As the song goes “Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?”… well in the tea rooms in Dunleer if you don’t you’re either blind or deluded. Fantastic spread of deccys and the finest tea and croissant I’ve had some time. Twin that with the perfect company and all in all you’ve got the best time ever!!!

One of the great things about Kilkenny is the access to a variety of walking locations. This is one of the shorter early morning spots. Perfectly situated a ten minute drive from the house. Oh how clear the skies are and how bloody cold it feels. But isn’t it pretty!!!

Wow. It feels like just weeks since we last met (oh wait a second. It was) but once again the Rivervalley crew were stomping the boards … well actually not stomping the boards, more like chomping the wings whilst sitting down in a socially distanced manner. Just over a month since our last Reunifun and the world is again under the cosh of Covid. Dancing is a dirty word , heaven forbid anyone walking up to a bar, and being out with more than six friends is literally begging for it. Okay we managed to get three tables as we made the booking before the restrictions were reintroduced (thanks Caroline). Roll on the next big event in Summer 2022 when Gillian hits the big five oh (oh my gawd!!!).

What a difference three decades makes. When we were growing up the castle in Swords was a run down stain on the backside of the town. Now it’s literally the glowing centre piece. How times change. I wonder if you can still climb the gates and sneak in whilst on the mitch for a fag.

Now that I’m on my ranting mode. Those idiots in the Dail issued a directive that everyone arriving into Ireland by Friday had to present a certified antigen test. Then back peddled on Friday and moved it to Sunday. What a bunch of muppets. £40 wasted on a useless certificate when I knew I was clear. Honestly – line them up boys. I’ll take the first shot 🤣🤣

It’s a mad old world we live in. Today Ireland has reintroduced restrictions on social mixing and shut down nightclubs for all of December … basically fucking Christmas right up the arse. And for what you might reasonably ask…. For one fucking case of Omicron. What next??? Close all ports and airports because a pigeon was spotted sneezing on Stephens Green!!!

I knew it was coming and I convinced myself that common sense would prevail but give a bunch of farmers the keys to the kingdom and this is the shite you have to deal with. They’d never have gotten away with this level of bollox on Bertie’s watch. That’s for sure.

Come the revolution they’ll be the first with their backs to the wall.

I’m getting an eerie sense of deja vu. It’s like last year all over again. First a new strain emerges and everyone starts the panic reporting. The government says we are going to save Christmas. And before you know it BAM we’re all back in act one scene one of major shit show. Travelling to Ireland on Friday evening for Christmas and I get a text last night that I now have to arrange an Antigen test to prove I don’t have covid before boarding the ferry. That was a scrabble to find somewhere that would administer the test and release the results in time. Honestly it’s starting to wear everyone down. When will this all end???