Retired

I have now taken early retirement after 37 years at work, one day I was at there, the next I'd left the rat race. No more 3am phone calls. Maybe I'll work part-time but I don't think I'll need to. Stress level is currently at Defcon 0.

 

This year's Peas and Broad Beans are already sprouting

Behold the Lights of Cranley

It's that time of year again

Supermoon

Got a couple of shots with the camera on my phone of tonight's supermoon. 37 years before it occurs again, I'll be old and grey or pushing up daisies by then

Nice taste, odd name

Carlow here I come

Just a week to go until my annual birthday trip to Borris in Carlow. Elaine and David of The Forge run the best B&B ever. A few pints of O'Hara's Pale Ale will be downed no doubt

The Gathering

Harvest time

We have been getting a few eatable odds and ends out of the garden for the last couple of weeks but today, before the rain came on, I got out into the garden and got quite a harvest - peas, runner beans, spuds and tomatoes. We even got a handful of blueberries.

A bumper harvest

New toy

Now I can have real coffee at home

Ancient times

For Lynn's birthday we took a trip down to the Lecale area near Downpatrick, staying at Ballymote House on the Killough Road. We did a little walking and driving, taking the ferry and heading up the Ards Peninsula. As we were on holiday we ate out with a couple of nice meals in Curran's (Ardglass) and Still Waters Cove (Donaghadee). There is some good scenery and plenty of history to explore.

 Ballynoe Stone Circles

Slieve Patrick near Rahholp

Super Seafood

The old Governer Rocks restaurant in Donaghadee has been taken over by new owners and renamed Still Waters Cove. We went there last night for Lynn's birthday. They do good grub, I had a mean seafood platter. Watch out Pier36!

Full time

I'm now back to work full time after my operation and chemotherapy. It's hard due to ongoing fatigue, not to mention having to get into the 'work' mindset again. I think I need a holiday

Sailing boat heading out of Strangford Lough

Very punny

I was in Killough, near Ardglass, today. They have a pub there that goes by the name of The Ann Boal Inn. I thought the name was quite amusing

Growing up

The stuff in my raised bed is taking over

Glenveagh National Park

A nice spot to visit in Donegal

This is Ireland

Another 'This is Ireland' post. I really should think about doing this as a series

First selfie

Spent a couple of days in Donegal with friends. It rained the entire time but we still got a few walks in. While we were there I took my first ever selfie (see below). I still won't be joining any social media sites any time soon, though.

Fermanagh

I spent a night at The Watermill Lodge near Lisnaskea. This was the view from my room

Ghosts

Just playing about with some camera settings.

Me and a ghost

Football, football, football

All I hear is football. I fucking hate it. July 10th can't come soon enough.

Ballycrochan

Star Wars

My son Martyn got chatting with the barman  in Farren's when we were in Donegal last week. As mentioned in a previous post Mark Hamill had visited the bar. As a souvenir he left a stormtrooper boot signed 'Forcefully yours'. Here's a shot of Martyn with the boot

 A happy Star Wars fan

This is Ireland

Spotted in a bookshop in Donegal...