Is that a week already?

Didn't realise that the transit bolts had not been removed from the brand new washing machine, so when Linda used it for the first time, it did a very good impression of Michael Flatley dancing across the floor until it stopped itself by pulling out its own plug.

Our landlord has been good as his word and we now have the paddock fenced off ready for the horse and donkey to be installed to keep the grass under control. Haven’t been formally introduced yet!

Haven't really had a proper chance to say thanks to all of my friends and colleagues at Headway East London and at St Giles’ for their parting gifts. I am truly grateful for these and for the good wishes which came with them. Particularly fond of the oil painting from the members of Headway East London which was one of the luxuries that came with us – thanks to all of you again. You can all see this painting if you have a look at my profile where it replaced an old photo of Oli & I in Monte Carlo

Those of you who followed the Monte Carlo Blog will know that Oli and I made our way through France commenting on the local wine as we went. Unfortunately we have not yet found an Irish vineyard and as our friend Caitlin at Vinoteca – the best place to buy or drink wine around the Barbican – warned us before we left, wine in Ireland is substantially more expensive than in the UK. Even the wines on special offer in the supermarkets and off licences are between 50% and 80% more expensive. Even checked out the selection at Aldi this morning! Will have to persuade some of our visitors to come by car and stop at Majestic on the way!

We have found at least one class bottle shop which had Buckfast in the cooler alongside Mateus Rosé at €10.50 a bottle. Thankfully the Guinness is still good.

What a fabulous weekend. Saturday was cloudless blue skies and 17degC, working around the house and garden watching swallows –or are they house martins? – and the first butterflies. In the late afternoon we went for a walk around the block which turned into an 8k hike and then sat outside after dinner and tried to identify the stars – almost as successful as my bird skills. With no light pollution at all, I had forgotten what a spectacle it is. Linda had the star charts out – fortunately the sextant is locked up in London – so we managed to pick out some of the brighter ones.

Sunday started off grey but brightened up by lunchtime and after church (Linda came too!) we drove up to Kilfenora to pick up tickets for the Gala Centenary concert by the Kilfenora Ceili Band . There’s a whole weekend of events including 4 Ceili’s to mark this amazing anniversary. Great to know that someone has been touring longer than Status Quo!

A very warm welcome to Sunday service at St Columba’s, Ennis in a very grand building from about 1870 which was built as a garrison church in the "Decorated Victorian" style and bears testimony to the fact that "Anglicans were in previous generations more numerous than they are today". It was the last Anglican church to be built in Ireland before the Disestablishment of the Irish church and has a lovely Pipe organ from 1873 and a flamboyant organist – are they all like that? A note for my friends at St Giles’ Cripplegate – ask the newcomers to read the lesson as soon as they walk in the door!

On the small world note, one of the ladies in the choir had worked for Lazard Brothers at 21 Moorfields some years ago and attended services and concerts at St Giles’ Cripplegate.

Just off for our first walk on the Burren - not only do I have to identify wild birds and stars, now I have to sort out the wild orchids as well. Still it could be worse - I could be reading about the recession!