Monday 13th - day 351
This is our last day in Ireland, and it was mizzly to start with, but brightened up steadily until it became a glorious afternoon!
We decided to drive over to look at Strangford Lough, stopping first at Killybeagh, a smart little town dominated by a huge gothic style, privately owned castle. The owners had left the gates open so that the plebs could look in, but there was a clear sign instructing us not to step over the threshold!
We then took the back roads along the lough, stopping at a dreamy little bay to eat our lunch, as the tide drifted out and the wading birds drifted in! Full and rested, we looked for somewhere to 
walk, so drove along to Whiterock, a beautiful wide bay, with a harbour full of boats, a marina, lots of seaweed and a ruined castle. The sunshine gave everything a golden glow, and we parked up to walk along the side of the waters edge.
We stopped just past a lighthouse boat called Ballydorn, and must have been looking inquisitive, because the proud Committee Chairman of the Down Cruising Club came and asked us if we 
would like to look around. Well, it would have been churlish to refuse!! So we didn’t and got a grand tour of the old craft, which the band of faithful enthusiasts, who had purchased the vessel for £2,000 40 years earlier, had modernised and renovated to accommodate parties and functions. Rather proudly he showed us the Captains quarters, which they had left in place.
We chatted for a while, before continuing our walk along the road, until the path moved away from the water.
Tuesday 14th - day 352
We are heading back to blighty today, with mixed feelings. It has to be said that our last couple of weeks have been bighted by bad weather or financial misery, and whilst we are sad to be leaving this lovely island, we are looking forward to being back on the mainland where we can access information and take action more easily!
We had an easy if wet journey up the motorway to the ferry port, then an easy (if wet) crossing!! We decided to buy ourselves a hot lunch as we would be on the road for the rest of the day, and were each treated to a really tasty (and inexpensive) steak and kidney pie, tick-VG to Stenaline!
We were back on the road by 2pm, and we drove all the way to Kendal in miserable rain, and by the time we came to park the caravan, the fields had been replaced by lakes, and we looked a very sorry sight as we tried to manoeuvre into a (hoped for) parking quagmire/space when Chris could not see my waving and gesticulating in the dark and rainy conditions,
We were soaking wet, and looked a very sorry sight, by the time we had finished! So it was straight on to the flat for a hot bath, and a curl up on the sofa, I am beginning to look forward to living in the flat.
Wednesday 15th - day 353
We are only at the flat for three days, so there will be no time for play, as we need to do the usual repairs and maintenance. We had a bit of a chaotic start, as we were visited by the
Surveyor and the Solicitor at the same time, (preparing for the Management Group) and just when the flat was looking like an overheated Chinese laundry, but in a muddily sort of a way we made reasonable progress!
In the afternoon we scooted down to Kendal to do some shopping, and get some provisions, and were back in time (before it started to rain again!)to give the flower bed a good old weeding, as it was looking very overgrown. We are beginning to love the growing feelings of familiarity.
Thursday 16th - day 354
I don’t think that we left the flat today it was all work, work, work.
But there was a thrilling moment when we saw out of the sitting room window a great theatrical display of contrasts as the rain fell on one side of the fells and there was a watery sunshine on the other, giving glorious displays of light and shadow as the mist rolled across the fell sides. We stopped and watched it from our sitting room for a while. A joy which I am sure will be repeated often in a few weeks!
Friday 17th - day 355
After another day of repairing and cleaning we were ready to depart for Clitheroe, after a lovely catch up and cup of tea with Richard and Sue East, who are staying for the week at the flat.
We had a tricky start to the journey as one of the wheels had got jammed, and would not turn, making it very difficult to pull the caravan out of the mud, but we did get moving after a few forward and reverse manoeuvres!
Grandpa and Tim were ready to escort us to the farm in West Bradford where the caravan was going to spend the five days that we are with the family, and Tim was very helpful in assisting us park up!
It was good to see him, and we all had another lovely catch up after supper!
Saturday 18th - day 356
We had a really lazy day today. As Hannah joined us at coffee time, and having picked her up, we all went to the Emporium to meet Al for coffee (and Nachos for Tim!) After a leisurely linger over coffee and a mooch round the gift shop we returned to the Orchard for lunch at the wrinks.
We never left the comfort of the settees all afternoon, hardly an appetite inducing activity, but as soon as Vic was home from work, we all headed up to the Calf’s Head for a Worston Whale (enormous fish and chips)
We waddled back to Al and Vic’s for drinks, and at the end of the evening my walking pal and I really enjoyed the walk back to the wrinks in the rain, loving the fresh air and exercise, even if wet!
Sunday 19th - day 357
We have enjoyed another lazy day of eating ad talking, though some of us were virtuous enough to get up and go to church – but not all of us!!
After church, we all trooped up to Al and Vic’s for a little sherry and a lot of excellent fish pie!
It took some persuading to get the workers to return to their computers to prepare for the working week, whilst those on holiday donned the marigolds! After a while though we had all returned to the comfy sofa!
Once again we needed the walk back to the wrinks to find some comfort from all the eating of the weekend!!
This is our last day in Ireland, and it was mizzly to start with, but brightened up steadily until it became a glorious afternoon!
We decided to drive over to look at Strangford Lough, stopping first at Killybeagh, a smart little town dominated by a huge gothic style, privately owned castle. The owners had left the gates open so that the plebs could look in, but there was a clear sign instructing us not to step over the threshold!
We then took the back roads along the lough, stopping at a dreamy little bay to eat our lunch, as the tide drifted out and the wading birds drifted in! Full and rested, we looked for somewhere to walk, so drove along to Whiterock, a beautiful wide bay, with a harbour full of boats, a marina, lots of seaweed and a ruined castle. The sunshine gave everything a golden glow, and we parked up to walk along the side of the waters edge.We stopped just past a lighthouse boat called Ballydorn, and must have been looking inquisitive, because the proud Committee Chairman of the Down Cruising Club came and asked us if we would like to look around. Well, it would have been churlish to refuse!! So we didn’t and got a grand tour of the old craft, which the band of faithful enthusiasts, who had purchased the vessel for £2,000 40 years earlier, had modernised and renovated to accommodate parties and functions. Rather proudly he showed us the Captains quarters, which they had left in place.We chatted for a while, before continuing our walk along the road, until the path moved away from the water.
Tuesday 14th - day 352
We are heading back to blighty today, with mixed feelings. It has to be said that our last couple of weeks have been bighted by bad weather or financial misery, and whilst we are sad to be leaving this lovely island, we are looking forward to being back on the mainland where we can access information and take action more easily!
We had an easy if wet journey up the motorway to the ferry port, then an easy (if wet) crossing!! We decided to buy ourselves a hot lunch as we would be on the road for the rest of the day, and were each treated to a really tasty (and inexpensive) steak and kidney pie, tick-VG to Stenaline!
We were back on the road by 2pm, and we drove all the way to Kendal in miserable rain, and by the time we came to park the caravan, the fields had been replaced by lakes, and we looked a very sorry sight as we tried to manoeuvre into a (hoped for) parking quagmire/space when Chris could not see my waving and gesticulating in the dark and rainy conditions,
We were soaking wet, and looked a very sorry sight, by the time we had finished! So it was straight on to the flat for a hot bath, and a curl up on the sofa, I am beginning to look forward to living in the flat.
Wednesday 15th - day 353
We are only at the flat for three days, so there will be no time for play, as we need to do the usual repairs and maintenance. We had a bit of a chaotic start, as we were visited by the
Surveyor and the Solicitor at the same time, (preparing for the Management Group) and just when the flat was looking like an overheated Chinese laundry, but in a muddily sort of a way we made reasonable progress!In the afternoon we scooted down to Kendal to do some shopping, and get some provisions, and were back in time (before it started to rain again!)to give the flower bed a good old weeding, as it was looking very overgrown. We are beginning to love the growing feelings of familiarity.
Thursday 16th - day 354
I don’t think that we left the flat today it was all work, work, work.
But there was a thrilling moment when we saw out of the sitting room window a great theatrical display of contrasts as the rain fell on one side of the fells and there was a watery sunshine on the other, giving glorious displays of light and shadow as the mist rolled across the fell sides. We stopped and watched it from our sitting room for a while. A joy which I am sure will be repeated often in a few weeks!
Friday 17th - day 355
After another day of repairing and cleaning we were ready to depart for Clitheroe, after a lovely catch up and cup of tea with Richard and Sue East, who are staying for the week at the flat.
We had a tricky start to the journey as one of the wheels had got jammed, and would not turn, making it very difficult to pull the caravan out of the mud, but we did get moving after a few forward and reverse manoeuvres!
Grandpa and Tim were ready to escort us to the farm in West Bradford where the caravan was going to spend the five days that we are with the family, and Tim was very helpful in assisting us park up!
It was good to see him, and we all had another lovely catch up after supper!
Saturday 18th - day 356
We had a really lazy day today. As Hannah joined us at coffee time, and having picked her up, we all went to the Emporium to meet Al for coffee (and Nachos for Tim!) After a leisurely linger over coffee and a mooch round the gift shop we returned to the Orchard for lunch at the wrinks.
We never left the comfort of the settees all afternoon, hardly an appetite inducing activity, but as soon as Vic was home from work, we all headed up to the Calf’s Head for a Worston Whale (enormous fish and chips)
We waddled back to Al and Vic’s for drinks, and at the end of the evening my walking pal and I really enjoyed the walk back to the wrinks in the rain, loving the fresh air and exercise, even if wet!Sunday 19th - day 357
We have enjoyed another lazy day of eating ad talking, though some of us were virtuous enough to get up and go to church – but not all of us!!
After church, we all trooped up to Al and Vic’s for a little sherry and a lot of excellent fish pie!
It took some persuading to get the workers to return to their computers to prepare for the working week, whilst those on holiday donned the marigolds! After a while though we had all returned to the comfy sofa!
Once again we needed the walk back to the wrinks to find some comfort from all the eating of the weekend!!
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