Sea Views from the Kitchen Windows

Please forgive the unforgivable silence. We have just returned from a ten-day trip away; I had fondly promised myself that every day I would find the opportunity to relax briefly in a leisurely fashion in front of my iPad and write stimulating posts from our various destinations.
A hectic schedule laid on by the two separate friends we stayed with in Ireland, coupled with a very poor (and expensive) Internet connection completely put paid to that idea. However, very worryingly my sister is seriously ill in Durban, South Africa, so it may well be that I have to fly out there for a few days; if so, silences may persist for while longer. This time John will be here, always when we are away Janet moves in to hold the fort, which she does so well, looking after the guests so well one almost suspects they get a better deal when we are not around.

While we were away we missed all sorts of excitements like the Olympic Torch which came through Ashbourne last Friday June 29th, the Parwich Open Gardens and Parwich Wakes. Our trip was not short of delights, fortunately. We first of all went to a very nostalgic and enjoyable reunion dinner of Bramcote School Scarborough Old Bramcotians, pupils and staff to mark the end of the Bramcote school of the past and the birth of the new ‘Bramcote Junior School’ of the future as it merges with Scarborough College.

After a shortish night in a brilliant B&Bwe set off for ireland, crossing from Liverpool to Dublin on the overnight ferry. We then drove straight to Portsalon, in Donegal where we spent three very happy days with some very good friends that go back a long way. We then drive down the west coast to Durrus, near Bantry Bay, to stay with yet more good friends. The sea was very much a feature, especially Donegal’s golden (glowingly golden) beaches.

The sea was a feature, much talk and laughter and reminiscing featured strongly too, as did some wonderful meals with particularly lovely fresh fish (back to the sea again…). And yes, it rained there too, almost all of the time though we did see some watery sun from time to time.