We are nearing the end of our time in Northern Ireland. It’s been our second three month house sit at Mourne Park and we’ve enjoyed it heaps. Being Aussies we’re limited in how long we can stay in different areas in Europe – 90 out of 180 days in Schengen and 180 days in a 12 month period in the UK. We are literally “forced” to keep on the move!! Between our two Mourne Park adventures we visited Switzerland, France and Portugal before flying to Liverpool and catching the ferry back to Belfast – about an hour north of here. Having to shift around really opens up opportunities – you can really think outside the box. We haven’t had a car in Northern Ireland so have pretty well stayed put. We’ve hardly left Mourne Park. Still we can hardly complain – if you’re going to be stuck somewhere this is a pretty good place to be! We’ve kept ourselves busy – lots of beautiful walks, many hours working in the grounds and gardens – mowing, strimming, leaf blowing, hedging etc etc, and just generally having a good time with fellow resident Chris. He lives in the “Stables Cottage” nearby. Added to the Mourne Park mix is Maurey the resident horse and now little Frodo – a Jack Russell cross who’s been adopted by Chris. And we’ll soon have Pepper here full time to keep Maurey company – he was visiting recently and is coming back. Yeah!! He’s a lovely horse and Jennifer – his owner – is a delight to have around. She’s returning to live in Kilkeel – our local village. Jennifer also has a dog – Theo. He’s always with her when she comes to feed and check on Pepper. Frodo and Theo love to run around together – although Theo’s legs are much longer and Frodo really struggles to keep up the pace. Doesn’t stop his enthusiasm though. Frodo is full on or fast asleep – there’s no in between!
So our life at Mourne Park has been on the quiet side. I’ve written lots in past posts about Reg and Chris’s obsession with tools and machinery and my many happy hours spent in the kitchen cooking meals and baking goodies. I’ve managed to have the “odd” turn on the ride on mower – it’s like pulling teeth to maneuver the “boys” away from their “toys”. You need the skill of a surgeon to remove their backsides from the seat of the mower or the JCB – the big back hoe tractor thingy. Not that I would dream of even touching the controls of the JCB!!!! Recipe for disaster!! Talking of surgical skills the same applies when trying to remove Frodo from Chris’s lap – to say that they have bonded is an understatement!! We happily dog sit when Chris is away but Frodo is definitely a one man dog – he is beside himself with excitement when Chris gets home. Even when I take him for walks during the day he runs straight to Chris’s front door to check if he’s back – he even pokes his head into the garage on the way past to see if the car’s there. He is so cute!!
Off to London on Monday then back to Oz on Wednesday. Enjoy the video below!! Sums up our time at Mourne Park really well! Always time to stop for a cuppa! I’ve also added some of my favourite photos of Mourne Park – amazing grounds and gardens, beautiful river at the bottom of the valley.
Love as always
Di and Reg
This entry was posted in House Sits, Mourne Park (2), Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Very entertaining Di, your video and music was very well done with the music and cups of tea right on ‘q’!
Will you be returning to Mourne Pk in the future? Chris will miss you both during your absence, and Frodo of course!
Looking forward to catching up with you if possible during your trip back home.
Enjoy your journey.
Carol xx
We’re returning to this area for another house sit in July/August – we’re looking after Marion and Alan’s farmhouse – it’s just a few miles away. If things change – they are thinking of having a couple of months holiday on their boat moored in Florida, but its not definite – we will just come back to Mourne Park. Hope that makes sense!!!
I am already getting teary at leaving Chris and Frodo – I am hopeless at goodbyes!!
Not sure if we’ll have a car back in Oz – but would love to see you both again. A visit to Goolwa would be lovely.
Love Di xxxxx