Welcoming the return of the sun in my garden this week.
This Summer has been a real let down weatherwise, so far, but this past week saw an improvement at long last. I think that we Irish are more disturbed by the lack of sunshine than our American tourists. I have had a very busy season and i have had many people travelling with me who were only delighted to have had cool, and indeed wet, weather quiet a lot of the time. I feel that we are blessed that we do not experience the extremes here in Ireland and if the temperature ever reached into the high eighties or the nineties this country would seize up. It has been quiet some time now since we had what we would call a heat wave. Likewise we rarely get low temperatures and we never have blizzards, hurricanes or tornadoes. earthquakes or sunamis, and we have no snakes or dangerous bugs or animals of any kind, so how can we complain. I can only imagine what it would be like to have to live with air-conditioning all of the time or having to dig my car out from under the snow. Yes, i think i will settle for what we have here.
Lough Rea in County Galway
This lake is not far from my home and is very popular for its fishing. It is not a large lake but it is well maintained and regularly stocked. Illegal fishing has become more of a problem in recent times but, as this lake is located right beside the town of Loughrea, it is well policed and therefore less likely to be suitable for the poachers.
Some of the Boats in the inner Marina on the lake shore at Loughrea. There are many opportunities here in Ireland for those who like fishing as there are no shortage of lakes and rivers. All you need is a licence, and these can be purchased in any Post Office or Police Station. Offshore fishing is also superb and at this time of the year a child could catch a mackerel as they are so plentiful. You can buy a licence for short periods, if you happen to be on holiday, and they are inexpensive. I was born and reared on the shores of Galway Bay and at this time of the year we would catch so many mackerel it was difficult to even give them away. Is there anything more tasty than a fresh mackerel? They are also very good for you.
All of a sudden i notice an increase in the number of rental cars on our roads and i think that many people who had come from overseas for the Olympics have prolonged their stay by including a visit to Ireland. If you are one of those trying to decide whether or not to come our way, just message me and i will see what i can do. September looks like being a very busy month. If we get an Indian Summer then October may well be a good month also. These two particular months can be lovely in Ireland as they can be less busy and more comfortable, and we still have long daylight hours.
A mommy donkey with her foal. Sad to say that the donkey population has dwindled as they have no real practical use anymore. Was it not lovely when you had the time to climb on board your donkey cart and head off to town to do your shopping? No fuel required, no tax, no insurance, no parking tickets.
As they say in Ireland
"God be with the days"
