September 2023, Week Forty Six.

 Hello my lovelies! Here we are, just a week from Christmas, and clearly I have not caught up as much as I wanted to with my Blog. After today I will be traveling and busy for Christmas, so it will have to be a project in the New Year. My New Year's Resolutions often seem to entail catching up with the ones I didn't get to the year before, haha!
Anyway, here are some photos from back in September. There was some beautiful weather and I went on some nice walks. One day I walked up and over the Ardagh Road and treated myself to dinner at the Ballyliffin Hotel, (I'm very good at treating myself!) and on the Friday night I was out with some of my friends in Clonmany, which is always a good craic.

Another day, another beautiful view of Pollan Bay and Glashedy.

Blue Skies over Bulaba.

Views from the Ardagh Road.

Crocosmia or "Scotch Corn" and blackberries in the hedgerows.

Walking the Ardagh Road.

Bulaba from the Ardagh Road.

Clouds over Crockaughrim.

Guinness 0.0 at the Ballyliffin Hotel. Two weeks without alcohol.

Beautiful sunset skies over Pollan Bay.

Ready for a night out with the girls!

September 2023, Week Forty Five.

Hello again my lovelies, how are you all doing today? I haven't posted in a few days, but I have extra photos and videos to share with you today to make up for it, haha! This week back in September was beautiful. I had just got back from a week in England, where it still felt like Summer, but where I live in Ireland is quite a bit further north, and the difference in the seasons was quickly apparent. Autumn has always been my favourite time of year, and I was looking forward to witnessing it here.
I was busy with work and volunteering for the upcoming Disappear Here Film Fest, but I also made sure that I went on several long walks that week. I'm so glad I did, because the light was simply glorious. For those of you that don't know about the "Golden Hour" or "Magic Hour", it is the hour just after sunrise or just before sunset, when the sun is lower in the sky, and the light is so much softer. Where I live, the sun sets behind the hills, so depending on the time of year, some areas will still be limned with light, while others are in full shadow, and the effect can be quite striking. It was getting dark around 21:00 those days, and I had some lovely evening walks, watching the mist creep into the darkened valleys, while the sun still shone on the peaks.
Another day I walked all the way across the shore to the Castles and back. That day the sun was shining through the clouds in a way that was absolutely magical. The sunbeams glowing, and the light glimmering on the waves had me smiling away to myself like an idiot. Actually, I tend to have a big smile on my face almost constantly here. Every time I go out exploring I am struck with the beauty of this place anew, and it reaffirms my decision to live here.

Crockaughrim and Wildflowers. Golden Hour.

Country Lane and Crockaughrim at Golden Hour.

Old Cottage and Crockaughrim at Golden Hour.

Old Cottage and Crockaughrim at Golden Hour.

Evening over Pollan Bay.

Evening over the hills and Pollan Bay.

Evening over Pollan Bay.

Evening over Trawbreaga Bay.

Evening over Glashedy and Pollan Bay.

Sunset over Pollan Bay.

Blue Skies over Binnion and Pollan Bay.

Blue Skies over Binnion and Pollan Bay.

Sunlight and Sand, Pollan Bay.

Great place to sit and read.

Reflections, Pollan Bay.

Sparkles and Sea Spray, Pollan Bay.

Low Tide, Carrickabraghy Castle, Pollan Bay.

Sun, Sea, Sparkles, Pollan Bay.

Golden Hour, Pollan Bay.

Evening Clouds over Glashedy.

August and September 2023, Week Forty Four.

 Hello my loves, I hope you're enjoying your weekend so far? Here are some photos from my trip back to Shrewsbury in August/September this year. I got to see Gareth, catch up with family and friends,  have lots of nice meals out, go to a fun pub quiz, and generally just really enjoy myself.
I also stopped drinking alcohol! Someone very close to me had been struggling with alcoholism for a long time, and realised they needed to quit. So I decided to quit with them, in solidarity. As I write this post, I am 100 days sober, and they are doing fantastic. It has definitely been a lifestyle change, but it has not stopped me from going out and having a great time with my friends. We are lucky that there are so many non-alcoholic drinks available these days, so I can still have a beer, a glass of wine, or a mocktail at the end of the day, and feel like I'm having a "grown up" drink. Guinness 0.0 is especially good, so I drink that when I'm out in Ireland, and it tastes almost exactly like the real thing. If you follow my stories on Instagram you will have seen that I am doing a non-alcoholic beer advent calendar, and taking photos of the different beers every day, to highlight how many different options there are out there. As an ex-bartender, I have also been having a lot of fun making mocktails, and coming up with creative and delicious drinks with zero alcohol in them. To anyone out there who is struggling with any kind of addiction, I send love and strength. You can do this!

Fantastic view from House of Grain, Shrewsbury.

Drinks with my beautiful friend!

Walking along the River Severn, Shrewsbury.

Grounds at Betton Strange Hall.

Grounds at Betton Strange Hall.

Betton Strange Hall.

Non Alcoholic Prosecco with a Duckie!

Love the window seat!

Love the window seat!

My beautiful view to welcome me home.

August 2023, Week Forty Three.

Hello my lovelies, I hope you're all doing great. Here are some more photos from this past August. It was a busy week! The usual work and walks at home, then I traveled to Derry on the buses, which was an adventure, and stayed with family for a few days. One of my cousins got married that week, and it was such a pleasure to be able to go to a big family wedding and celebrate with everyone. I had missed out on quite a few big events while I lived in America, so this was extra special for me.
On the Sunday I flew over to England to spend a week. Gareth picked me up from the airport and we went to see his parents that evening. I also got to say goodbye to their family cat. She was very old and not very well, so I knew it was unlikely I'd see her again, which was very sad. She was one of those cats who didn't like strangers, but she warmed to me immediately when I met her, and would curl up in my lap and purr away. I am allergic to cats, but it always felt like such an honour to be chosen by her, so I would let her sit as long as she was comfortable. Goodbye, sweet Daisy.

Taken at 20:21. Clouds over Binnion.

Pollan Bay. Taken at 20:44, 23 minutes after the photo above. It gives you an idea of how fast the light changes here!

Isle of Doagh. Views from a bus window!

Bus Selfie.

When you have an hour to wait for the next bus, you go to the pub!

Wedding ready.

Caught my cousin's face when he first saw his bride walking in.

My cousin and his beautiful Bride!

Obligatory airport drink selfie!

Daisy, my boyfriend's family cat. Sadly one of the last photos taken of her before she died.