In which the Englishes visit Bellinter
Back live, then, after a bank holiday weekend of fun and frolics with the Disreputable One and his better younger other half (seriously, someone’s got to rein him in – she has her work cut out). Bert lubs his Disreputable Grandad and the feeling’s slightly mutual – although he drew the line at being accompanied into the bathroom (Bert had to be hoiked off Grandad’s towel, where he’d curled up and gone to sleep).
First off, then, we went down to the lough where the smalls spent a happy hour messing about in boats while we got the Guinness in (when in Rome, and all that):
The smalls set sail
I have to say that I did get a teeny bit worried when they pedalled so far out that they became just a idgy speck on the horizon, but nothing that a few beers in the bar wouldn’t solve.
Yesterday, though, was the highlight of the visit when we finally got to visit Bellinter House in Navan. I’ve been dying to go for ages and it was definitely worthwhile. Here’s the smalls with their beloved Grandad outside the front door:
Say cheese!
Worryingly, to get to the restaurant you have to climb down a very scary spiral staircase (bit dodgy for RoboGrandad with his titanium knees, but he managed – could probably smell the wine), but once you’re down there, the dining room is light and airy with quite a trendy 60s feel to it (as usual my photography is more David Jason than David Bailey):
Dig those funky chairs, baby
The food, though, was absolutely spectacular, complemented perfectly by a couple of bottles of amazingly good chilled Rosé. Highlights included Eden Smokies (smoked haddock, spring onions, crème fraiche and cheddar – yum), and our roasted cod main course on a bed of bashed up potatoes (I’m sure there’s a technical term) and the most amazing asparagus:
My roasted cod - no drooling, now.
The desserts were nothing short of mindblowing. Get #1′s beautifully presented raspberry and chocolate gateau (sorry about the tongue, he was desperate):
'Corrrrrrr, flippin' eck!'
…and my Iced Nougat in some sort of apricot coulis stuff:
A masterpiece (didn't last long)
#2 with Diarmuid's balls *snigger*
So I’ll give you two guesses who unscrewed one of the balls and bowled a googly with it down the garden. Tsk.
The Friday Photo: Bert in shoe fetish shocker!!
So yes, we all know Bert’s a bit strange, but this shoe fetish thing is really becoming quite rampant. Take this morning, for instance, when I popped out to water the greenhouse and came back to find he’d wombled practically every trainer in the whole place and gathered them up into a little nest on my bed. Greyhounds: odd, but strangely cuddly too.
And here, especially for Jennifer – is a Friday bonus – a full length Bert with all his beloveds. Oh, and sorry, I didn’t have time to make my bed this morning (ahem).
