Coming up for air: a walk up the Old Man of Coniston

Why hi! Hello there! It’s been awhile!

It’s hard to believe but just over a week ago, I sent off my Ph.D. dissertation! It felt so odd and exhilarating to press the send button and be faced with ten glorious days of limbo before I fly to the US for a conference and then my formal Ph.D. defense, which will be the official conclusion of my seven years (!) in graduate school.

As a little surprise, Mr. N took me away for a few days last week to the South Lakes where we could enjoy a bit of a break and the last days of summer in the Northwest.  We fit a lot into three days, but one of my favorite bits was hiking up the Old Man of Coniston, which is a large fell on the west side of Coniston Water.  It dominates the landscape, and we had beautiful views from the spot we were married, which is on the east side of Coniston Water.  We’ve both wanted to go up it ever since.

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