To County Donegal

Hello.

Yesterday I went to Kylemore Abbey. It was all very beautiful.  It was an old girls boarding school run by nuns.  The school has closed but the nuns are still there.  There was lots of old stuff, like priests robes.

There was a big walled garden with lots of flowers and vegetables.  The flowers were arranged in shapes. There was even a snorty pig.  We also saw a bird smashing a snail shell to eat the snail!

Then we walked up another cliff, called Slieve League.  It was a big hill and we had to walk all the way up.  But I got a hot dog at the top.  Mummy and Daddy shared a lobster roll.

Then we went to a campsite with the biggest sand dune!

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Aran Adventure

A few days ago, Mummy and Daddy took us on an adventure to the Aran Islands.  They are off the coast of Ireland.  We took a fast boat to get there.

When we got there, we went on a horse and carriage.  The horse’s name was Robin. Vivi and I got to drive her. It was fun.  On the drive we saw lots of donkeys, and some seals, though they were far away.

We went to a fort called Dun Aonghasa.  It was 3000 years old.  It had big stone walls at the top of a cliff.  It was scary because it was the cliff was very high (87m) and at the bottom was the Atlantic Ocean.  Daddy saw a huge sunfish.  People use to live there.

Then we went back to the town for an ice cream.  The beach had lots of crabs and shrimps and little flatfish.

On the boat back to Ireland, we saw some dolphins.

It was the eighth best day ever.

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Build Update from Galway

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So… due to circumstances out of our control (i.e. Phil had a rather bad reaction to some jabs that we need for Africa) we ran out of time to complete the landrover build before heading to Ireland. We have only got one of the steel bumpers mounted, the winch is bolted but not wired in, the replacement sunroof visors aren’t fitted, the “light cannon” spotlights are languishing in the garage, and the water tank and filter set isn’t fitted either. Still lots to do once we get back from this trip!

However, the Taniwha is running pretty well, with just the expected moans, groans and niggles that settling into a new chassis and bushes entail (a bit of tightening up to do I think, plus one wheel hub needs replacement).

We have been spending a lot of time talking over packing strategy and modifications we need to make to the way we are doing things (nothing worse than a handful of felt tip pens shooting forwards off the day fridge and ending up under the pedals…)

Speaking of the day fridge, we have had a disappointing experience with our “old” Ironman 30l fridge.  A few days befiore heading off on this trip, it started madly freezing everything while insiting the temp was 11+ degrees…  clearly the thermostat has failed. It’s under warranty still, so we will get it fixed, but will not trust it for Africa.  We have sourced a replacement (36l SnoMaster) which is South African, and is the same brand as the big fella in the boot.  The Ironman will be sent home in disgrace in Margaret’s car.  We are also rather disappointed with the PVC “truck awning” cover for our rooftent – the seams in the corners are splitting, they are only single stitched.  Lazy design. Easy to reinforce – we will sort it before Scandinavia – but it’s highly irritating –  products designed for offroad should be better thought out.  Time for a shitty email to customer service methinks.  (Nakatanenga, Germany, if anyone is curious).

We have been really lucky with the weather so far – a few spots of rain today, but the sun is back out again.  Off on a daytip to the Aran Islands tomorrow…
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Around Galway

Today I am writing from a stone.
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Did you know yesterday I went to the Cliffs of Moher.  They were ok,  with a good view but we didn’t see any puffins.  Did you know the Cliffs of Moher are in the movie: The Princess Bride!

Yesterday we also went to a beach.  Genevieve and Mummy made a sand castle with a moat.  I made one myself.  I made a door with white stones and there was a trapdoor to catch robbers.

Today I was in Galway.  In Galway we went to the Aquarium.  We saw a blue lobster.  Did you know lobsters have 2 claws, a crusher and a cutter. We also saw some starfish and a big conger eels.  My favourite thing was the orange octopus.  An octopus has no bones and can change colour.

Last we went to Brigits Garden where there was a fun fairy trail, with swinging wooden seats hanging from trees.

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Ship of the Desert?

It was stupidly hot in London today.  An appropriate time to turn my mind to the onboard water tank that has been languishing in the garage for the last month or so – this guy needs to be fitted imminently, as we get the Taniwha back from SpannerMonkeys tomorrow or Tuesday, and are off on our shakedown trip to Ireland and the Isle of Man on Friday…

The tank is a 60l stainless rear footwell tank (with baffles to stop sloshing and the corresponding rapid weight transfer).  It will bolt in under the kids feet, and is shaped to fit exactly (I hope!).  I have noticed that it gets REALLY hot (untouchable) in the sun – not good with small paws in close proximity, so time for a wee craft project.  I have leftover automotive carpet from another job, plenty for the task at hand.  Carpet + Scissors + Contact Adhesive, job done!

Once we have the Taniwha back, I will fit the tank and plumb it in (electric pump, 3 stage filter to sieve out the nasties).  Running water, super fancy…  We will have a filter bag and a 20l jerrycan which will be used to fill the main tank, however no need for that until we get to Africa really, so still mulling over our options.

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