Tim & Anna 2017

On Food & Drink I love Murphy’s, that I do, So… Tim Loves the double IPA from Ohara’s. And of course Smithwick’s Red, which has forever been a favourite of his. All are made within about three hours of us here. And I do love Dingle gin also… Fentiman’s is an Irish company that makes a really great tonic! (though I settle for fever tree as it's readily available) And Bewley’s a rich and beautiful cup of tea… Ethne, here at the market in Schull makes the best marmalade I’ve ever had, from Seville Oranges, best that is next to my dad’s. Local Irish Soda Bread at every market and grocery store, and much of it without wheat, and some without gluten...all delicious. Picture it smothered in marmalade, or for Tim, fresh raspberry jam. Dinner varies between fresh fish off the boat (we’ve had hake, plaice, dingle bay prawns, monkfish, salmon (which is only farmed in Ireland or Scotland now as there is a moratorium on fishing Salmon in the wild in order ...

Having been in the South West of Ireland for over a week, we are, without a doubt, in a land that speaks to us both. While we haven’t directly encountered the faeries yet, we are enchanted nevertheless. The warmth of the people, the startling varied greens of the land, the fantastic array of local foods to prepare, and, around every corner...truly every single corner, there is a surprise. Whether it is a cluster of sheep dotting the hills, at times hard to distinguish from the rocks lying about, or a craggy rock face jutting out over the sea, or the ruins of abbeys and stone circles and ancient standing stones, or the sailboats floating in every bay and harbour...it is a magic land for sure, and we are taking the time to explore it. Lots of it on foot, but often too in the car. After an amazing cliff side walk to what felt like the tip of the world today, we found ourselves heading home on a strangely abandoned road. Far more narrow than all the other narrow roads, grass growing up...

En route to Dublin we chose to take the train to Manchester, and spend a night there. We walked the city, tasting beer and enjoying the buildings and the sights. Tim was determined to have a Holt’s beer. The following morning we mistakenly got on the wrong train (at the right time, from the correct platform, on the advice of the railway staff who sorely needed a coffee!).Nevertheless, and with only a brief complaint (from the conductor!) and a more heated and irritated concern and argument (from us!) and the price of another ticket, so that we had to pay more than double the original ticket price, we were eventually on our way. I did wonder if we didn't pay, would he chuck us out the window, but as he was rather a thin and awkwardly uncomfortable young man, I suspected he'd have a difficult time with this. The trip across to Dublin from Holyhead was a windy and sea spray filled one, and we were definitely the lone two who stayed above board the entire voyage, save ...