On Saturday the rain finally ceased long enough for us to take a family walk and get the chance to splash in some puddles. Fortified by home-made scones and jam for breakfast we headed to Cootehill in Co. Cavan with the boys and dogs for a squelchy tramp through the trees.

On Sunday the sun almost shone so I took this as a sign: 'Thou must visit the beach on an almost sunny day' (The never-mentioned eleventh commandment) so we packed up a picnic in our ever trusty picnic bag and after getting hopelessly lost arrived at the beach- Irish style beach I hasten to mention, hence the grey threatening clouds and whippy wind...