Golf in gear
On 21 May I had a second round at Malone Golf Club, this time in a competition. The weather wasn't as great as the first round so the photo doesn't do it justice.
Our team won, so my partner and I were called in on the 13th and enjoyed lunch in the lovely clubhouse shown above. That night I went to the Ulster Museum for an event tied to a wonderful exhibit of the museum's collection of fashion through the centuries, including a fashion show put on by Ulster University students.
The next day, Friday, I played golf then went to my neighbour's birthday party. It was lovely to meet the young couple's parents. The Saturday was a centenary party at Shandon. I decided it would be appropriate to dress as a flapper (given 1926 founding of club). Here's me with two other golfers. The golfer in front of me is American and not one of my favourite golfers, so I didn't manage much of a smile.
Just as with the launch of the centenary book, the speakers at the dinner focused on the men and the men's teams that did well in the 1970s and 1980s. Really annoying when the ladies section made up more than half the audience.
In other news, the garden is coming on. I'm really pleased, given all the dirt I hauled into the back garden and all the digging I did to loosen the soil.
On 27 May I went up to Antrim Castle and gardens to visit an old swing dancing buddy, sadly no photos. On 30-31 May I was in Virginia, County Cavan, for a practice round and then a competition. The course is next to Virginia Park Lodge, owned by famed Irish chef Richard Corrigan. Minimum spend for a wedding at the lodge? 30,000 euro. On the Saturday night, we had dinner at his pub in Virginia – it was excellent.
My partner Diarmuid and I lost on the 17th hole. My friend Lynn and her partner won on the 18th. There were also two matches at the home course (Shandon), one lost, one won. So one of the home pairs had to play tie holes and they won. Here's me and Lynn on Saturday night. Golf is thirsty work!
My golf hasn't been great this year, but I knew I would struggle because my handicap was cut at the end of last year so I've got a higher bar.
I booked a trip to see my mom from end of June to 9 July. I have had a heck of a time finding a dog sitter. I finally gave up (after trying 14 people) and have booked a boarding kennel. The dogs will have the run of a large enclosed yard and will sleep in crates at night that are in the house's sunroom. There are lots of dogs there, easily 20, so this will be a shock to my pampered dogs' lifestyle. I went to see the kennel on Thursday, 4 June after taking the dogs to a nearby beach. The woman who runs it helped me train Paddy when he was a pup. She's shown at Crufts and I imagine has all these dogs basically under control.
On Friday I went to a market in Sailortown then to my favourite bar, The American Bar. While there, I learnt the origin of the name. That location is where you once bought tickets to sail to America. The bar has a kitchen in back where you order food at a window. The food service is called The Grateful Bread and it is excellent.
Saturday I went to another market with my friend Fiona then to a garden centre. That evening I had dinner with Ann O'Dwyer at a wonderful Thai place then we saw the film Tuner with Leo Woodall. Really good. Scarier than I expected. I don't handle scary well, but I did my best.
Fiona brought me some peonies from her garden, which I mixed with peonies I bought at Lidl. How lovely are they?
It has rained relentlessly the past week, so I haven't been playing golf. Weather improved today (Monday) so I played with my friend Anne McLean. Tomorrow I'll play in the weekly competition and Wednesday I'm playing with a friend with whom I'll be playing in a foursomes match in a week. Wednesday is a chance for us to work on our strategy.
Other things happen besides golf. I tried to do my taxes (STRESS!!) I finished a book. Lots of dog walks and gardening. I find it interesting that time still seems like a finite commodity, that retirement doesn't mean time becomes plentiful.
8 June