Since the beginning of the year, the kids and I have popped over to Northern Ireland twice to see Great Grandma Ruth. The first was back in April during the Easter holidays when the weather wasn't all that warm. Despite that, we managed to get to the beach a couple of times.
One outing was just a wander round the shore, skimming stones and splashing round the edges. It was rather stormy and I think we got a little damp, but we still managed to eat ice creams and enjoy all that lovely N. Ireland has to offer. Our last day of that trip, we were very lucky with weather and the kids got to paddle, unfortunately I wasn't particularly well prepared for this and didn't have a towel or swimming costumes, etc. (for which I was berated) and they had to make do with wellies, coats and nice warm clothing!
On one of the yuckier days we took a trip to
Mount Stewart, a National Trust property. As a child we went there quite a bit and it's known for its garden. I can't remember ever going into the house but on the day we went, the weather really did encourage us to explore inside. It has recently been refurbished and they have tried to return most of it to original. The chapel is beautiful and there's a pretty impressive George Stubbs painting on the staircase. Outside, the gardens are fantastic and even though it wasn't really the season to meander round, we had a quick charge round anyway.
The second trip over was at the end of the summer holidays, at the beginning of September. Thankfully we did get to paddle in the sea (though still a bit chilly for my liking) and pottered round the shore a few times. There is a crazy golf course on the shore and we gave that a go. Toby, of course, is an expert (having played once before) and Beth and I didn't do too badly. We had all the holes to ourselves, as schools had already gone back over there when we visited, so we managed to re-do our favourite holes at the end with no one complaining.
We had hoped to do a few more trips out while there but the weather didn't comply for our last day or so and the kids were rather wiped out with it being the end of the holidays. I may try for a sneaky trip on my own soon as I missed my runs around the coast and it would be nice to chat to grandma without two kids running around!
Since the beginning of the year, the kids and I have popped over to Northern Ireland twice to see Great Grandma Ruth. The first was back in April during the Easter holidays when the weather wasn't all that warm. Despite that, we managed to get to the beach a couple of times.
One outing was just a wander round the shore, skimming stones and splashing round the edges. It was rather stormy and I think we got a little damp, but we still managed to eat ice creams and enjoy all that lovely N. Ireland has to offer. Our last day of that trip, we were very lucky with weather and the kids got to paddle, unfortunately I wasn't particularly well prepared for this and didn't have a towel or swimming costumes, etc. (for which I was berated) and they had to make do with wellies, coats and nice warm clothing!
On one of the yuckier days we took a trip to Mount Stewart, a National Trust property. As a child we went there quite a bit and it's known for its garden. I can't remember ever going into the house but on the day we went, the weather really did encourage us to explore inside. It has recently been refurbished and they have tried to return most of it to original. The chapel is beautiful and there's a pretty impressive George Stubbs painting on the staircase. Outside, the gardens are fantastic and even though it wasn't really the season to meander round, we had a quick charge round anyway.
The second trip over was at the end of the summer holidays, at the beginning of September. Thankfully we did get to paddle in the sea (though still a bit chilly for my liking) and pottered round the shore a few times. There is a crazy golf course on the shore and we gave that a go. Toby, of course, is an expert (having played once before) and Beth and I didn't do too badly. We had all the holes to ourselves, as schools had already gone back over there when we visited, so we managed to re-do our favourite holes at the end with no one complaining.
We had hoped to do a few more trips out while there but the weather didn't comply for our last day or so and the kids were rather wiped out with it being the end of the holidays. I may try for a sneaky trip on my own soon as I missed my runs around the coast and it would be nice to chat to grandma without two kids running around!
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