Weird...

to think that I'll be in Ireland next week, without my own little family. Genuinely, it's going to be bloody hard not seeing Aibhe and her Mum for such a long time. Can't think about it yet. Too sad.

Plans for home. Well, by all accounts there is going to be some Guinness taken. According to Ken and Gav anyway. For anyone interested in my whereabouts, it will be Malahide predominantly of course. But am planning a trip into de big shmoke on Friday the 9th - so those of you who are around and can't get out to Malahide at any point - do let me know and a rendezvous will be established. Am seriously thinking about a pint in the Cobblestone at some point on that Friday, given we couldn't get in there last time we were home due to us being with screaming child. And it being closed at 11 in the morning.

Kieran & Peter - seriously contemplated the trip to Ennis for the trad, but alas, so little time and family comes first, even over the diddly-eye.

News from here? Well. We had a very pleasant few days in Noosa staying with Geoff & Barb in what can only be described as a millionaires mansion ON the Noosa river (with its own private jetty). Most impressive gaf I've ever stayed in by a long way. It' s not theirs of course, they just treated themselves as their gaf is currently undergoing 6 months of renovation (i.e. smash and rebuild) work, so they needed a "place with space and tranquility". Mind you, being woken at 3 in the morning by the sound of someone jumping off the roof with cops screaming "GET DOWN, GET DOWN, DON'T MOVE" (a paradox when one thinks about it) and torches flashing all over the shop, was none too soothing. Some punter was obviously on the run from the coppers and hopped into our place to get away - his mate was caught next door. For one second I contemplated sticking my head out to see what was going on, but fortunately the good sense of my lady wife reminded me that a stray bullet would potentially hurt me as would being taken hostage by some desperado. Aibhe didn't wake up.

And now Aibhe is still shouting "beeeeeeeeeeeech" regularly - such was the craic she had. Every big body of water, including the ocean, is now a "booooooool". It's certainly now time to starting making the most of this hot weather existence and proximity to some of the best coastlines around by getting out there at weekends. This weekend coming we're off with a couple of work heads to the Sunshine coast again.

No mansion this time, but I guess I'll put up with it.