Happy Sunday

 Rossnowlagh Beach yesterday was quiet and peaceful.   The tide was out and the smell of the sea was just wonderful.  Not warm enough for sunbathing or swimming (for most people except a few hardy children) but the surfers were lying patiently in wait for the next wave to come in.   It was so calm they might have had a while to lie there I think.

We learnt to drive there - it's 3 miles long when the tide is out like this... This photo is a bit out of focus but I loved the quality of a painting in it.

 Sun glinting on the water added sparkle

 I love the patterns in the sand - it was great to get my toes into it.

 I wish you all a lovely Sunday and hopefully you are not getting scorched wherever you are.

We have a concert this evening over on the other coast in Newcastle and after a couple more studio sessions this week, we start packing for our HOLIDAYYYYYYSSSSSS.  Back to the sunshine - happy days.

Memories

The Atlantic Ocean at Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal

When we were children our big treat was a day at the beach - in either Bundoran or Rossnowlagh.  

Rossnowlagh was special because it had a really long beach - there were always sandwiches and tea from flasks, no shops worth speaking of and it was great for building sandcastles.   And as evening approached there was always the spectacle of someone getting their car stuck in the sand having parked in the wrong place - that's a mean memory really - but it happened to everyone - once!

On Easter Monday we went for a walk on Rossnowlagh Beach.   The place was packed.

There are still no shops, but a few more caravans selling ice cream and now they've become more modern - someone was selling crepes.   And a van selling wetsuits and the surfing experience.  And there were still the young fellas getting their cars stuck.  Thankfully all were rescued before the tide came in fully.

Rosnowlagh was where I learned to drive.  In the South (of Ireland) you didn't need someone with you when you were learning to drive.  So we'd head for the beach and you had miles of great sand with no people around in Winter time and nothing that could be hit.  Later we'd take the dog there - let him run, while we'd practice our driving.  Poor Spot was wrecked at the end of it.

Today there were loads of people in the water - lots of people on surf boards, body boards and canoes and several kids just in splashing about.   It's very early in the year to be in the Atlantic, but they had wet suits on.   We were well wrapped up to even go walking and the sight of bare shoulders and bare feet paddling in the water just made me shiver - I must be getting old :)

The Life Guard tower - beautifully painted up.

We're trying to hold on to as much of this week as possible without getting back to work.  I need to get back into the studio over the weekend for a few hours but that's all until Monday.  Still, it's good to be doing what you love.

It's been great catching up on all your blogs for the A to Z challenge.   I must say I'm not missing it this year - it was the right decision for me to sit it out.   But there's some fascinating themes.   I'm loving Hilary's essays on aspects of Cornwall and Deborah's look at the various faces of the Fool archetype.  

I hope you had a lovely Easter Weekend.