Ireland day 0695. Thursday 24 August 2023- Clear Views *

Ireland day 0695. Thursday 24 August 2023- Clear Views

Today’s summary	Had a video call with a friend first thing then went to the gym. Walked over Paddy’s Hill to the coast in the afternoon. Stunning views
Today’s weather	Dry and bright all day with plenty of sunshine. Moderate westerly wind. Appx 19C

Today’s overview location (The grey mark shows the location of my route)		Close-up location (The orange line shows where I walked) (Click button below to download GPX of today’s walk as recorded, or see interactive map at bottom with elevations corrected): Paddys Hill walk with clear views

Commentary

(Summary blog only. Last full blog was Day 0368).

Left to my own devices, I think my days would probably tend to be a bit unstructured. That means that when Val is away, as she is at the moment, I have to work hard to resist the tendency to let my days drift and to fritter away time on things that aren’t important.

So while she is away, I try and arrange appointments and engagements most days, so I have a structure to hang my day around. Today’s anchor-point was a call, first thing, with one of my friends back in the UK. We have a lot in common – similar age, families dispersed around the world, recently moved into a flat from a bigger house, etc,. so there’s always lots of notes to compare and news to catch up on. It wasn’t a surprise, then, that our chat went on for a good two hours, and didn’t finish till late morning.

Once our enjoyable session putting the world to rights was finished, I decided to maintain the momentum and go down to the gym for another workout and swim. It costs me €10 per week to be a member, and I am determined to get best possible value from it. It was nice and quiet today – I think at least some of the Irish schools go back after the summer holidays around now – so it was a very enjoyable session.

On the way back from the gym, I bumped into a friend from the walking club, so obviously we had to stop for a long chat on the promenade. Then I went on to Tesco and was fortunate enough to be able to pick up a half price pizza – which I had half of for dinner tonight (it was very good, by the way).

After a late lunch, I decided to do my favourite walk up Paddy’s Hill and down to the coast. But first in case you are wondering why I always seem to eat lunch so late – it’s because I am trying to do a form of intermittent fasting type diet. I try not to eat after 10pm and not again before 2pm the next day. The idea is to give your digestive system and gut microbiome a good sixteen hours to process what you just ate, which is supposed to be healthier all round. I must admit I haven’t noticed any particular health benefits, though. I still weigh the same, and I feel perpetually even hungrier than I usually do. Anyway I will keep at it and see how I get on.

The Paddy’s Hill excursion was enjoyable as usual, and made even more so today by the brilliant clear views in all directions from the top. I could clearly see the Mournes (in the banner image at the top of the blog), which are 80km / 50 mils from here. And I sort-of managed to convince myself that I could see Wales, 100km / 60 miles away, though the evidence wasn’t compelling.

Right now, I am just finishing off the last of the pizza as I type, and contemplating sixteen hours of starvation. A nice end to the day? Well, the jury’s out.

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)


The Casino grounds looking fantastic in the sun, after the thorough watering everything has had this summer	*African Iris (Dietes iridioides) growing up in the castle demesne. Its leaves look like pampas grass, but the flowers look like irises. A curious combination*

Cricket pavilions being put away for another year. I reckon there can’t have been more than about 2 days play in the whole season	Elaborate sandcastles on Portmarnock Beach. I reckon dad had as much fun building this construction as junior did

Looking down the Velvet Strand – site of Monday’s swimming adventures!	*Hare’s Foot clover (Trifolium arvense)* growing near the dunes on the coast at Malahide Beach**

Looking east from the top of Paddy’s Hill to where I think the Anglesey hills should be. I magnified and enhanced the photo as much as possible but I’m not really convinced I can see anything on the horizon