Pie 'n' Peas

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Hello

Alice Nutter - Pendle Witch


 

Have had a lovely weekend back oop North in Lancashire. When we last went back in January it was snowing - this time the weather was kinder and we had a fantastic walk out in the countryside on Saturday. We went to a place called Barley, where there was a car park and cafe next to a river. My cousin's daughter, Tilly, brought her fishing net and we watched her catch stones in the shallow water. The tadpoles were proving a little more elusive.

Then we set off on a walk following the river which took us to picturesque Roughlee, where the famous Pendle Witch, Alice Nutter lived back in the sixteen hundreds. Before they executed her at Lancaster Castle that is! It was nice to see that they had recently put up a statue to commemorate her and the fact that she was unfairly treated when she was alive.

Have a look here ifd you want to know more:

http://www.burnleyexpress.net/lifestyle/entertainment-news/pendle-witch-alice-nutter-statue-unveiled-photo-special-1-4788691

We saw a waterfall in the river, where a couple of us saw some otters playing in the ater at the base of the waterfall. Uncle Paul wasn't convinced - he said they must have been rats!

Little Tilly really took to Nathan and insisted on holding his hand as we walked along :-)

There were lots of animals in the fields, especially horses and we even saw bee hives in one field. There were plenty of bees around lazily buzzing around the wild flowers.

Waterfall where we saw the otters

It was so warm that we decided to turn back one we'd gone as far as Alice Nutter. We  traced our way back down river until we arrived back at the car park at Barley,  We were happy to see the Pendle Inn just nestled behind the trees, so went in to get a cool well-earned drink. It was cousin Paul's birthday so we left him and his family there to eat while we drove back to Auntie Anne's house where we were staying. I have to say though that the menu looked fun - and quite intrigueing. I'm not sure I fancied some of the items on there - but I'm sure they were all delicious :-)


We were due in Burnley for dinner later that evening. We arrived at my mum's brother Anthony's house. Heather had cooked us an amazing meal - with the help of their house guest from France, Jeanne.

Jeanne is staying for a month hoping to improve her English - but it already really good! We had a fun evening , eating fine English/ French food and drinking Uncle Paul's wine cellar! He is moving house soon, in London,  and rather than have to take it all with him he's on a mission to drink it all instead :-) He brought quite a lot with him! 

Welcome drink at the Pendle Inn

 He was looking really well after his two cancer operations. We all clinked glasses and toasted "Good Health!"



Not sure I fancy Old Mould's Heel Pie...



The next day we met us with cousin's Neil and Luke, and their partners Eve and Sinead. We went to Worsthorne, where Neil has just bought a house. We met up at the Crooked Billet and indulged in a true Northern delicacy - Pie 'n' Peas. There was even a choice of pie - meat and potato or cheese and onion. I opted for the meat and potato and it arrived in a bowl covered in mushy peas, It was yummy. There were many options of accompaniment, such as pickled red cabbage or beetroot. Sadly after that it was time to make the journey back up the M66/M56/M6 to the Midlands once more.

Hopefully some of them will come up and visit us soon. Then we can treat them to some Staffordshire fare such as a nice cheese and bacon oatcake.



Tastier than it looks!







Funky Jeep in the car park :-)