Hello my lovelies, I hope you are all having a good week so far? Here are some photos from early last month. After completing my Fundraiser Walk for Women's Aid on the last day in February, I needed a bit of a break, so I didn't get out much that week. I also had a lot of work to catch up with, so I spent most of the week holed up in my recording studio. Still, I managed to capture some nice images to share with you all, since I am lucky enough to live in my own little paradise. I am thankful every single day for this house and these views, and I probably spend far too much time just gazing out of the window and daydreaming, haha! I mean... can you blame me?? My dining room table looks over Glashedy Island and Pollan Bay, which has always been one of my favourite views. There have been numerous occasions when I forget to eat, my fork full of food just waiting mid-air, because I am distracted by that stunning vista. Sometimes I notice a rainbow, drop everything to grab my phone and go to take some photos. I have never seen such vibrant rainbows as I do here, and the camera really doesn't do them justice. I know the science behind them, but I still find rainbows to be so magical, and they make my heart happy, so you can expect to see lots of rainbow pictures in the future as well!
Hello my lovelies, and happy Sunday! I hope that you've all had a good week? I am still down with a nasty cough/cold, so I haven't done much at all. I hate feeling unproductive! I know my body needs to rest, but my mind is conflicted, haha. However, here are some beautiful photos from the end of February and beginning of March to cheer me up. :-)
Sea foam on stones, Pollan Strand.
Low Tide, Pollan Strand.
Sea Foam, Pollan Strand.
I had reached my target of walking 80km for my Women's Aid Fundraiser
the week before, when I was still in Shrewsbury, except I didn't realise
it at the time. Once I added up my totals so far, and having a few days
left before the end of the month, I thought I would see if I could make
it to 100km. So I was determined to get out on some longer walks,
regardless of what the weather was doing. Luckily, the weather mostly
cooperated, and I added another 21.58km over the last four days of
February, bringing my official total to 102.03km. I was very proud of
myself, especially given my health issues, plus an injured back earlier
in the month. More importantly, I raised over €700 for a wonderful
cause, thanks to many generous donations from my supporters, woo hoo!
Thank you so much to all who donated!
Muddy walk, Mullagh.
Pollan Bay seen from Mullagh.
Standing stones and mud, Mullagh.
Golden Hour, Upper Annagh.
Golden hour and gorse, Upper Annagh.
Lone sheep, Binnion.
Golden hour, from Binnion.
Stunning colours, rainy day on Pollan Strand.
Stormy tide, Pollan Strand.
Stormy waves, Binnion and Pollan Bay.
On the last day in February, I only needed a couple more kilometers to
reach an even hundred, so I just took a short walk into the village and
visited Nancy's Barn as a reward for completing the Fundraiser. Not that
I need much of an excuse to treat myself, haha! In fact, I found out
that they were doing a crab claw special over the weekend, so I went
back on the Sunday for another treat. I definitely have a weakness for
seafood, but as I like to tell myself, I'm also supporting a local
business. ;-)
Smug selfie, Fundraiser accomplished!
Prawn and squid starters, Nancy's Barn Ballyliffin.
Well deserved Guinness 0.0, Nancy's Barn.
Crab Claw special, Nancy's Barn.
Looking back over these photos and videos, I am in awe, as always, of
the changes in light and colour. These were all taken over the course of
a week, but honestly they could all have been on the same day. The
weather is so changeable, and while I know others find that annoying, I
actually love it. I will never get bored of these views, as they are
constantly changing. The season, the weather, the clouds, all make such a
difference to the scenery. One minute could bring a torrential
downpour, the next will be blue skies and rainbows. The wet pebbles on
the shore will sometimes shine like jewels, and the ocean can be any
colour from turquoise to slate grey. I've seen Glashedy island looking
golden and inviting one moment, and dark and brooding the next,
depending on the clouds above. I take a lot of photos during "Golden
Hour", since my night-owl habits mean that I'm more active in the
evenings, and I love to see the play of light and shadow as the sun
moves behind the hills on its way down.
Clouds over Crockaughrim.
Pollan Strand, Golden Hour.
Hooded coats are a must on the Wild Atlantic Way.
I love sharing my photos with you all, and I know you enjoy seeing them,
but they never do justice to the real thing. I take a few videos so you
can hear the sound of the waves on the shore, but of course, you can't
smell the salt air, or feel the sand beneath your feet. I know I'm
completely biased. This is my happy place, and I have done so much
healing, mind, body, and soul, since I moved here. I know a level of
peace here that I have never experienced before. I truly feel like I
belong here, as I never belonged anywhere else, in all the places I've
lived in my life. I know it's not perfect for everyone, and some people
can't wait to get away, but for me, this is a dream come true, and not
something I will ever take for granted.
Hello again my lovelies, I hope you are all doing well? I am down with a rotten cough and cold, as well as a couple of pulled muscles, so unfortunately I am not being very productive this week. Funnily enough, I was also unwell in Shrewsbury, back in February. I flew over on the Sunday evening, feeling fine, but in the early hours of the morning I was struck down with a really nasty stomach bug which kept me shackled to the bathroom for the next few days. Sadly, I had to cancel quite a few plans with friends, which was a shame, since I don't get to see them very often. I also don't have as many photos of my explorations and adventures as I usually would have to share with you. Instead, I have a few photos from restaurants and pubs where I was able to eat and drink when I finally felt better. Walking around Shrewsbury town also added another 14.76km to my Women's Aid Fundraiser, when I remembered to track my distance, so that was something! I felt like I had hardly arrived before I was flying back to Ireland on the following Sunday. The view of the beautiful evening light over Pollan Bay was a lovely welcome home though.
Hello my loves, and happy April! Here we are in another new month. I hope it's a great one for all of you. I still have some catching up to do, but I am getting closer, so I don't feel TOO badly about it. As always, I have a hundred other things on my To Do list to work on, so I'm trying to find a balance.
Waves on stones, Pollan Strand.
Binnion and Pollan Strand.
Glashedy seen through a gap in the cliffs.
Rocks, Pools, Sunshine.
Cliffs, Waves, Pebbly Beaches.
Anyway, back to February! The second full week was a busy one. As well
as my usual work and continuing education, I went on more walks for my
Women's Aid Fundraiser, adding 17.8km to my total. I also celebrated
Valentine's Day with my love. Being in a long-distance relationship can
be difficult at times, but we make it work with constant communication.
We do long video calls every night and spend quality time together,
albeit through a screen, and then make an extra effort for date nights.
Valentine's Day was an excuse to dress up, have some fancy food, and
talk about our dreams and plans for the future. I enjoyed it!
Dressed up for Valentine's Day Date Night.
Stunning sunset over Bulaba.
Stunning sunset over Ardagh.
That weekend, I traveled over to Derry and met up with a friend for
lunch and a few drinks, which was lovely. I've owed her for a long time,
as she helped me to move last year! After, I met up with one of my
cousins and his wife. They were putting me up for the night, (Thanks
guys!) and we went to the awesome Walled City Brewery for their 2024
Oyster & Stout Festival. (They host a lot of fun events, you can
find out more HERE.) Another cousin joined us there and we had a great craic.
Stunning sunrise over Trawbreaga Bay. I'm not usually awake for these!
Oyster & Stout Festival at the Walled City Brewery, Derry.
The next day I got a bus to Belfast and had a few hours to kill at the
airport before catching my flight over to England for a stay. Gareth
picked up from the airport as he always does, and it was wonderful to be
together again in person. We make the long distance thing work, but it
always feel better when we're together.
