On Saturday we were invited to the Killultagh Hunt ball with some friends.
It was held at the Europa Hotel in Belfast which has the highly sought after honour of being the most bombed hotel in the world.
Suitably black tied and kevlar jacketed up we went along. Was good fun with lots to eat and drink, dancing and laughs.
The organisers had an auction and competitions galore. My favourite part was when someone was on the microphone thanking various people who had assisted with the night and with the hunt in general. When he said "I would like to thank the people who support the hunt - the hunt supporters" I nearly pissed myself.
The band started up soon after and LL and I went up to have a boogie - need to get a lot of practice in before June next year. A huge amount in fact. The band stopped playing the macarena long enough for the singer to announce that I had won a prize for being the first man on the dance floor - woohoo. Turns out my prize was a three pack of grundies, the nicest pair of which are these:
{Author's note - I do not recommend trying to take a picture of yourself wearing prize grundies. It is not fun or flattering, and nor unfortunately is it big or clever.}
We didn't last too long and got a cab back.
On Wednesday LL came home with the Farming Life newspaper and there we were:
I've never been in the paper before. I read another local paper the other day and it was full of schools and community groups winning awards and local people committing various misdemeanors, including a woman that was in possession of a stolen television and a man who was arrested for kicking the door of the pub he had been ejected from.
I was posting a parcel the other day and found myself reading another country life publication, this time about forestry and giant machines for cutting the shite out of everything and was drawn to this picture
I only wish I had been here on the 5th of June and had known about this party at Earnshaw's. I would have loved to have seen the Adam's Axemen, as well the other varied attractions, although I am not sure there would have been space for me amongst the huge crowds.
I would have also liked clarification on what to 'ding & ding only' means. I am finding some aspects of this country living confusing but am enjoying the learning.
I have found the place where I want to spend all my holidays. And days off. And sick days. And all other days in fact.
If this is what trailer trash people get up to all day then how do I sign up?
Not sure about the 'families welcome' bit though.
Dont you just hate it in November when every advert on TV is a Christmas one and the shops start playing Christmas music, selling decorations and everything generally reminds you that "The holidays are coming, the holidays are coming, ....."
Here in NI it is no different. Halloween is a big one over here but no sooner had the excitement worn off and it is onto Christmas.
Our closest big(ish) town is having a Narnia based grotto this year. Unfortunately for myself and the other kids of Downpatrick, we are not going to be able to see Santa until three days before Christmas. He must be busy elsewhere until then.
He is going to make it up to us however by making himself available there for over eleven months. Woohoo!
Stereotype confirmed again. Ho Ho Ho!!!
Merry Christmas all.
After the ten pound note with the rollneck jumper comes this -
It's another ten pound note and on this one is the Bushmills Whiskey Distillery.
They are not doing much to dispel the stereotypes and rumours that abound about the Irish are they?
I was out the other day and came across some of the most awesome graffiti I have ever seen.
Whoever did this piece - it looks like his/her name is Gazza - is so far ahead of their time it is incredible. And I bet they do not even realise it.
If you zoom in and look really carefully you will also see some other choice additions to the wall:
Someone called Smurf put up his tag at some point in '08, only for someone else to add something telling him exactly what they think about him.
Also on the wall to the right there is a picture of the male genitalia that leaves a bit to be desired as it appears to have gonads at both ends. It may just be me and I am new here but I started drawing these on my school books aged 10 or so and am sure that is not how they are meant to be.
I did my first actual shooting yesterday which was awesome.
It was at my mate Charlie's house where they have a duck pond. LL's cousin Mark leant me a shotgun and they gave me some cartridges to go crazy with.
We got there at dusk and walked out to the pond through the bog. I nearly lost a wellie at one point but managed to wriggle it out without the foot coming out but it was close. Mark gave me a quick lesson on how the gun worked and then wisely got well out of the way.
As it got darker a few birds came over. We missed the first three as we were all too busy yacking but soon we were locked and loaded and ready for action.
I mistook the next bird that came along for a bat so did not get the gun up in time but was ready and waiting for the next ones and let off two shots in quick succession, nearly sinking into the bog in the process. The others also had a go at the same time and we got a couple of the buggers. I say we. I was just happy not to have shot any of my fellow humans and to have been part of the team. Maybe I got them, maybe I didnt.
When it was dark we headed back in. Not a moment too soon as far as my freezing feet were concerned. Some vintage port soon thawed the blood and got me back on track.
Now we leave them for a couple of weeks and then head back to do more of the same.
Even evenings here are fun.
.....and it is not, as many people have so far assumed a foetus.
It's a puppy.
She is soooo cute, I dont even like dogs. Correction - didnt even like dogs.
Her name at the moment is Pinky but thus may change.
All together now - AAAAHHHH!!!
....... about the weather.
We had a hell of a storm last night and it was chucking it down with a vengeance today and there is meant to be more of the same tonight.
Hmmmm!?!
There was another shoot on Saturday this weekend and I went along to do some beating again.
The weather was beautiful and sunny, if a little cold.
Here is a picture of me in action with some equipment given to me by LL's cousin Mark.
I have been here less than two months and already LL's family have made me go out waving orange flags. What is next? Drumming?
Wednesday and Thursday was wood pigeon, lovingly blasted out of the sky and prepared by JD.
Tonight is venison steaks. Yumma yumma yumma. Bagsy I get the one closer to me.
Tomorrow should be pheasant as am beating at a shoot again.
(Insert Homeresque drooling sound effect here)
At the last minute on friday, we decided to go to the caravans in the sand dunes at Portnoo in Donegal on the west coast of Southern Ireland. LL's folks were going with a few of their friends and the LL's colleague in the wine biz was there with his family.
LL drove down on Friday through rain, wind and even fog at one point, but even though we also had a run in with the law, we still got there in record time.
We had a lovely meal and consumed lots of wine. As the Scrabble was about to come out and I was going to mentally go through my suspect two-letter words LL quickly decided we should visit our other friends in their caravan and would not take no for an answer. We staggered over, quoffed another couple of bottles of wine and chatted until the early hours.
When it was time to go we said our goodbyes and off we went until we made our excuses and left. Foolishly I chose to walk in a straight line back to our caravan and as I had not packed my night-vision goggles this proved to be disasterous. Here is a picture of the bank I failed to see and rolled to the bottom of.
Still at least I was awake this time.
Got up on Saturday with a hell of a hangover and memory loss from the end of the night before. I blame concussion, LL says wine.
Spent two days going for walks, eating and drinking lovely food, getting fresh sea air and basically enjoying the last few days of sunshine.
Portnoo is awesome. Where else in the world can you have miles and miles of sandy beach and be able to count the number of people you see on your fingers.
Didnt get to play golf this time but you cant have everything.
Unfortunately the caravan park is now closed down until March so no more of this til then. Bummer. Still there will be plenty more things to do between now and then as as soon as it opens again we will be back.
