What a weekend!

The 1st weekend in August turned out to be quite the weekend! It all started with a girls' shopping trip to Cork on Saturday - Linley was here visiting from Wicklow, and Adela and Danielle were here from England. Becca rounded out our group and off we went!

Left to right: Adela, Me, Danielle and Linley

My lunch - A "shambo", a shamrock-shaped sandwhich

Becca and I - shopping in some Irish weather!

Monday, August 6th, was a Bank Holiday. Every year, the friends meet at a beach in Youghal and spend the day together, playing games and catching up. It has been a tradition apparently for nearly 100 years! Most of the games revolve around match-making - this made for some both hilarious and embarressing moments! It was a fun day - I caught up with kids I'd met earlier at convention, and met others as well. Aside from one momentary downpour, the weather held and we all stayed warm!

The view

This picture was taken shortly after it absolutely lashed rain - everyone made mad dashes for their cars to avoid getting soaked, but most didn't make it in time. A group decided they were already wet, they might as well go for a swim! That is Cormac off to the side, watching the action.

Becca, Kata, and Brian

Lindsey - a fellow American! Lindsey is staying with an Irish family in Poland.

We thought it was going to rain again there for a minute! - In the back: Linley (Olwyn's cousin) and Ciara (Olwyn's sister-in-law) In the front: Adela and Danielle

Malcolm (Nigel's youngest brother) and his girlfriend, Miriam

Me, Linley, Ciara and Danielle

Beach volleyball

A competitive round of tug-of-war!

Rhia - enjoying watching the ruckus!

Just as we were leaving...a rainbow!!

Tuesday afternoon (wow...what a long weekend!) - Seven English lads here for Youghal found their way to Opal and Robert's house. That afternoon, the whole crew of us headed out for some sea kayaking. What an adventure!

Ready to brave the sea!

This is where we launched...once again, beautiful!

Cormac and Harvey were ready to ride along!

Getting ready to push off

Am I ready for this??

And they are all in!

Harvey - still hoping for a ride!

The hungry bunch back at Robert and Opal's for a BQ - the rest of the Shorten family joined us there.

Cormac buried our feet in the sand...now we really can't catch him! - Me, with Miriam, Adela and Danielle - (The three girls are sisters.)

And at last - a cute picture of Harvey, and one of baby Shirley...look how much she has grown!!