Some Families go to the beach on holiday.....

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We were at a farm owned by my Uncle (L***; he will kill me if I mention him online, on Facebook or show a photo of him. Sorry x) and run as a Bed and Breakfast by my Aunt Kate. You can find it here; the name is Kate's Kottage. I wish I'd taken pictures of the inside of the house. It's a very lovely welcoming Irish home, with a warm wood burner, a teapot on the range and one of those big 'we live here because it really is the heart of the home' kitchen with a fantastic view out over Bessy Bell. When I finally become a best selling author and get writer's block on my second novel I am coming here to sit at this table and write. No kidding. You could just watch it all day.

Uncle L*** has many fingers in several different pure Irish beef pies. Seriously, the man never sits still, between gardening with Leonard Cheshire as a volunteer, lambing, driving his truck over the fields and other things he does, but one of his main roles is that he runs a shooting school in and around Tyrone. It's called Hunter West Shooting School and the website is here. It offers air rifles, clay pigeon shooting, archery and other outdoor pursuits.

We spent a pleasant afternoon on the farm shooting. I like shooting and (I think) I'm not bad at it. Certainly I get quite competitive about it. Especially when I'm up against a brother. Sibling rivalry is alive and finding its release in blasting innocent clay discs out of the sky  ;o)


Between the archery, the sharp shooting and the clay pigeon shooting, it was a really good afternoon's lesson in concentration (safety rules, ok?), breathing (breathe out and squeeze the trigger)) and posture (brace yourself with your front leg; shotguns have a cracking kick back!) and I came back thinking as I always do after a session shooting; this could be my sport. Does that seem weird for a middle aged, mild-mannered mother to say?












Comments

  1. Thimbleanna16 April 2013 at 22:48

    Oh how fun! It looks like you had a wonderful break. I've been having a little catch-up with your last several posts. Your pictures from Ireland are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angel Jem22 April 2013 at 23:11

      Thank you Thimbleanna! It helps that Ireland is photogenic.

      Delete
  2. VintagePretty17 April 2013 at 07:41

    Wow, what a holiday! It looks fun, though I'm not much for shooting anything, so I'd probably be found reading/writing at that wonderful kitchen table that you mention or maybe wandering around the countryside thereabouts! How lucky you are to have well-connected relations!

    Tash over at vintagepretty.org

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angel Jem22 April 2013 at 23:12

      Like most Irish families, Tash, we have relatives over the world. Including Australia, Boston and New York!

      Delete
  3. Jo17 April 2013 at 11:52

    It looks like you've had a wonderful holiday, and one with lots going on too. I don't think I'd be very good at shooting, my hand eye coordination is awful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angel Jem22 April 2013 at 23:13

      Thanks Jo. Close your eyes and blast is the best advice for the uncoordinated shooter!

      Delete
  4. Anne17 April 2013 at 16:37

    It looks like you had a wonderful time in Ireland. Maybe you should take up shooting and be on the next Olympic team? :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angel Jem22 April 2013 at 23:15

      Hi Anne! I would love to be. Imagine a chubby greying middle aged woman as Olympic shooting champ. It would be like the John Smith advert with Peter Kay diving!

      Delete
  5. Lisa17 April 2013 at 19:12

    Good to try different things, but all I can think of is Robin Hood, will you be investing in green tights?!
    Lisa x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angel Jem22 April 2013 at 23:17

      Lisa; I have the green tights. I can sing both famous songs and I can blow a horn; is there a career for me?

      Delete
  6. Anonymous17 April 2013 at 19:31

    What fun you had on your trip. That home sounds wonderful and cozy.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Angel Jem17 April 2013 at 19:33

    I had really good fun. I'm better with the guns than the archery and I WILL NOT be getting green tights!

    ReplyDelete

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