Christmas Day Madness

...all in the name of charity, some hardy (or slightly mad) souls took to the water on Christmas morning, leaping into Lough Graney (then leaping out again and having mulled wine or hot chocolate)

Spot anyone you recognise ??


...don't let the photos fool you. It was absolutely freezing !!!

Visit to Santa...

On Sunday we had a trip out to the Slieve Aughty Riding centre to visit Santa. Lovely place, very festively decorated, ponies dressed as reindeer and helpers as elves, fairies, cats.



Free pony rides, food and drinks included in the admission


and of course the opportunity to visit the fella in red.

(L-R, Ellie, Santa, Donal, Colm)

Dad... I did it !!!

...after years of trying, I've finally mastered making Yorkshire puddings with a hollow in the middle !!!!

Persistence, and not overfilling the tins !!!

Random images.....

A few of Ellie's "cold and frosty morning" photos taken last week...

Oh Christmas tree....

Oh Christmas tree....
Finally got round to sorting out this year's tree. On Saturday morning 3 adults and 5 children set off in a VW Polo to the forest to cut this year's trees. Said VW returned fully laden with the 3 trees tied on the roof.

We picked a big 'un !! The layout of the hallway allows the tree to go up the height of both floors.

Most amusing getting it through the front door and up, but it was managed in the end. The finished result was ably decorated by Ellie, Donal and Colm.

Chicken carol singers...

.... it was just an amusing photo so though I'd share.

Return of the deer...

Cold weather bringing them down from the mountains ?? No idea, but the deer are back in the garden.
The fence keeps them out of the veg garden so we're happy for them to roam everywhere else and nibble the grass.

(click on the photos for a larger version)

Winter......

Blimey - almost 2 months since I last posted.
So what news ?
Well - the leaves are off the trees, the polytunnel is almost empty apart from a tenuous bit of lettuce and the remaining few carrots. Leeks and kale are the winter stalwarts in the veg plot and we've eaten most of the potatoes..... must plant more next year !!

Steve's joined the East Clare Musical Society in response to an appeal for male singers - the performance of Sugar (musical stage version of "Some Like It Hot") starts tomorrow and runs till Sunday.

I've started horse-riding again after a 20 year break since losing my nerve following a fall.... It's coming back to me and I'm beginning to enjoy it. I ride out 3 mornings a week with a local man (who has several horses and kindly lets me help exercise them)

I'm also back in the gym to combat the lethargy caused by the lack of daylight and gardening... beating the January rush...

Eleanor's looking forward to Christmas - Father Christmas letter has been written and posted today. School is doing a production of "Oliver" in January so they're busy learning songs and dances for that.

Still no luck on the job front for either of us - but we're hoping the new year may bring new opportunity.

That's about it for now... will post some photos of the frosty garden soon

Return to the UK

Decided to have a few days in the UK visiting parents before Christmas and doing a bit of shopping for things we can't get hold of over here (Stilton, macaroni and cheap booze)

Spent a lovely couple of days with both sets of parents, ate far too much trifle (thanks Grandma Rose) and managed a whizz up the M1 to see Dave, Mandy, Maddy and Kev in Yorkshire where we had a most excellent evening (and a most excellent curry too)

Pic of Ellie with Grandpa Ron