Marathon Man

Look at you, not a pretty sight eh? When was the last time you saw your knees without having to bend at 90 degrees? ( and what an effort it was just to do that!)
Your muscles are getting so flabby you’re starting to resemble a waxworks that’s been left out in the hot sun. Time for drastic action and that means EXERCISE. Tomorrow is the start of the rest of your life!

Well, it’s morning, do you still feel the same as last night? You do, well that’s great! You mean to start today? Excellent!

Ok now nice and easy, one leg in front of the other. Careful , you don’t want to overdo things this early in the program. Raise your head and back together. Too hard? Okay lie back and carefully move your left leg out to the side. GENTLY now. Good, now move your left arm out to the same side. Now we’re making progress. Roll your right shoulder over to your left side carefully bringing your right arm around in the same direction. I know it’s hard but you know what they say-no pain, no gain. Come on you’re almost there. Great now bring your right leg out in the same direction as your left one. PUSH! You can do this! Fantastic! Take five.

Okay, deep breath and raise your back and neck, Come on you can do this, you know you can. Almost there! YES! What a supreme effort you have made , you should be so proud!

Okay, so we’ve managed to get you out of bed , that’s enough for the first day. Tomorrow we’ll try to get dressed. Real clothes mind, no jogging pants and XXL T-shirts.

Eamon, Ah can see your Hoose from here!

Glorious sunset over Kilkee. I know I'm just a "Blow-in" but when you get the weather we had for the full week, there is really no other place on earth to be.

We arrived on the Thursday evening and, of course, Maureen had prepared one of her "wee snacks" which required 3 times around the cliff walk in order to return to our previous weight! We then headed down to the Strand to absorb the quite stunning sunset (that's Lee in the picture).

What followed on was a week of glorious sunshine, swimming every day at different locations - the beach, the Pollock holes, the white strand, Edmunds point (where we saw "Kays hole!"), and even a cross county trip to Lahinch (not that far really, but those Irish roads!). Picnics every day, perriwinkle picking (and eating Ugh!)and just generally chillin' with a book of your choice. Meeting people you hadn't seen for a while and getting all the news.

First Night



Picnic on White Strand



My favourite time was early(ish) in the morning. Up before anyone else and just sitting reading before the storm-AKA Cian, Lee and Mark-came to life.

Fourth year in a row now and I'm already ticking off the days until next year and, hopefully, the added pleasure of Rob, Therese and Eamon being there also.

The morning after the night before

'Nuff said!

It's my party and I'll ply (myself with drink) if I want to!

All the preparation is over. The grass is cut, the Gazebo stands proudly in the middle of the garden, the eight-man tent is erected for the kids (and maybe the paralysed drunks!), the house is cleaned from top to toe, the food is prepared, The keg is chillin' in the gazebo, and the party music is selected and organised (Thanks for a great job Cian).

The day of the party dawns; Well, the day of the party arrives full of grey clouds heavy with rain. Can you believe it's the worst day for about a month!

The guests all arrive on time (that's a promising sign). The lads stare gloomily out into the sopping garden and think, "I'm not going out there for any money". The lads stare gloomily at the gazebo and think, "That looks nice but I still aint going out in the rain". The lads stare at the Keg in the nice gazebo in the sopping garden and don't think. Standing room only in the gazebo!


There are 2 guitar players armed with their instruments and they entertain us with a variety of songs both old and new (we would have had 3 players but Kay is just too shy to play in public). Eveyone looks to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The last guests make their weary way home about 4.30am. At this time normal people would head to bed satisfied that their party was a success. This is a LOWE party however so Kay decides to take the KRAP out for a pyjama walk (by the way Lads you put on an awesome show.) After a little trouble retrieving the boys nightwear due to a locked door and a heavy sleeper Kay rigs out the lads from her Pyjama Mountain and off they go around the estate at 5.30 in the morning!


Thanks a million to everyone for making our Engagement-cum-Housewarming party a date to remember!

No Ordinary Monday

Yesterday I arrived home after work to the nicest surprise I could have wished for. In the garden our new gazebo was set up for a candlelit dinner for two and we sat there dining and listening to the rain (and some carefully selected music). But what I thought was a lovely treat was just the beginning of a very eventful evening.

Two certain boys came out to the garden bearing gifts - one gave me a bouquet of these......



The other gave me a bottle of this.......



Not bad for a Monday evening hey?

If you think the boys were generous, look what J gave me......



The bottle of champagne was consumed with giddiness and I can't wait for Saturday when our family and friends join us in our new home to celebrate.