Re: TO KAT

[Guest guest]

Hi Kat,

There are a lot of mountains in Ireland, you'd probably really enjoy

it. We passed over the Sperrin mountains on the way to my

grandmother's birthplace in Dungiven, they are grassed, a bit

forested here and there, and not too high. The coastal mountains in

the southwest are amazing, tall, some grassy, some rocky. There are

lots of walks in the Beara peninsula where we stayed with my

husband's aunt - lots of standing stones, mass rocks, ringforts,

stone circles, but you generally have to walk to get to them (many

are in farmers' fields). There's a good guide that shows them, I

think it's called the Walking Guide to the Beara Peninsula or

something like that.

Nice to have a famous relative! I know the Irish (and I suppose the

Scots & Brits too) are mad about sports. Every Sunday there was a

match on, and the pubs were packed with people watching.

We did see the Giant's Causeway - I always wanted to see that.

I swear that the word barren is derived from " Burren " (west coast).

If you did a goodle search, you'd probably find a better

explanation, but as I understand it, it's limestone which, over the

years (many, many years) has weathered so that there are cracks in

it and dips, supporting some vegetation, but limited vegetation so

there is no real grazing for animals. There are some very unique

species of plants in the Burren. We saw quite a range of this

landscape, and one area looked like a planet in outer space as there

was nothing but rock, no vegetation, with chunks of rock here and

there. Even the largest mountain in the area was all rock, with some

really interesting stratification (I think that's the word where the

rock is layered).

We saw other parts of the coast where the land literally rises up to

meet the sea (Loop Head area, also west coast), beautiful lush green

pastures angling up to the seaside over high black rocky cliffs. The

sea had even worked out caves into the cliffs. It was really

beautiful.

Well, this has turned out to be a travel plug for Ireland! Sorry!

Glad all is well with you. I have my Ensure in the fridge chilling

up for this Saturday and my 3rd anniversary!

Cheers!

> > > Hi .

> > >

> > > Wow you sound as though you have been enjoying your

travels!!!!

> > it

> > > really has been such a hot summer! It even reached the 40's

here

> > the

> > > other week which is really odd for us! HEHE. Where abouts in

> > ireland

> > > did you go to? my house mate is irish she has just suprised

me

> > out

> > > of my skin turning up at our place out of the blue! Ive been

> > invited

> > > to stay with the family when we break from uni end of year.

WOO

> > > woo. how did you find ireland? somewhere i have never been

but

> > > heard alot about!

> > >

> > > well our heat wave is about over with, back to the norm

sunshine

> > and

> > > showers! which actually is quite refreshing!! i feel for you

> with

> > > no air conditioning on your travels! I too cant wait until

autum

> > > sets in its fab! Not too hot and not too cold. lol.

> > >

> > > wow the food programme you mentioned sounds interesting, i

agree

> > ive

> > > noticed people just wolf their food down as though they may

> never

> > > eat again! i think i would choke if i attempted to eat at

their

> > > pace. COngraulations on excelling!!!! WELL DONE!

> > >

> > > I am on summer holidays at the mo from university. I go back

> next

> > > month for my final year (She screams). Im currently working

on

> a

> > > summer project and trying to come up with a theme to base my

> > designs

> > > around. I was thinking about using this site and orthodontic

> > > surgery info+images etc, however im not sure how i could turn

> that

> > > into a design for clothes! hmmm.... Tricky. lol. im working

on

> it

> > > tho. Possibly i could design a range of fun clothing for

> > surgeons,

> > > consultants and nurses a like? HMMMM that could be the

> > > solution...... hehe. You never know it may take off. lol.

> > >

> > > Kind regards

> > >

> > > Kat_UK

[Guest guest]

Hi Kat,

Thanks for the clinks!

One exceptional place we stayed last time we went was near Kinsale

(there's a wonderful fort there, gorgeous bay with lots of

sailboats) called Walton's Court. Anyway, there are probably lots of

nice places to stay around there. We had dinner in Kinsale (a really

picturesque town) at a place called The Vintage Inn, and it was the

best dinner I have ever, ever had. Unfortunately, I'm a vegetarian

now, and it wasn't a vegetarian meal, so we won't be returning : <

But it was truly an awesome experience (with a price tag to match).

I think the fellow that is the owner/chef is from Austria, and in

that country used to cook for visiting dignitaries like

Reagan, etc.

The areas you describe sound like my cup of tea (or Ensure). I first

learned about the lake district from a tv show called " Two Fat

Ladies " - I'm sure you know of them, great cooks, fun show. I can

see myself touring it in a motorcycle with sidecar : ) Anyway, if I

ever do, I will be certain to look you up! We think that next visit

to Ireland we will probably hit the continent, and maybe England

would be a great idea!

I prefer rugby too, or Aussie football (I think that's what it's

called). But I'm not much of a sports fan. I am what they call a

fair weather fan (Toronto Blue Jays are in the World Series and I

watch, but that's the only time I'm interested). Hockey is the big

sport here, but who knows if we'll ever have NHL hockey again - they

were on strike/locked out all last season. Canadian men took to

watching things like curling and figure skating : ) and " Hockey

Night in Canada " (Saturday night) became " Movie Night in Canada " .

Don't be so certain about the guide books. We have, at times, taken

3 or 4 shots at finding the right exit out of a city or town,

whereas in the boonies, the directions to GET to cities or towns are

pretty clearly marked! Sometimes even painted on the roadway " TO

CORK " . And take my advice, do NOT try to leave Dublin at the same

time that a Dublin soccer match is getting out. We were lost in a

roundabout circuit for at least an hour...

Happy 3rd anniversary to us both !!!

> (clink) the sound of me cheersing you for your 3rd anniversary!

> Congratulations. Good luck with the Esure! Blurbbbb!!!!!!!! lol.

>

> thanks for the detailed info and plug for traveling ireland. I

will

> look full of knowlegde when my house mate returns and i question

her

> on the where abouts of these places. WOO WOO. I have been

invited

> to stay at her families house so i shall be questioning them too

and

> bugging them to take me there. Thanks for the tips! hehe.

>

> Ahh burren. I think i know what you mean now. We have one on

> our " north york moors " well i think it is one. Its called " mallam

> Cove " very out of space like. Just rocks no greenary. Its almost

> like a giant footpath that goes on and on and on....... Theres

this

> other area on the moors too with standing stones wich was where

the

> land at one stage stood and has been worn away around it. These

> stones are built up in layers (like you mentioned, posh word by

the

> way i should know that having studied geography for years and

years,

> OPPS!) anyway they are like a good hills climb above the level of

> the land it stands at now. It amazes me - the power of nature!

> Brrrrrrilliant! Im glad to hear that you got to see the giants

> causeway. By the sounds of it, its very popular. That will be

one

> of my requests when i go over.

>

> Yes i agree the irish, scottish and brits are mad on their sports,

> often too mad! As for myself im not much of a fan of football and

i

> only happen to know a footballers name as he was my relative lol.

I

> much prefer rugby, a game for real men! hehehe.

>

> Have you ever been to the lake district in cumbria? Thats another

> beautiful area minus the sea, my turn to plug you lol. My uncle

> lives up there and from his house he has views of the mountains,

> gorgeous! Yep those guide books are brill, mapping out the routes

> and everything, no chance of getting lost then, hmmmm.....lol.

>

> I was quite lucky to grow up by the coast, we had 400ft cliffs at

> the end of our village. Going down onto the beach we could see

the

> seas work. The caves and arches were fab!

> Aww im excited now to go and see ireland in the flesh! I have

heard

> so much about it. Yeay!

>

> Well i best go and do some work. (HAHA) nope i shall play peek-a-

> boo with my dog through the window. Mad animal!

>

> I hope you have a GREAT anniversary tomorrow! and enjoy eating erm

> erm " mushy " foods!

>

> Have fun!

>

> Regards

>

> KAt

[Guest guest]

Hi Kat,

Ensure was as good as ever. I really do like that stuff!

I've been to London 3 times now (last was in 2002 when I was also in

Swindon for a business conference). Even played twice in the Royal

Albert Hall in a Festival Youth Orchestra (that was many moons ago,

before your time, I think).

I don't have a motorbike and side car, but do you think your friend

Clarissa might lend me hers? : )

The boonies is slang for the boondocks, I think. And I don't know

what the boondocks are (there used to be a popular song in the 60s

called " Down in the Boondocks " ), but how we use it slang-wise is

pretty much the same as " the middle of nowhere " . You know, where you

drive your car forever and forever, and start to see no towns, no

houses, no farms. That's the boonies. Or, anywhere that's way out in

suburbia if you're in town. Suburbia = out in the boonies. : )

So the boonies in Ireland are these remote, out of the way places.

Cheers!

>

> Hi ! How did the esure go down? Thanks for the congrats!

>

> I shall definatley be looking up the vintage inn in kinsdale, food

> wins over anything! The chef sounded very cool cooking for the

likes

> of ronald regan and all. There are some great places to eat in

the

> lakes too with the price tag of course!

>

> Yes i have heard of the " two fat ladies " they make good tv dont

you

> think? We've actually met clarissa (im not sure how to describe

her

> except BIG, Brown hair hehe) at a country show we went to. And

yep

> she is as big if not bigger in real life, though really nice!

>

> You made me laugh, i got this image of you in a side car, those

> things are ace! Travelling across the lakes! Yeah if you ever hit

> the lakes or england let me know i shall point some places out to

> you. I can certainly spruse england up for you, give it a bit of

> spice! LOL. I have noticed alot of tourists (no offence) in york

> (where i live) alot are from america. I love york i think its

brill

> full of history! You shall have to bring your side car to england

> and travel the country! And of course there is london, though

I

> have to admit I went there to the tate gallery and me and a friend

> headed for the shops and got lost for a few hours! So I haven't

> seen london, LONDON as we know it, jsut the scabbier side! I did

see

> the millenum wheel (london eye) though very cool lol!

>

> yes i agree i would be a fair weather fan. Thats funny that the

> guys took to watching curling and figure skating, sounds more of

> a 'girly' sport lol.

>

> I shall be aware of those guide books more often now, thanks! I

> usually make my brother do the directing then if we do get lost

he's

> to blame, but he's pretty good phew! That sounded mad being stuck

on

> the round about circuit for an HOUR mental! and waiting raving

> footie fanS!!!!! Alot of them are confusing so many signs and the

> approach road is too short for you to get in the right land!

> Arghhhh!!!!!! Yes i have been known for lapping a round about

> several times before!

>

> Can i ask what is a BOOnie? or the boonies? lol.

>

> Hope you had a good day yesterday!

>

> Kind regards

>

> KAt

[Guest guest]

Hi Kat,

I was going to say " the sticks " too, as we have that phrase. But I

like your " trekking in the wilderness " better.

Let me know what Clarissa says. I'm a good driver, I've driven on

the narrowest roads in the curviest part of Ireland, so I can handle

anything!

> Hi susan!

>

> Glad you liked the ensure lol.

>

> Wow you've been to more places in this country than me by the

sounds

> of it. lol. I must travel more! My sister has just come back

home

> from being down south for a few days sounds as though she has had

> fun shopping, a womens best friend lol.

>

> wow playing at royal albert hall in the youth Orchestra!

Brilliant,

> well done you! Before my time hehe.

>

> HMMMM i shall get in touch with clarrisa and see what she says

lol.

> Those side car things make me laugh they are just so odd looking!

> hehe.

>

> ahhh the boonies. still none the wiser on the phrase having never

> heard it before, but thanks for the explanation! as for the

> boondocks ermmm lol. never heard of that either. lol.

>

> yep i copy that driving forever and in the middle of nowhere,

scary

> stuff sometimes. lol. i think we or rather as my sister just

> corrected i (as the rest of the uk dont use my language lol) would

> call that 'out in the sticks or the wilderness' like trekking the

> wilderness.

>

> Hope those hurricanes aren't near you.

>

> take care

>

> regards

>

> kat_UK