Holiday Bliss

Ahh, this is what they mean by food for the soul. How about this view from your hotel?

The Aran Islands at 9am:

Isn't it just fab? I must have stood there for ages, just looking. Well, looking and wishing. It's only 40 minutes by boat or 10 minutes by scary plane (propellors, they weigh you to balance out the plane. They'd need a few bags of rocks on the opposite side for me haha) but it may as well be a world away. No chance of me getting there this time, Mam just couldn't do it and I can't leave them for a whole day. I'll just content myself with looking for now.

I've been before, years ago but not as a knitter, it's kind of an Irish holy grail for knitters, well this knitter anyway.

I love Connemara. This place is so full of childhood memories for me. For 10 years when we were kids we came here for our summer holidays. We actually stayed about 5 miles from where we are now; we drove down to see the old house today. I loved it here, what a perfect place for teenage angst, all the wilderness and wind and places to be alone and hate your life lol. I can't describe the perfectness of this place adequately.

Even the walls move me:

How's that for perfection? Not a bit of cement in sight.

I had a gorgeous walk this morning before breakfast that has set me up for the day. I think I'll do the same tomorrow, weather permitting.

I don't know what to do tomorrow, maybe go for a drive around the old haunts, or a nice walk on Spiddal beach. We'll see. After Alice gets a swim in the hotel pool though. If I get asked once more "Can we go Mom, pleeeeease?" I'll scream.

I met up with an old school pal (actually my oldest friend) today that I haven't seen in over a year. She moved down here 8 years ago. It was great to see her, we just gabbed away for ages.

Right! Enough of the travel guide; here's the real reason for this blog:

Inspired by Tara's travel knitting choice of a clapotis, I wound this baby in anticipation.

Isn't it devine? Those colours are so vibrant. It is, of course my Wollmeise. Red Hot Chili. Not started yet, but hopefully tomorrow.

On to the Stocking Stitch Sweater of Doom for John's birthday.
The body is complete!

The first sleeve is complete!

Now I need to summon the will to cast on for the second one. Oh clapotis how you call to me like a siren! But I must try and resist for a little longer and get this behemoth finished.

I also indulged in a spot of yarn enhancement. I have a thing about buying yarn whenever I go away. So sue me. This time, I got some Kilcarra Aran Tweed in Galway:

The light in the hotel room is really bad, even when I put this on the oh so crisp white sheets. It's actually lilac with purple tweed flecks. Yum. I bought 4 balls, only €3.95 a ball. I think a felted bag perhaps.

That's it from me for now, except to say I'm enjoying this break so far and the hotel is lovely. Very nice food and service. Of course it's all eclipsed by the beauty of the area.