Easter Sunday with Prince William

Rare sightings in The Cumbrian Lake District - Givers get!  Updated 22Nov11

View from Hartside Pass, Cumbria

Here I was, jogging up one more steep access to deliver a local copy of the Yellow Pages – Yell.com.  One of several hundred directories my friend had committed himself to delivering, during this Easter weekend in and around The Lakes.  Driving up and down the valleys in his tired blue Nissan Micra, we dropped them into every cottage, croft, house, farm or estate in our designated areas.

My friend from County Durham in the NE, had been called upon to help a colleague with a few rounds in the West.  In-turn, he invited me to help with navigation and delivery, knowing I enjoyed 'new ground' and loved the countryside; besides providing an opportunity for us to catch-up, and take my mind off redundancy.

We had been up mountains, down dales, through river roads; called becks – nothing to do with David Beckham.  Stopped, from crossing roads by fords too deep for our wee Micra; bogged down in fields our SatNav suggested we take; bounced up miles of pot-holed farm roads - and back again; and to quarries and caravan sites.  Every type of building; from Gated Estate, where I suspect Sting probably lived, to But 'n Bens; where The Broons and Oor Wullie go on holiday.

Anyway, halfway through day three, I had just run up this rough steep drive, leaving my friend to drive-on to properties further up the dead-end road.

Spectacular Spring view of Cumbrian Mountains and Valley

Now breathless, I approached a surprised looking recipient standing at the top.  There he was, standing on his own in front of one of two new Range Rovers, playing with a stick and two friendly Black Labrador dogs.  Picture MY astonishment as I gradually realise, I am face to face with a member of the royal family!  

I had just handed a telephone directory to His Royal Highness - Prince William of Wales - OMG!

Oh, my Liege!! It really wiz Oor Wullie!!!

Needless to say, he was equally surprised to see me, not because I'm all that famous of course, but as this was Easter Sunday, and he proceeded to casually engage in conversation, inquiring as to how we'd ended up with this task on the holiday weekend.

We probably conversed for little more than two or three minutes, and as I prepared to leave I shook his hand, jokingly assuring him, that though my camera was in the car I wouldn’t be returning for photos, at least, not unless my friend doubted me!  He took this as lightly as intended, and doubt he would’ve objected even if I had returned.  As I headed back, I offered my own royal wave in acknowledgement of his greeting: “Happy Easter!”

Ahhh, my new best friend! I was grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat, and the banter for the rest of the day, and beyond, hardly stopped.

I maybe regret not being chattier - but that might have been impertinent and I was mindful of his right to privacy.  However, the magnitude of the event even several months on surprised me.

What would you have said or asked His Royal Highness, second in line to our throne? Add your comment, but mind you keep it clean, he may be watching!

That Goatee belies one very happy bunny

'The Lakes', is a very beautiful area of Britain indeed, though the link may be tenuous, spotting Black Grouse in the Cumbrian moors is just about as rare as meeting royalty. Six years ago I watched Blackcock Grouse Lekking in Norway and hope you enjoyed my Boo rendition and YouTube illustration from The Cairngorms in Scotland.

Keep a clear heed folks, yer eyes peeled, camera and binoculars close at hand, 'cause you never know what rare event, creatures or persons, you may see in this amazing countryside of ours.

Happy Easter! TPH