At the start of the summer I was in Ireland working with some old friends for a few days. We were based in Dublin and we managed to take advantage of some of the great pub culture that you find all around this wonderful city. The first pub we went to was "The Hairy Lemon" which is just off Graffton street. This is a lively bar with excellent bar food, I vaguely remember the barman telling us about some awards that they had won for original Irish Cuisine, but we just stuck with the burger and chips !
Below are a few pictures of "The Hairy Lemon" and the beautiful people I was there with......
After this bar shut we went to the downstairs bar and listened to some jazz musicians giving it big licks until the early hours.........
After I got back from Ireland it was time for my family holiday and we decided that we would go to France and camp in the Loire Valley. We drove all the way from my home town of Broxburn, which is just outside Edinburgh, to France. We stopped over in Dover and then again in Rouen. I found out that Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in the ancient market square in Rouen, there is now a church there which has been named in her honour.
The large cross marks the exact spot where she was killed. I then raised a glass to mark her passing.........
We visited vineyards, hired a tandem bike, picnicked by beautiful rivers, swam in the pool, drank great wine which was mainly bought directly from the producers, saw fireworks, etc, etc, etc.............