[2026]
10:00 Trip to Louth
… I shut down the computer
(09:43, and got ready to go out. I had in mind for the taxi to take us to
the far end of Hubbard’s Hills (“Hubbard’s Hills Free Car Park” on
“Halfpenny Lane” on the Maps app); but Janet wondered whether
there’d be a toilet there. “Satellite View” gave no indication of
such; so we decided that we’d be dropped off at the nearer end,
“Hubbard’s Hills, Crowtree Lane, Louth LN11 0QW”, where we knew there
was a toilet (indeed, Maps has a “ ”
symbol there).
The taxi arrived (ca.10:00). I got in the front seat; Janet
got in the rear. The driver had Jamaican-style dreadlocks, but his name,
according to a card on the dashboard, was Hossam Osman. We’d not been
going long, when I asked him where he was from, for his accent was
definitely not Caribbean despite his appearance. He wasn’t black, either,
but then, neither did Bob Marley, with his narrow nose, appear black to my
eyes. Anyway, he answered, “Egypt”; so there followed quite a long
conversation about our holiday there. He mentioned the new Grand Egyptian
Museum in Cairo. We said that we’d visited the old one, and had seen the
mask of Tutankhamun there. I said that I did Darth Vader impressions when I
saw it. I commented that if the religion hadn’t reverted to the worship of
Amun, then he would have been called Tutankhaten. We mentioned the
“realism” of the art in his father’s day, that Akhenaten was chinless
with an overbite.
On the way, his daughter phoned. She was on holiday abroad somewhere,
but was calling him twice a day. “Was she born in Egypt?” I asked,
because they’d been speaking in Arabic. No, she was born here, but he’d
insisted on using Arabic at home, though she spoke it with an English
accent.
Towards the end of the trip there was mention of Abraham, that (Hossam
Osman said) the honour of firstborn son should go to Ishmael, not Isaac.
Indeed, I pointed out that whereas in the Bible, God says “I am the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”, in the Qur’an it’s “I am the God of
Abraham and Ishmael.” But I countered this by saying that, when God calls
Abraham to offer his son, he says, “Take your son, your only son, whom you
love — Isaac…” That, I attempted to say, was because Isaac was the son
God had promised. I said that when God told him to take his son the word
used in the Greek translation was “monogenēs” (“I don’t know
what the word is, in Hebrew”). I realise, as I write this…, that I made
a mistake in saying this. For in Genesis 22:1–2, the LXX
has:
- …God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham,
Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” And he said, “Take your
beloved son Isaac, whom you love…”
In fact, it is in Hebrews, where “monogenēs” (NIV:
“one and only”) is used (11:17–19), referring to this story:
- By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as
a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his
one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through
Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God
could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac
back from death.
Anyway, we ran out of time then, because we
arrived. We didn’t go all the way to the Hubbard’s Hills estate; he
dropped us off just before the footbridge over the Lud, some 250 yards
before the actual site entrance. I paid him, using the Wallet app on
the phone held against a card-payment device (£38.80: the payment didn’t
go through till “16:37”). Janet also handed him a cash tip. As we were
getting out, I said, “Shukran!”, and he replied, “Afwan!”
Saturday 4 July 2026 10:39:35
Footbridge from Crowtree Lane across the River Lud and footpath south to
Hubbard’s Hills
We did, in fact, visit the toilets at the
entrance, before setting out.
Saturday 4 July 2026 10:46:59
Notice board at the entrance to Hubbard’s Hills
Saturday 4 July 2026 10:52:24
Heading initially westwards through Hubbard’s Hills
Saturday 4 July 2026 10:55:16
Heading westwards through Hubbard’s Hills: looking back
Panning right after taking the above photo, I came to
the Annie Pahud Memorial Drinking Fountain on the other side, just in the
bend where the River Lud changes from north-flowing to east; but there was a
woman standing in front of it, in the way of my taking a photo, and she
remained there for a long time;—
Location of the Annie Pahud Memorial Drinking Fountain, relative to the
“10:55:16” photo [map from “MLI98983 - Pahud Memorial, Hubbards Hills,
Louth - Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer”; captions mine]
—so I gave up, and caught up with Janet.
Saturday 4 July 2026 10:56:39
Hubbard’s Hills: thistles and nettles
I saw a small (perhaps less than an inch across), very
dark (perhaps indigo) butterfly flitting around.
Saturday 4 July 2026 10:58:05
Hubbard’s Hills: molehills
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:00:31
Continuing southwards through Hubbard’s Hills
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:06:54
Continuing southwards through Hubbard’s Hills
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:16:19
Hubbard’s Hills: approaching Halfpenny Lane (left)
Janet was looking at a notice board showing different
species of trees occurring in the woods of Hubbard’s Hills, but it
unhelpfully didn’t have pictures of their leaves. I wondered whether a
tree I’d seen earlier was a “small leaved lime”, but a lookup of
foliage on the phone’s browser (11:18) didn’t match what I’d seen. Janet
had been doubtful of her ability to walk back along the valley-top, but she
managed it with only a little occasional help bidden from me.
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:21:48
Hubbard’s Hills: left turn and steps to the valley top
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:22:40
Hubbard’s Hills: steps to the valley top and Louth Golf Club
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:25:16
Hubbard’s Hills: left turn, northwards along the valley top
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:26:02
Hubbard’s Hills: continuing along the valley top
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:32:46
Hubbard’s Hills: hornbeam
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:37:32
Hubbard’s Hills: continuing along the valley top; (right:) Louth Golf Club
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:42:20
Hubbard’s Hills: view left across the valley
It was just beyond this point, when a golf ball came
over from Louth Golf Club the right, and started bouncing, bouncing down the
steep slope. I think its progress into the valley was stopped by a log that
was lying there. No-one came to retrieve it.
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:49:18
Hubbard’s Hills: continuing along the valley top
We came to a point where there was a path leading off
the one we were on, in a U-turn to the left, and we took it.
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:52:56
Hubbard’s Hills: leaving the main path; sharp turn left to the valley
bottom
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:55:39
Hubbard’s Hills: continuing to the valley bottom
The clear path seemed to disappear; but I went ahead
to investigate, and found that it did, in fact, lead to the valley bottom,
indeed much sooner than I expected it to. So I went back to help Janet over
a rough part. It seemed unlikely to me that it would be equipped with a
handrail at the start, then fenced off from a steep drop, only to disappear
part-way down.
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:57:49
Hubbard’s Hills: continuing to the valley bottom
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:59:03
Hubbard’s Hills: emerging at the valley bottom
Saturday 4 July 2026 11:59:41
Hubbard’s Hills: What sort of tree is this?
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:02:14
Hubbard’s Hills: continuing to the River Lud, south side
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:02:25
Hubbard’s Hills: stepping stones across the River Lud, south to north
I’d lost my sense of direction at this point, for
the river seemed to be flowing the wrong way, left to right. So the Annie
Pahud Memorial Drinking Fountain was to be found by taking the path leading
to the left from the footbridge in the “12:02:14” photo.
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:04:15
Hubbard’s Hills: forget-me-nots
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:07:01
Hubbard’s Hills: Annie Pahud Memorial Drinking Fountain, left (south-west)
of “12:02:14”
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:07:52
Hubbard’s Hills: Annie Pahud Memorial Drinking Fountain
After visiting the Memorial, we crossed the
footbridge, turned right, and headed to the exit.
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:11:25
Hubbard’s Hills: proceeding eastwards to the exit
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:14:17
Hubbard’s Hills: exit into Crowtree Lane
Janet visited the toilets again; I didn’t, but as I
waited I took this photo (below):
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:19:31
Rather “nannying” yellow sign on the toilet block at the entrance to
Hubbard’s Hills: “Please remember you are out in the countryside…”
— duh!
Janet had looked up “Italian restaurants” on her
tablet yesterday, and had decided on “Montebello Ristorante, 37 Upgate”,
because she’d seen “Crème Brûlée” in the “Menu highlights”. I
plotted the route from our current location to there using “ ” in
the Maps app, and we followed the slightly longer-distance alternative that
took us through Westgate Fields. I also looked up “indigo butterfly” in
the browser (12:23–12:25), but couldn’t find a match.
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:28:54
Old Mill House, Crowtree Lane, boarded up
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:29:50
Entering and crossing Westgate Fields, Louth
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:37:26
Leaving Westgate Fields, Louth, to proceed ahead along Westgate;—
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:40:52
—continuing along Westgate;—
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:43:45
—bearing right along Breakneck Lane;—
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:46:11
—turning left into Gospelgate;—
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:47:30
—passing The Bede Houses,[i] 73 Gospelgate, Louth;—
-
[i] A Bede House (derived from the Old English word for prayer) historically
refers to an almshouse or hospital founded by a church or wealthy
benefactor. In exchange for clothing, food and lodging, the residents (known
as bedesmen or bedeswomen) were required to pray regularly for the souls of
their benefactors. [Google “AI Mode”, derived from English Heritage
Shop]
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:52:09
—turning right at the end of Gospelgate into Upgate, to arrive at our
destination: Montebello Ristorante, 37 Upgate, Louth.
Saturday 4 July 2026 12:53:03
Menu, posted by the door
If “Crème Brûlée” had been her major selling point for this
establishment, then my seeing “Grappa” (only £2.50) listed under
“Digestivo” in the menu on the table would have been mine. In
addition to the items in the photos below, Janet also had a J2O “Orange
and Passion Fruit”. Not only did it not appear in the photos, it wasn’t
included in the bill, Janet noticed afterwards; so if we go there again,
she’ll tell them.
Saturday 4 July 2026 13:13:04
Montebello Ristorante, Louth: Aperol Spritz, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, and
San Pellegrino (Melograno arancia)
Saturday 4 July 2026 13:45:19
Montebello Ristorante, Louth: Pollo alla Romano, with Salad; Porchetta, with
Chips with Truffle Oil and Parmesan
Saturday 4 July 2026 14:19:12
Montebello Ristorante, Louth: Crème Brûlée, Grappa, and Caffè Americano
con Latte Caldo
Saturday 4 July 2026 14:36:20
Montebello Ristorante, Louth: il conto
I paid, using the Wallet app on my phone (£61.80, “14:37”). Janet also
gave the waitress a cash tip.
I used “” in the
Maps app to get us by the shortest route to St.
James’ Church.
Saturday 4 July 2026 14:45:35
Heading north-west along Upgate, Louth, towards St. James’ Church
Saturday 4 July 2026 14:48:03
Turning left along the south side of St. James’ Church, Louth, from Upgate;—
Saturday 4 July 2026 14:49:35
—to enter through the porch near its far end
Saturday 4 July 2026 14:51:52
St. James’ Church, Louth: east window
Saturday 4 July 2026 14:52:25
St. James’ Church, Louth: looking west
Saturday 4 July 2026 14:53:11
St. James’ Church, Louth: font and west window
Saturday 4 July 2026 14:53:20
St. James’ Church, Louth: ceiling, seen from the same location as
“14:53:11”
Saturday 4 July 2026 15:02:21
St. James’ Church, Louth: Vanilla Cake, Bakewell Tart and Hot Chocolate;
KitKat and Tea
I asked the server about going up the tower, but he told me that the church
would be closing at 4.00pm, and what’s more there was a clean-up needed
following the breeding by Peregrine Falcons up there. After Janet and I went
our separate ways to look around the church, I made a Gift-Aided cash
donation. It was only after we met up again, that she pointed out the
machine, similar to the ones by which I’d made payments in the churches we
visited in Liverpool.
Saturday 4 July 2026 15:21:13
St. James’ Church, Louth: £20 donation, Gift Aided
Saturday 4 July 2026 15:28:25
St. James’ Church, Louth: open Bible on a table, showing Isaiah 59:19b –
62:6a
Saturday 4 July 2026 15:28:59
St. James’ Church, Louth: model of the church, on the same table
Saturday 4 July 2026 15:29:12
St. James’ Church, Louth: another model of the church, nearby
Saturday 4 July 2026 15:35:05
St. James’ Church, Louth: chancel, high altar, and east window
Saturday 4 July 2026 15:35:27
St. James’ Church, Louth: St. Stephen’s Chapel in the south-east corner
Saturday 4 July 2026 15:36:05
St. James’ Church, Louth: north-east corner
Saturday 4 July 2026 15:36:57
St. James’ Church, Louth: nave and north aisle
Saturday 4 July 2026 15:39:45
St. James’ Church, Louth: ceiling of nave
I had the notion that there was a taxi rank in Market Place, so we
headed there, rather than my finding and requesting a taxi by phone.
Saturday 4 July 2026 15:59:30
Old Market Hall, Market Place, Louth
Saturday 4 July 2026 16:00:07
Taxi Rank, Market Place, Louth
Saturday 4 July 2026 16:00:07 (detail)
Taxi Rank, Market Place, Louth: about to board this taxi
Again, I sat in the front and Janet in the rear. The driver asked us whether
we’d been following the football, and when we told him we weren’t
interested in it he said that he wasn’t either. On arrival at our
destination, I paid using the Wallet app (£36.00, “16:31”), and Janet
handed over a cash tip, before we got out and entered the house (16:33).…
[2026]
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