Well – back from Ireland now. Fantastic time was had by all. Spent 6 days on a boat called Bernadette 4 cruising up the Shannon. Started out in Athlone, on the first day we pootled up through Lough Ree and stayed near Termonbarry on the first night. Up through some lovely waterways, Loughs and Locks into Carrick-on-Shannon and onto Lough Key for our third night. Hung around there in the forest, fished (caught nowt) and then spent the next 2 days pootling back down to Athlone.
A whole week without computers, telly, news and very limited phone (was saving it for emergency power). A lot of thinking time (once did a 7 hour steering marathon) and loads of family time. Photos to follow..

Ploughed through a fantastic book called The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It’s an at times brutally realistic father and son story based mainly in Afghanistan. It’s hard to get a ‘real’ account of some places – a well written novel is perhaps one of the best ways of getting to know a place without actually going there. Hosseini didn’t disappoint.

Flew back in on Sunday night, went out to Moko Lounge and had a superbly fun night. Ended up catching up with loads of friends. A total contrast to the chill of the still on the Shannon.

Watched the cricket on Monday. England beat India, looking good! touch wood.

In Athlone, in the midle of Ireland, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

We are going to be pootling up the Shannon’s lakes etc for the next week. Just got here and got the boat sorted out. Bit of shore leave to get provisions and have a crafty pint of the black stuff.

Cracking weekend. Went up to Spiers House campsite in the North Riding Forest again. Went with some friends of ours who have the same shaped family as ours. Ended up stopping up for a bit on Friday night, Saturday we went for an epic walk across the moors and country lanes. Picnicked by a river then let the kids fill themselves with fresh clean air as we strode through a sea of purple heather – that was probably the highlight. Beautiful neck of the woods quite literally.
Stopped up very late on Saturday night round the camp fire. Drank and was merry. On Sunday I accidentally went to sleep for most of the day. It felt like the first proper full UK summer weekend I’ve experienced this year!

Eirene was away in London for the weekend so I was Han Solo Dad. Got into a superb graphic novel called “Y the Last Man” I finished the first book on Friday and has to go back to the comic shop to get the next couple of issues – Destination Venus (Westminster Arcade, Harrogate) is a superb shop, thousands of old school comics – DC, Marvel that sort of thing as well as a top array of edgy gritty graphic novels (right up my street) – why I have not discovered it before now is beyond me –

On Saturday, teamed up with some others and went to the Tockwith Show at the Great Yorkshire Show ground. Poor organisers – not only was the first venue flooded out (hence the move to the GYS ground) but a foot and mouth scare hit – so all the cattle, sheep and pigs had to stay at home! The kids got to play on loads of stuff though and we got to see some vintage tractors though. The chicken, rabbit and pigeon tent was quite fascinating. There were some incredible freaky looking specimens in there. Rare breed I’m sure but to a rank armature like me, it was a spectacle of odd looking animals. Some of the rabbits were purpose built to make all women and children go squeaky.

Yesterday – drank American beer in the sun, cooked a big Sunday roast to welcome Eirene home. She had a top time in that London.

Multiple cheese, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

for those who were there (pictured above) I’ve stuck the photos I took at Dave and Holly’s wedding in a set : Dave and Holly get hitched!