Sunny in Carlisle

It was snowing this morning. The cats were so muddy when they came in that they left paw prints all over the floor; I can't help comparing them to their mostly very clean and tidy predecessors, Jack and Jill. When I held Tom up to the window to look at the snow he reached out with his paw to try to touch the snowflakes. 

I gave Chanel a lift to Carlisle because there are no train services on the West Coast line until the end of January. This is because of damage to a viaduct during Storm Frank at the end of December. There is a replacement bus service (which she used on her way here) but Davie was naturally keen to keep her company on the first leg of the journey so off we went.

About half an hour into the journey Chanel invited Davie to stay with her in Warrington for a few days. David was delighted but had nothing with him except the clothes he was wearing - not even his wallet or a waterproof. So we had to sort out some finances and a train ticket. Who am I to stand in the way of young love? Chanel is very sweet and I have never seen anyone laugh quite the way she does - her shoulders literally shake with laughter! South of Beattock the weather improved considerably; no more snow and by Carlisle it was even a bit sunny. The centre of town was quite attractive with historic buildings. After I deposited Davie and Chanel at Carlisle railway station I set off back home.

I stopped at Gretna retail park to have a break and buy a coffee, I haven't been there for years. As I proceeded north the weather deteriorated and the last half hour was through heavy rain, but James made me a nice cup of tea when I got home and we sat and chatted by the fire. Jamie and Ally had been hillwalking up a very snowy Earl's Seat in the Trossachs and we all had meatballs and pasta for tea with Grandma.