More visitors! Elena's family

August 2008 (High season at Chez Bushy Park) was not yet over and the main guest quarters were still heavily booked. This time, the visitors took the form of Elena's parents, who had been sunning it up for weeks in the north of Spain and thought some milder weather might do them some good. They arrived one moderately sunny morning armed with many many packets of chorizo and jamon and a big jar of vegemite. Naturally, they were made very welcome.
The weather behaved itself most of the time, but like all our guests they too experienced the lovely summer rain, though only on 1 day.
Lucky for them they arrived during 'Heritage week' and Ivan couldn't resist taking us all to the 'Battle of the Boyne' site to see cavalry, musketry, pike and cannon demonstrations by costumed men and women from the local 'we love the battle of the Boyne' historical society. Some of our number went grudgingly (namely Elena), but we all had fun and most importantly Ivan was chuffed. Elena learnt that she should lighten up a little.
One evening we met up with some of Elena's parents' friends (also visiting Dublin) and decided to splash out on a lovely dinner in town... a restaurant called Eden, and perfectly delicious too.. mmm. We also went for a walk down the coast from Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Dun Leary) to Dalkey (pronounced Dorky), a very cute little village with a tiny 'small boat harbours' - just big enough for a few little boats and a few fishermen. Finally, no visit from parents would be complete without some form of 'learning', so over a glass of red, John gave us all some drawing classes. The results suprised us all, completely oblivious to the sheer talent that lurked sleepily below the surface. A little exaggerated perhaps... but we were truly happlily amazed.
Here we are... in some sort of order: Walking by the Liffey, Fancy dress demonstrations at the Battle of the Boyne, relaxing after picking lots of wild blackberries, John drawing unsuspecting pub patrons, Tere and long term friends Miguel and Maite out for dinner, on the coast at Dun Laoghaire, at Dalkey small boat harbour, with Dalkey island in background, checking out the hot properties.












Artists' corner:
(L-R): Still life by Tere, Ivan (foolishly unsigned) & Elena.
Bottom: Very 'naive' style portrait of Ivan by Elena.

Visitors - Gill & Peter

Monday morning arrived very quickly.... and it was time for Javi and Laura to leave us... Off we drove to the airport and said our goodbyes... and then, our next guests Gill and Peter arrived, only a few minutes later! Off we drove again back to the B&B, with the new guests. Hardly a moment to 'freshen up' the guest-room (change the flowers, refill the kettle, top up tea supplies, replenish the biscuit stack)... such a shame we ran out of time.
But it was so great to see them again ... a real connection to the lives we left behind :(
The next few days was spent catching up, drinking tea, seeing bits of dublin, drinking more tea and exploring some hills and greenery nearby. Ivan and Peter walked in the wicklow mountains one day, while Gill and I walked around Glendalough, sipped yet more tea and chatted all day long. All our guests so far (although it is summer here) have experienced plenty of rain, but there has been sunny clear days as well.
Very Dublin: Gill and Elena in the rain, taking a break in Neary's pub, Ivan and Peter walking in wicklow, Elena and Gill exploring Glendalough monastic site.

Visitors - Javi & Laura (spanish rellies)

August 2008 was shaping up to be a pretty busy month... but a lovely and fun one too as our usually quiet apartment began to fill with friends and rellies. First up were Javi, Elena's Spanish cousin and his girlfriend Laura - only 3 days but action-packed and lots of fun. That's the thing about 'living in europe', it is that it is all so close! Javi and Laura explored downtown Dublin and loved it... and one day, in a moment of recklessness prehaps or simple curiousity... we all decided to join the masses at what is undoubtedly the most visited place in Dublin, The Guinness Factory... mmm well... the pint of Guinness they give you at the end, though nice enough itself, could not possibly overcome the boredom, pain and crowds of the place itself. Definitely not when you can so easily pop into a snug little pub somewhere and sample the stuff at leisure. But, at least we have now ticked it off our list, never to return... On a better note, we spent a lovely day at Howth, a fishing village on a small peninsula which juts out into the sea, north of Dublin. What a nice spot.. We walked around the harbour, watched some fat seals bounce around, and explored a little of the cliff top walk around the peninsula... we will return to do the whole walk soon...

BBQ log

Day -1
Anticipation high, feelings tense. Sausages are nervous but hopeful, mince, as always, oblivious. Our neighbours sense something amiss, the ley-lines are bending in anticipation, even the wind has died.
Day 0

Retrieval
EF and IW set out in the mid-morning gloom, climb onto their trusty steed and headed off into the unknown. 30 seconds later they turn left, then right and right once more. The target area, Atlantic Homeware, appears ahead. It is approached. Ambushed. Infiltrated. Friendly natives are found within and show us their hoard of outdoor goods. Tucked away in the far corner, EF spots it, alone, forgotten. They exchanged a stuffed koala and a tube of vegemite for the prize and quickly smuggle it onto their steed. They drive away and after numerous adventures arrived home 15 minutes later.
Assembly
The deck is ritually prepared, as is the custom. The Tongmeister approaches the unassembled and unsuspecting barbecue quietly and with care. Talking softly, he slowly reveals the barbecue to the light of the day. Thus begins the ancient, time-honoured ritual which seals the bond between Tongmeister and barbecue. The assembly then commences as shown below.
It should be noted that during the Assembly some schools of Tonghood, prefer the traditional flanelette robes over the bold pacific motif seen below, all however, agree that a local brew is an essential part of the assembly ritual.
1st Light
With some trepidation the ignition sequence is initiated and the barbecue flames for the first time, flawlessly. A sausage is duly sacrificed and there is much rejoicing.
Day +16
The barbecue has served us well. With contemptuous ease it has delivered 4 meals to the hungry household within. Eggs, bacon, rissoles and marinated chicken; nothing seems impossible.
IW; TM.

Squirrel Chase

A few local birds spot a squirrel in the gardens ...... At first, they all stand back and just look on- curious, hesitant... then, suddenly, the chase is on!
But squirrel is far too quick, bigger and scarrier, wins hands down... and runs off

Then suddenly, it stops in mid track..... it looks around and spots an onlooker on a balcony and slowly comes over to say hi.
After lingering a few moments, for my best squirrel shot yet, it's off again into the neighbouring park and out of sight.

Visitor no.1 and trip to Cornwall

Our first visitor Tamara came to stay for a while, then Elena and Tamara went on a mini holiday to Penzance, Cornwall - of pirates, smugglers, ghosts and Elena and Tamara's ancestors.
June 2008





Penzance promenade













Mazey day festival.
Tamara, with cornish pasty & friends
Honolulu puppet-girl

St Just, Conwall: Walking thru potato fields & cows on 'public footpaths' towards the sea

The amazing open air Minack theatre in Porthcurno
'Jason and the argonauts: a comedy'









Save me David Tennant!!! Save me!!
Tamara at St Michaels Mount, Marazion

Elena visit's Altarnun,
for a little family history

St Nonna's church, Altarnun
& Cute sign