Come on Dover, Move Your Bloomin' Arse

12 th century gate into the city

Originally founded in the 12th century, Cartmel is one of the oldest villages in the Southern Lakes region where Kevin is living. It's characterized by its Priory, narrow streets lined with stone buildings, and the gate into the town, which in its earliest days was the only entrance into the city. Kevin and I decided to take a little trip there this afternoon, as Kevin follows the British schedule involving 1/2 day Fridays.

One of Cartmel's side streets, lined with stone houses. I like the doorways with their climbing flowers the best

The village is just a short drive from Ulverston, but it seems like it is remote. The "main street" consists of three or four pubs, a few shops and some houses. Off the main street are a few residental streets, the Priory and the Racetrack. Once again, the town relates to my favorite King, Henry VIII. At the height of his power, Henry dissolved most of the monastaries and priories in England, taking control of their wealth and assets and leaving the towns that surrounded them with no income or way of supporting themselves. However, the Priory of Cartmel escaped this fate and the town continued to prosper, allowing it to retain the architecture that is present today. The 800 year old Priory is perhaps one of the best preserved Priories in England and was really a treat to see. Don't get me wrong, I love a good pile of rocks that once was some grand building, but it was really rewarding to see the building as it once was. The town was also delightfully quaint. It could serve as a movie set for a middle age period movie. I could almost see Robin Hood hiding out on the outskirts of town, trying to avoid Prince

John, the Sheriff (and Sir Hiss.)

Too late to be known as John the 1st, he's sure to be known as John the Worst!

Cartmel is also home to the Cartmel Village Shop where you can buy some of their famous Sticky Toffee Pudding there. The British have this annoying habit of calling all deserts "pudding" so it makes it hard to figure out what the dessert actually consists of. Sticky toffee pudding is a local specialty that reminds me alot of Bread Pudding. It is a little more rigid in structure, but the consistency and taste are similar. Jaime Oliver has a pretty good recipe that seems pretty straightforward for those of you that like bread pudding type desserts.

Jaime Oliver's Sticky Toffee Pudding

ingredients
225g fresh dates, stoned

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

85g unsalted softened butter

170g caster sugar

2 large free-range eggs

170g self-raising flour

¼ teaspoon ground mixed spice

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons Ovaltine

2 tablespoons natural yoghurtfor the toffee sauce

115g unsalted butter

115g light muscovado sugar

140ml double cream

dessert recipes serves 8
Preheat your oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Put the dates in a bowl with the bicarbonate of soda and cover with 200ml/7fl oz of boiling water. Leave to stand for a couple of minutes to soften, then drain. Whiz the dates in a food processor until you have a purée. Meanwhile, cream your butter and sugar until pale using a wooden spoon, and add the eggs, flour, mixed spice, cinnamon and Ovaltine. Mix together well, then fold in the yoghurt and your puréed dates. Pour into a buttered, ovenproof dish and bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.While the pudding is cooking, make the toffee sauce by putting the butter, sugar and cream in a pan over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved and the sauce has thickened and darkened in colour. To serve, spoon out the pudding at the table and pour over the toffee sauce.

Located just behind the Cartmel Village Shop is the Cartmel Race Track. When I first saw this mentioned in a tourism book for the lakes region, I thought it was a car race track. However, once I got a look at it, I realized it was a Steeplechase track. Steeplechase is a horse race that combines traditional Derby type racing with obstacles such as hurdles. This was probably my greatest discovery thus far. In my mind, I envision myself sitting in the grand stands with a fabulous dress and an even better hat cheering in my best Eliza Doolittle voice. Not only that, but its such a traditional British thing to do. Kevin will tell you that I almost cried when I realized that I had missed the last races as they happened a mere three days before I arrived. However, I may be here for the race the last weekend in August. I'm very excited as I'm sure it will be a site to see (even if the spectacle is my outfit). Stay Tuned...

Come on Dover! Move yer Bloomin Arse!