Donegal

Leaving work early is always going to feel like cheating in an exam, even if you're entitled to it. However, when you're leaving on 2 weeks holiday it feels like you finished the exam early and still have 30 minutes to cross the t's and doodle on the side paper.
Lou was waiting at home for my arrival and after making last minute checks, we jumped into the car and made the 3 1/2 hour journey to Dunfanaghy. At around 6pm, we were joined on the road by Don, Colin and Brian, giving us time ahead to light the fire and slip into a lower gear with a cold beer.
We spent the evening getting slowly sozzled and most likely talking a lot of nonsense. I don't sleep well on alcohol or foreign places and woke feeling rubbery and in need of repair. Luckily I perked up after a coffee and once everyone was bright and breezy, we went in search for food. After picking up a few provisions we took the coastal route around the cliffs enjoying these views:


After that there was only one thing to do and that was hit the beach! An entire afternoon passed like the blink of an eye swimming, playing boules, kicking football and relaxing in the sun. I had one of those truly "perfect feelings" where your spine tingles and you count yourself blessed that you're right, here, right now and part of whatever it is that makes you contented. Here's some photos of the magical occasion:



Just look at that manly posing! Shame about the hat....

There's only one thing you can do after a day on the beach and that's have a BBQ. We drove back to the house, picked up the food and grill and hot-footed it along the beach to a perfect spot half way along the sand dunes. After a few flecks of faux rain, the sun came back with avengeance and provided a perfect late afternoon shine on the proceedings. Burgers, sausages, pork strips, chicken wings and other meaty treats were washed down with cold beer and red wine until all were fuller than Santas bag on Christmas Eve. After a day at the beach and a BBQ only one thing can follow it and that's sitting in a beer garden. However, most beer gardens are concrete floors and a picnic bench. Our beer garden was a long sloping back garden leading through to an old fort/castle with cannons and the garden itself lined with pear trees and rainbow coloured plants and bushes. Kids were running around high on sugar and playing tag, wrestling and occasionally crying because someone looked at them when they fell over.
We sauntered back to the house full of good cheer and stayed up into the night until sleep took over. Definitely a day to remember.

I couldn't ask for a better start to the holidays and with any luck there will be more days like it and I'll be sure to bring the camera. Until then, adieu mon amis!