When we met up this weekend the talk came around to our annual get together up here in God's country to give the Freestaters a chance to try out some good roads for a change.  
Maybe this year we'll head towards Enniskillen or Donegal, or both!
The weekend, 18th to 20th of September was put forward for discussion and to see how many would be interested.  
The usual hotel, Kilmorey Arms in Kilkeel, otherwise known as Fawlty Towers, went bust shortly after the last visit.
But here's where its gets spooky, I found out this morning that it reopened yesterday. It's a sign!!
No other details yet and it's got to be cheap.
We talked about somewhere nearer to Newcastle and another place came up. You'll like this, Olaf.
It's the Meelmore Lodge in the Mournes. Might be very suitable.
I'm looking at a couple of other options but we'll need some idea of numbers before we can proceed much further.
So, all the usual family commitment excuses fade at this time of the year, who's up for it?

Comberjohn,

Looked up that one before and it does indeed look very suitable for us.......K friendly too!

I'm a possible John

Rod

Buggery,
I'm busy that weekend - sorry to say.

So count me out.

I'm in!

I'm in Florida!

Bumpity bump. Just to keep this in sight.
That's three and a half now.
Do I need to look at a phone box or will we need something bigger?

Plans to pick up my new K from Stephen are shaping up nicely....

....but don't work with the Norn Iron weekend, so sadly I'm going to have to duck out too. 

Actually I lied. I'll be in Dublin on my way to Florida

I'm up for it...been sidelined by an old campervan project  and need to get out for a spin...

I am in Norn Iron that weekend.

Nice to see you again Markzz.

Comberjohn had three and a half, wonder could we find a half wit to make it four?

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:I am in Norn Iron that weekend.

Nice to see you again Markzz.

Comberjohn had three and a half, wonder could we find a half wit to make it four?

Tumbleweeds cartoon (Wild West):

"The Colonel and the Chief are having a battle of wits.

Who's winning?

Our half."

Tried a search on Kilmorey Arms Hotel but its only showing up the old website that's not live. Maybe a call to them might be a good move......

So who have we got? Don't see any half ones....

Comberjohn
Markzz
88KE Will
92KK Olaf
Ringfad

Not sure if I reply that makes me a half wit, but I am in

Its ok as long as we have no shining wits.

Anyway that comfortably makes 5......hopefully Bjorn and Ditte will bring up the rear.

There's an article about the Kimorey Arms in the local paper.
They've just reopened but not taking any overnight bookings for a few weeks yet.
Says that it was bought over by two new owners who've spent £1.3 million on it.
So they'll probably want to keep the riff raff away.
Might be worth a call. See what I can do.
DeRodster is a possibility, too.

Comberjohn

If the normal weather provision applies per the weatherstone I shall be happy to bring my tent. It has been having a good outing this year and the bbq is well used. However the possibility of two evening gatherings as we had last year is a good one to pursue and it needs hotel or house option for that. I have been looking at some options too and found a large summer house to let at Ballynahinch but doesn't state if it has parking or if they would take the riff raff .

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:Its ok as long as we have no shining wits.

Spoonerism... Or is that what you meant?

Rang the Kilmorey Arms. 
They will be open as a hotel by then, but £60 a night b&b is a bit steep for a K owner. Doesn't know if there'll be any 'deals' by then but wouldn't hold my breath on it.
A tent for two nights at the end of September?
Hmmm. Thought we were try to increase our numbers!
Have couple of other ideas for somewhere in Newcastle and there's still the b&b in Ardglass.
Need to firm up the numbers ASAP.

Dai wrote:

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:Its ok as long as we have no shining wits.

Spoonerism... Or is that what you meant?

We do have to give the Rev. Spooner a look in sometimes......Well spotted!!

£60 for B&B is well outside my budget......but the hotel availability last year is definitely what gave us the good numbers.

I am happy to camp but agreed not everyone is on for that in September, even though the weather stone usually holds good!.

Seems there are a few showing up on the booking engines for around €180 for the two nights B&B, or €90 each for weekend. Will keep an eye on the Groupon offers.

Olaf

Dayum! I can't do that weekend. Do feel free to keep me entertained with news from the front!

Life does funny things.

My youngest daughter is in Antwerp and decided to move accommodation which meant painting up the new place and sorting furniture [IKEA] as they come unfurnished. Unfortunately she also has quite severe scoliosis [curved spine] but I didn't argue with her when she said she would do it herself over these last few days as she likes to be independent with a devilish I can do anything attitude of one who is not to be argued with. Anyway it hasn't worked out for her so she is now looking from me to go over with her for a few days when she goes back next time to sort it for her like I did in her previous place last year. A kind of plaintive 'dad you can do anything'.

Will keep posted but it's looking quite like I may miss Norn Iron.

As I sit here in France I'm thinking I might only need one single room.
I think the patient has died chaps. Think we need to switch off life support and knock it on the head for this year.
Besides, that phone box has gone. 
Plenty of opportunity next year.
Now, out into the mid twenties temps. Cooled down since the low thirties at the start of the week.
Back to porridge tomorrow.

I found another suitable phone box in Norn Iron

John

I might still come up and stay with my parents, so see what you can do with the weather, and maybe we can still have a mini meet and another coffee in Newcastle.



Phone box fitted with defibrillator

Notice: Undefined index: tie_hide_meta in /nas/wp/www/cluster-40914/irishdailystar/wp-content/themes/jarida/includes/post-meta.php on line 3

A phone box in the North has been transformed into a potential lifesaver after it was fitted with a defibrillator.
The machine diagnoses and treats heart problems and has been installed in a kiosk in Crossgar, Co Down.
It is the first BT payphone in the North with the equipment.
GP Dr Nigel Hart said: “Apart from benefiting our own local community we have a lot of visitors to the village.
“A defibrillator in the centre of the town will be a real asset and could help save lives in the future.”
The defibrillator is housed in the kiosk in a high-visibility green vandal-resistant and heated cabinet.
It can be opened under instruction from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service by calling 999.
The original idea of using a BT phone box to house a defibrillator came from a collaboration between the Queen’s University medical faculty, Dr Hart and the British Red Cross.
Paula Powell, community-based first aid manager for the Red Cross, said: “We would encourage other towns and villages in Northern Ireland to think about their own resilience.
“They may already have defibrillators in the community, but do enough people know how to access and use them?
“This is an innovative way to enable 24/7 access to an AED (automated external defibrillator) and most importantly of all, to have the local community fully involved and first aid trained.”
Two medical students from Queen’s also conducted a community research project to establish local appetite for the project.
The local community raised £4,000 (€4,600) to fund it and around 100 local residents and business people took part in community first aid courses organised by the Red Cross.

Another possible maybe 3

Was talking to CluainSi tonight about Norn Iron.

Looks at the moment we have for next Saturday 19th

Comberjohn
Markzz
Ringfad

Also add
Cluain Si
Tom O'Connor.

Sadly cant make it...
Dai
88KE Will
92KK Olaf

Corkboy

Curley?
Magda?
Reg?
DeRodster?

Comberjohn now needed to organise weather stone and route for Saturday. Was a mention of Donegal, does that still stand?

Even thought the Norn Iron run was cancelled, Comberjohn had still sorted out the weather so instead of heading North I stayed around Dublin.

First stop was to another phone box ...



then

Taghadoe Round Tower and Church



Then on to visit Rod and then back to Dublin where I finished of the day with a few well earned beer's in some of Dublin's finest hostelries , I took the bus for the last part

I'm not daft.
Headed off on Friday afternoon to mop up the last eight photo rally shots.
Down to Foynes on the Friday then across to Loop Head lighthouse on Saturday morning. Down to Killarney, across to Kenmere and down to near Kinsale for the night. Along the south coast today and and back home. That's it finished for this year. Total 840 miles.
Rain didn't start until near Dublin on the way back up.

Aah.

Went out this morning for breakfast meet up......but rain did set in sometime around lunchtime so you made a good run for it.

Was going to buy you a coffee, Olaf. But thought you were helping your daughter this weekend.
Next time I'm in the area maybe.

Hi John

I was with her today, but my missing NornIron was because I have to be away with her next weekend for long weekend and Monday and had a few work commitments too many. Then Andrew told me he is heading to Norn Iron next weekend.....mentioned all the places on our routes. He is going on 4 wheels though.

Glad you made it back safe too, see you 7 November I hope.

Olaf

7th of November? 

7th November it is......since we have an honoured guest from down under.

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:7th November it is......since we have an honoured guest from down under.

Sorry the weekend was cancelled - and it wasn't lack of interest on my part, just lack of time.

I am on a course that is run over 5 weekends.  That was one, and the 7/8th November is the last.

But we'll never say die.  We can get some beautiful days in the winter, and if something comes up in groupon, - we can see if there is any interest.  It's a small island after all.