An Irish Getaway

 

Where to start? That's us just back from a fantastic week away in Ireland visiting family and also fitting in some tourist things too. As an added twist, we also went camping this time! But lets get to the start.

This year we decided to try the Pet Lounge option on the ferry. Stena Line state that pets must be crated in the pet lounge, which has always put us off as crate training is just something that we have never felt the need to do with Missy. We bought a lovely fabric pop up crate and...totally forgot about training. I will admit, Missys "training" was literally 3 separate occasions of having her lie down in it and giving her a nice treat. We simply ran out of time.
However, the 3 attempts absolutely paid off as Missy just chilled out for the whole crossing whilst we raided the free tea! I did try the exercise area, but Missy was not inclined to stand in the pouring rain and wind. Cant say I blame her!

Then we were on Irish soil and setting up the tent at the Kinnego Marina. We had managed to do a test run pitching the tent up so it was up in 20 minutes and we moved in for the week and then went to see my dad for homemade Chilli Con Carne. 

Tuesday we collected my sister from the airport and went to the Ulster Museum of Rural life for the day. It is a 1910s pre war village made of restored or replica buildings with actors explaining the different parts of rural life. Dogs are permitted on the grounds but not in the buildings, so we took turns popping in and out.
I would say it was possibly a highlight of the holiday, a wee hidden gem which is massively undersold by its website. The staff were great and we had a lovely walk through the town ad around the farm. It was that nice level of busy - enough people to have an atmosphere, but not so many it intruded on the day.
Highlights definitely included a fabulous exchange with the doctor who was alarmed at my sisters blue hair (which is catching as my pink under layer was noticed!). Although lunch was a disaster as the moment we sat down on the bench outside it started to pour with rain. We saved the cakes with the assistance of an umbrella but the bread roll was lost - in hindsight its funny, but at the time it felt like the world was picking on us. Especially as the sun came out 10 minutes later...

Wednesday was birthdays - my sister really wanted to do the Giants Causeway for the day and we managed to time it so that we caught the best of the weather. The morning drizzle had burned off by the time the tour finished and we completed the clifftop walk before the winds picked up. We had fun in the visitors centre too and generally had more time for the day, which was good.
We didn't manage the clifftop walk last time so I was pleased to fit it in this time and getting to see the Giants Organ up close and see the causeway from above was breath taking.

So yeah, those high winds. I honestly thought I was gonna wake up in Oz on the Thursday! The tent held up for us though and we were able to show off the living quarters when my dad visited for lunch. Thursday was just a chill out day really and a chance to enjoy camping whilst the weather had cheered up again.

Then Friday we were off home again before catching up with friends over the weekend.

I think I need a holiday from my holiday!

That's a Wrap on Easter!

It's been a very strange week. Firstly, the in laws arrived on Monday for the theatre (the Music of Harry Potter) on the Tuesday. They stayed until Thursday which was meant to be my day to reorganise the house for our friends and thier twins to come stay.

Except on Monday we found out one parent had covid, and by Wednesday, so had the other. So our action packed weekend with the neice and nephew was cancelled. I won't lie, I'm absolutely devastated for the kids, they were so excited to come over, but after the in law visit, I was gubbed, so a long weekend to myself to get on with jobs was just what I needed. 

And of course, it wasn't all work and no play - I scheduled in several nice dog walks. Firstly was the House of the Binns. This site has been on our radar for a long time (I mean, bins? So what, is there a wheelie bin collection or something?). But it hasn't been advertised as dog friendly, until now. My friend works on thier social media team, and informed me that dogs were allowed, on lead, and they had to be good with livestock. 

Missy checks those boxes, so I met up with her on her lunch break and she got some nice photos of Missy for use in the future socials. After a short walk, I said cheerio and did the 1.5hour parkland walk. 

Absolutely worth the effort. Stunning views (who doesn't love a folly?), a good solid walk somehow new for Missy, and now I have ideas to pass onto my friend for site improvements. A very good day! 

After our solo adventure, hubby joined me on Saturday to the National Museum of Rural Life. As with Fridays adventure, dogs had to be on a short lead, good with livestock and not permitted within buildings. It finally happened, I started to feel "Eastery" (like Christmassy, but for lambs and bunnies and the start of nice weather).

I had lost my springtime zest with the cancellation of our neice and nephew (like Christmas, children really make the occasion), so was delighted to be cheered in the soul again. This site offered a working farm (yes, I triple checked the number of piglets, Missy was besotted, as always) with a historic farmhouse set up as in the late 1800s which hubby and I took turns to look about. The farm cat kept a close eye on Missy, and we joked about having her show that her pockets we're empty - no piglets or lambs had been smuggled away. 

Then at the other end of the site was a farming museum of the area, which again, we took turns around. My visit was brief in the museum, but there was lots of interesting things to see and read. My favourite was a wall mounted row of horse drawn ploughs, the further away the more modern it was.

I think all my neices and nephews would enjoy this one, so I expect we'll be back again! 

Lastly, today was Traquair House, my brothers suggestion. As above, on lead and not indoors, but with less emphasis on farmlife (although there was a pig, which Maisie did not like and barked at whilst Missy nearly took my shoulder out its socket in her earnest desire to say hello to it). My mum also came along and sat out of some of the dog walking in favour of visiting the house.

My brother was initially disappointed that all of the Easter events were for kids (I agreed, I think a grown-ups race through the maze for eggs would have been hilarious) but at the same time, didn't take it to heart.

We did get in the maze towards the end of the day, and it was definitely a highlight. Probably one of the best hedge mazes in Scotland (which dogs were allowed in, always a bonus! Maisie tried to swim in the river and took umbridge at the Easter Bunny (a very tall man in taller stilts), barking at him once his back was safely turned towards her.

And that's it, that's the week! I did get on top of the house, and the grass has had it's first cut. The greenhouse is packed with tiny pots of mud full of potential, eagerly awaiting the summertime. 

Not a bad rescue of the weekend, it I do say so myself! Although I think I'll take Easter Monday off to recover! 

Until next time!