Belvedere

We set off early and W drove into the rising sun, heading east - the weather really could not have been more of a contrast from yesterday.  Just as I was suggesting a coffee stop, we spotted the brown signs for Belvedere.  A lovely cuppa, with a piece of carrot cake to share.  And some interesting views - no time to explore today, but we'll definitely be back.

We arrived near Carrickmacross a few minutes early for our appointment - to view another house!  We really liked it, and it concentrated our minds on the fact that, although the house we've been trying to buy is OK, it just isn't quite what we want.  And the longer the process drags on, the more we find negative things.  For a variety of reasons, only one of which is the boundary problem that has slowed (to a snail's pace) the conveyancing. 

We may not buy the house we viewed today, but we've withdrawn our offer on the house in County Galway, and we will continue looking.  Renting isn't ideal - our rental property is a bit chilly, and W hasn't got access to his hobby, but it's taken the pressure off - we can stay here as long as necessary to find the right house.

After the viewing, we drove into Carrickmacross, where we were able to charge the car, and take a little wander around this small town.  It seemed a friendly town (but then, so have all the places we've visited in Ireland), with some features we would like to revisit.

We drove out of town to find somewhere to eat, and then headed north to investigate the Tesco Extra in Newry (in Northern Ireland).  Booze was a bit cheaper than in the Republic, but still no Warburtons crumpets - we really will have to learn how to make them!

I drove home in the dark.