Back and Away Again

I got back from Hanna's Close on Monday. The previous two times we stayed we were in George's Cottage. This time we were in Johnny's Cottage and I thought it was much nicer. George's has two bedrooms and was a bit claustrophobic for four adults and two children. Johnny's had an extra bedroom and it made all the difference. Johnny's also has its own garden with a steep slope leading down to the river. That was wonderful too. Martha and Evie bowled hoops down it and so did Granny!

Johnny's is built on a slope and is entered down steep stone steps. Did I mention the half door at the kitchen?

The girls playing with the hoops that kind Granny bought in Asda in Kilkeel.

My little room. No wriggling, snuffling little bodies to disturb my peace. At least, not until 7am when they jumped in beside me, cold as frogs, for huggles and snuggles.

It was a good weekend.

Tomorrow I go to Paris.

Hanna's Close and Beyond

A week's leave from work soon goes in. I'm back at the coal face tomorrow and I still haven't written a scratch about our weekend in the Mournes.

It was wonderful. The weather couldn't have been kinder to us. The accommodation at Hanna's Close was delightful and Bonnie thoroughly enjoyed her first proper holiday. Bert and I didn't have a cross word the entire time. Well maybe just the two cross words, when he raced ahead of me on the descent from Hare's Gap. Big show-off! Then when he lost Bonnie's lead. But no matter. We had another in the car and it was me lost it anyways – or so says Bert. And besides they weren't even cross words. More mildly peevish than anything.

Knockchree Mountain, outside Kilkeel, was our first walk and, although easy going, the views were wonderful. Knockchree limbered us up for Slievebearnagh the next day. That was a far tougher hike and, unfortunately, the mist came down as we reached the top so the views weren't as good as we'd hoped for.

On Monday we visited Castlewellan Forest Park. Bert was very keen to see the arboretum and he found it well worth the entrance fee. Meanwhile I was expected to be very impressed with his extensive knowledge of things bushy and treeish. Big show off! Although secretly I was. Very impressed indeed.

We both agreed that our break had been one of the best ever. I'd recommend the cottages at Hanna's Close and the magical, wonderful Mournes to anyone who relishes a bit of peace and tranquillity after a great day's walking.

The Queen of the Mournes

That would be Rosie. Me? I'm the Hag of the Mournes.

Bert, Rosie and I had a great time staying at Hanna's Close. We stayed in the Carthouse where, by coincidence , Zoe and Dave had stayed previously. It was Zoe recommended Hanna's Close to us. Naturally it's dog-friendly.

One of the best things about the cottage was the open fire.

It had all the traditional accoutrements for hanging cooking utensils on and I must be one of the few bloggers that remembers these being used.

When I was very little, sometime in the late 50s, my Granny did all her cooking like that. I remember the big black swinging pan where she fried chops and made the traditional Irish breakfast of home-cured bacon, freshly laid eggs and her own soda bread. Glorious. She had a big black pot for boiling spuds and a swinging griddle for soda bread. She must have found it very strange when she moved to the council house in Whelan's Brae.

Bert and I did our small bit of cooking on the electric cooker. We didn't think The Man would have been too impressed if we'd blackened all his pots and pans.