Buttermere

On remembering a final walk

2020 was a difficult year for a great many people. The Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdowns were challenging for all but November that year was particularly difficult for me. For a number of years I had met with my parents for a few days at the Bridge Hotel in Buttermere - it had become an annual event. We were booked in for that November once again and my close friends David and Guy were also due to stay. I had booked into the hotel whilst my parents were mostly isolating in an apartment - our usual Haystacks booking.

It was an uncertain time - Covid cases were rising rapidly and the vaccine was as yet not ready to deploy. Based on a suite of negative Covid tests we all met up. It was memorable for a couple of lovely walks with my parents - around Crummock Water on the National Trust land and this Monday afternoon walk around part of the lake. I set up two images - first the alternative image. A favourite tree overhanging the water that I had photographed a couple of times before. This time it was drizzling and I set up with the help of an umbrella. We continued around the lake for a bit just talking. Mum was excited to tell me about her latest family history discoveries and Dad was wandering around thinking about pictures he might paint. As we began to walk back I noticed the potential for the main image of the tree roots in the wet. I stopped to make the image whilst my parents wandered back to the apartment.

Just after we had arrived at the hotel the news broke that halfway through the week we were to be back under lockdown conditions. We had to pack up early and head home. Ten days later my mother had a serious stroke and spent the next two years partially paralysed in hospital and a nursing home.