01Jan1875, The Skating Was Grand

HOLKER, Friday, New Year's Day, 1875.
—Yesterday should have changed places with to-day for weather; it was dismal, black, and raw. Nevertheless we set out stoutly for Windermere along with Drewry sons and daughter. Began to snow halfway there, and went on till dark with hail, sleet, and rain modifications at last. The skating, however, was grand, the wind blowing much of the snow off the ice, which was splendid, black, and hard, the lake frozen quite round, right across, and nearly up to Bowness.