are hoards of people, and there were still too many there for my liking, and peace of mind. It’s still not necessary to head out every weekend, but when a friend of mine suggested a socially distanced meet up and an ice cream in Thornton-le-Dale this weekend, I happily took her up on the suggestion.

I love Thornton-le-Dale. I’d happily live there, it’s idyllic with its beautiful stone built cottages and a little Beck, with lovely little wiers, that run through the village. It’s like something out of Beatrix Potter.

The weather smiled on us, for a change given that the weather has been pretty vile up here for the past few weeks. That of course meant there were still a few people around Thornton, but it was still easy enough to distance from them, and I found that most people were being polite and sensible. I didn’t have an ice cream from Baldersons’ in the end (as much as I know how delicious those ice creams are), having a beautifully fresh piece of lemon cake and a takeaway coffee from the Bakery instead.

I don’t actually mind buying a little take out and sitting outside to be honest. It’s a bit like having a picnic. There are a few things I think I became a bit too used to in my life (like eating out, and shopping as a leisure pursuit) that lockdown has made me realise aren’t essential ingredients to making each and every weekend pleasurable.

Little miss of course enjoyed an ice cream, and then we went for a walk along the beck.

She’s not really had the opportunity to do a lot of outside walking thanks to lockdown, so it was nice to be in a space where she could explore a little bit, albeit for safety’s sake, on her reins. She’s so enthralled by the great outdoors, and wildlife, that this was like her perfect day out.

My friend and I wandered along slowly, admiring the beautiful homes and speculating what it would be like to live in one with their vast gardens and beautiful settings. Oh to be entertaining in a garden like that.

We cooed at the baby ducks, and had an overall very relaxing and rather lovely afternoon out. It’s going to be a long time before we can, as a society, return to normality, but when you can spend a few hours in a beautiful and safe setting, and meet up with a friend, then at least you can still enjoy a little bit of what feels like life again.