The Yellow Spade Ltd

26/09/2026

Back in the shop now — here until 3 o’clock if you need anything. 🌱

It’s been a good few days up at Thirlmere. You can’t escape Hullies wherever you go — there was one parked right next to me and another only three motorhomes away. 😂

Stayed at High Bridge End Caravan & Camping Site, Thirlmere, Keswick, CA12 4TG. First-class little site and one I can definitely recommend.

On the last day, Summer, Ambrose and I made it to the top of Raven Crag. The knees just about made it back down again! 😂

I spent the afternoon with three other chaps taking pictures of passing aircraft. It was like an episode of Last of the Summer W**e — four blokes stood on a hillside with cameras, discussing our various ailments, dodgy knees and the joys of getting older. 😂

Around 3pm it started turning colder, so I left the others to it and headed back to the van for a much-needed snooze before tea.

Baked beans, toast with lashings of butter, an egg and a big mug of tea. Perfect. ☕️

Anyway — holiday over. Back at The Yellow Spade and here until 3pm today. 🌱

23/09/2026

Not a bad office for the afternoon! ✈️📸

We’re sitting part-way up Raven Crag, looking down over Thirlmere Reservoir and the dam, with the great sweep of the Helvellyn range across the valley and the summit of Raven Crag still above us.

I’m camping nearby for a few days specifically to photograph the military low flying through the Lake District’s LFA17, and I’ve picked a particularly interesting week to come.

Exercise Cobra Warrior 26-2 is currently underway — a major RAF and NATO exercise involving aircraft from the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and United States. The MOD specifically lists LFA17 as one of the low-flying areas being used today, with multiple fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, and flying scheduled up to 5.30pm.

So what might come down this valley this afternoon? RAF Typhoons and F-35 Lightnings are among the aircraft participating in Cobra Warrior, alongside allied aircraft — although, as always with low flying, there are absolutely no guarantees that any of them will choose Thirlmere.

For now, Summer, Ambrose and I are quite happy with the view… but a Typhoon appearing over Thirlmere would improve it considerably. 😂✈️

22/09/2026

Nice views

22/09/2026

Just pulled up 2 turned on front of me followed by these 😊

21/09/2026

Watch the sky!

Hull/East Yorkshire area, Cobra Warrior 26-2 is active 07:00–17:30 today, with East Riding and Lincolnshire specifically included in the exercise area. The RAF confirms that Cobra Warrior includes Typhoons, F-35s, P-8 Poseidons, Voyagers and participating German, Italian and American aircraft.

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21/09/2026

WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT?

The news and social media seem to be flooded with the small-boats debate. I’m sick of seeing it — Take a step back and look at 20 years of immigration into Britain. Small-boat arrivals account for only around 1½% of long-term immigration over that period.

Think about that.

Around 98½% of long-term immigration was NOT represented by small-boat arrivals. The overwhelming majority of people migrating to Britain come through other routes — many to work, study or join family, travelling with passports, visas or other permission where required. Others arrive through humanitarian schemes, and some are British citizens returning home. So next time you see someone you assume may be new to Britain, remember: You cannot tell by looking at someone how they came here — or what their immigration status is. The person working in your hospital, caring for somebody in a care home, studying at university, building your house, working in a restaurant or simply walking down your street is overwhelmingly more likely not to have arrived across the Channel in a small boat.
None of that means dangerous Channel crossings, people smuggling or the asylum system shouldn’t be discussed. But perhaps the sheer amount of anger, fear and attention surrounding small boats deserves a little perspective. 20 years. Around 98½% immigration not small boats. Around 1½% small boats.

Not open this week, taking the dogs for a walk. 🙏. Yes the graphic is AI😂

20/09/2026

https://youtube.com/shorts/pKXFtEcJop8?is=Xq04NRTbGMRR5ku5

19/09/2026

Might pop for a look next week 😊🙏

19/09/2026

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Queens Gardens shock Horror!!!!

Meanwhile in Pearson park the logness monster is breeding …..

😂

Precautionary measures are in place