Ireland & UK

Tanja and I had booked flights to Dublin long time ago last year, as we (or I at least) hadn't been there for quite a long time. There was also Redemption festival in the Button Factory with Primordial and Solstafir. We flew over on Friday morning, hung out in the city, had some Guinness in Foggy Dew and finally got to pick up the keys to the apartment we  had rented. It was a cool two room place in the Old Jameson Distillery. Heating sucked and we didn't know how to put the warm water heater on, but otherwise fantastic location & good bed, what else do you need?

The festival was sold out, but we got good places in the balcony and managed basically to see what we wanted. Otherwise we spent the time mainly in the balcony with the Germans & Belfasties, who had came over for the weekend. Thanx to all of you for the good times!!! Great to see you again! The evening ended at Bruxelles and later in a nachspiel. And had a ride with a rickshaw. Back home at 6 am.

First Guinness, or was it the last?

A proof that I did drink something else than just beer. Not that it wouldn't be allowed.

Next day was the planned hang over day. Which turned out to be not as bad as expected. What is this planned hang over days? I never used to plan them. I'm getting old. So we met up with a few friends & ended up in Foggy Dew again. On Monday we picked up the rental car and headed towards Galway to meet up with Bertrand. He lives in a house surrounded by fields full of donkeys. Next time we have to have carrots in the car all the time.

Crazy donkey lady.

Aren't u a sweet one?

Tanja looking norwegian.

Cliffs of Moher.

Distillery? That means it's time to stop.

We did a trip to the Cliffs of Moher, quite an impressive place. Short stop at Galway and on Wednesday we had to head back to Dublin again. Tanja flew back home and I struggled if I should just take a new flight for Friday and stay a few more days in Belfast or Dublin. Well, thanx to Valentines day or what ever the flight prices were too high so I had to stick to the original plan und jump to the plane to London. At the end not a bad decision.

London was the usual. Kate, Camden, Underworld, the polish crew, a gig... A few new bars this time though, I got to taste the best caipirinha ever, raspberry chili!!! That recipe will be stolen. We also tested some beers at Brew Dog and I managed to drag my ass to Unicorn for the first time. And I did art! I went to a museum! Tate! yeah!

Art! I did culture!

On Friday we went to see Orange Goblin, first time for me. And not the last. One of the supporters, The Earls of Mars sounded quite fantastic too, have to check them out later.

On Sunday I flew home in a horrific hang over. Nothing new there. I should have planned a hang over day.