Last week Monday after just a one day week, Uns and myself met up at Heathrow, grabbed a bite to eat at London's Pride Pub and Kitchen followed by a quick drink in La Salle For the first time it wasn't at the old faithful Tin Goose ever since Aer Lingus moved over to Terminal 2. After our flight to Cork, Claire picked us up and we headed back to theirs.

Then Tuesday we had the day in Cork, with Claire and Uns heading out early to meet up with Anthony and Lui and the boys before they headed off for their holidays while I babysat Jack at home. Once they were home and had breakfast we headed into town and while Claire and Uns were trying on bridesmaid dresses I wondered around until Mike got into town and figured we'd wait for them over at Counihans Bar. After they were done with their bridesmaid dresses, Mike and Claire headed home while Uns and I decided to head to Le Chateau Bar for old times sake, then home for dinner. The original plan was to go out but after a good dinner and settling in we were all more than happy to spend the night in.

On Wednesday morning we packed up and headed down west. After a bit of chat at home we decided to head into Skibb, where Uns met up with the girls at the Riverside Cafe while I wondered around town. Afterwards we met up at Fields Coffee Shop then headed home for the night. Then Thursday was Christmas Day and we decided to head up early and catch sunrise from The Fort, which is always stunning from up there. After morning Mass we stopped by Trag to watch the Christmas Day swim then home for lunch and the rest of the afternoon. Friday, St. Stephen's Day, was much of the same again, after the morning at home we popped up to visit Donal, took a spin around the coast then home for dinner and the evening.

On Saturday late morning Uns and I headed over to Myross for her to meet the girls at Rineen Woods. While they were walking around catching up, I took a stroll through the woods and snapped a few photos. Later on we decided to head into Skibb but turned out everything there was closed so instead we met up with Claire, Mike and Jack for lunch at The Paragon Bar & Restaurant. From Skibb we decided to take a drive down to Baltimore, stopping off at the Beacon then afterwards to Casey's of Baltimore. I'd wanted to try their new West Cork Sherkin Lass Pale Ale, but were all out and instead landed up chatting to Dominic who took us downstairs to show us their brewing barrels downstairs which was rather interesting and decent of him.

On Sunday we took a drive out with Claire, Michael and Jack to Crookhaven in the hope for one of their open crab sandwiches but unfortunately was just way too busy so turned around and headed over to Schull to The Bunratty Inn where we had lunch instead. That evening, Uns was out at the West Cork Hotel for her Irish hen party so while that was all going on, Mike had organised a few beers with Sammon, Hag, me and himself, starting off at the Skibbereen Eagle followed by The Paragon Bar in town. After the evening there we met up with girls when they were done and headed on home.

Yesterday morning was a rather early start, even though neither of us felt like it, but had to head into Skibb to the registry office to give them our three months notice intent to marry which was fairly quick and easy to arrange. From their offices we wondered around town a bit, and then later on yesterday we took a drive over to the Celtic Ross Hotel to have a chat with them there and look into the wedding setup and plans which all went pretty well. Once done there it was back home and spent the night in, babysitting little Jack while Claire and Mike headed out for the night for their anniversary.

Then today, our last day of Christmas holidays, started off with a few things in Skibb, then took a drive around the coast before heading home to pack and make our way up to the airport. After flying back into Heathrow we decided to grab a burger at the Wetherspoons there and then got ourselves a taxi home, neither of us were in the mood for the tube ride way after a nice relaxing Christmas week away.