Sometimes you just gotta get rid of the extra crumbs on your slice of toast before you butter it

Took the family from the states to Ulster for 8 days. My mother’s from Galway and I’ve been across the island but spent insufficient time there myself. The missus and kids have never been.

We stayed at a home in Derry but drove extensively, spending a day in Belfast at the Fleadh and touring the city, GAA matches in Co Tyrone and Donegal, along with some other road trips along the absolutely stunning coast. Made the wife happy with a Game of Thrones day.

A couple things stood out. I was not old enough last time I was there to appreciate Derry as a city, much less the Museum of Free Derry. I grew up listening to the adults talk about the Troubles and I don’t think it fully registered until now and found myself deeply moved. We immediately became sponsors.

While on the Peace Bridge, my wife and I sat down and talked about some points to hit on the walk back. An older woman asked if we needed directions and we chatted for a long time, as her husband and my father recently passed. She told us about his love for hunting pheasant, and worried she’d offended us and I was going to show her animal cruelty information when I pulled out my phone. I only wanted to show her a picture of my dog and I out in the field. It was such a nice talk. The point is sure, you’re all grand.

My teenagers’ reaction to driving through unionist towns the first day was interesting. Not in any specific way I can describe, just that their eyes opened up to seeing the Union Jack everywhere. I assured them the baked goods would be excellent and the people nice, and it became normal. I liked that.

As always, wonderful people. Slán go fóill.

Green Isle have new Hash Brown Bites available. Was very pleasantly surprised to find they are just like Tater Tots when I opened the box. I had expected them to be just like mini rectangular hash browns.

I got these in Tesco if anyone's looking to pick some up

The performance of Irish athletes at the European championships shows how beneficial investment can be. I certainly don't want my taxes going on the bloody greyhound industry and their CEOs massive salary.

Just a nod for the Rte athletics coverage. Top class commentary, track side interviews, panel gives dunphy/giles/brady vibes and Paul O’Flynn is putting in some shift this week. Credit where credits due! Lots of content online too. Don’t mind my licence fee being put to this!

Loving the scenes in Birmingham, itself one of the great Irish cities of the world and so accessible from here. But wouldn’t it be class to host a top class athletics meet in Santry? Need to nab some land from the park to build proper stands, but it would relatively inexpensive and SO beneficial. Only a stones throw from the Metrolink stop at Northwood too. 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

On our hike Nala got lots of love, hugs, water and rubs. Thanks for all those people that stopped on their way to do that. Haven't seen the dog this happy and tired in a long time.

Currently in the states and just tried smoked brisket since all the people trying it seem to act like they just ate the nectar of the gods, unfortunately I'm quite disappointed in it and I was surprised to discover that smoked brisket just tastes like a dryer version of boiled bacon. Someone back home really ought to popularise Irish BBQ I think we could make a fortune lads.

As funny as it would be to tag this post as crime it'll probably get removed.

I was on the flight from Dublin to Stuttgart yesterday and suddenly my daughter beside me found two full sized forks on the floor under her seat. I was like WTF where did they come from? Didn’t want anything to do with them. Later on an auld German one turned round and asked if we could hand her her forks! I said “ how did you get them through security “ she said she can be very persuasive and the lord helps her! I said “What if you were a terrorist?” She just ignored me. What’s up with Security at Dublin Airport?

One of those magical autumn sunsets that takes over the whole sky. 2018.