A weekend in Malahide

Friday was spent peering at the engine and researching the various possibilities around our suspicions. The engineer will visit Monday, but we wanted to get as much info as possible first. There were some very kind and knowledgeable people on both Facebook and especially the Moody Owners Association, who had some valuable insights. The rest of the day was a bit domestic, making use of the washers and even dry cleaners on site.

Lovely atmosphere in town in the evening, lots of relaxed al fresco dining….but all outside tables packed away by 9pm…

With a weekend ahead before the engineer comes, we decide to take a train to Dublin…on the day that Oasis come to town! It’s rammed more than usual, but still a lovely city nonetheless. We’ve all been before, and have ‘done’ all the usual touristy stuff. So we just wander along the Liffey and stop for a pint, before turning back south and a late lunch/early dinner in Marco Pierre White’s place. Another pint at O’Donoghues….used to be a tiny bar where the pints were passed over people’s heads….now expanded and clearly we’re some of the oldest there.

We finish off at St Stephen’s Green and just sit and people watch for a bit. Again, a lovely atmosphere in the early evening….then train home and possibly a nightcap…

Sunday starts with one of the more glamorous boaty jobs….replacing the seals on the sea toilet. Actually it’s not too bad, and after a hosedown, its almost a pleasure in there. We decide to take train along the coast to Howth…along with the half of Dublin not waking up with hangovers after Oasis.

It’s a lovely fishing town and a real intergenerational mix just out for Sunday…

Lots of buskers and a radio museum which makes us feel really old, as lots of the exhibits we grew up with.

Monday, and at least there is good news from the engineer. He doesn’t believe that there is a problem with head gasket or heat exchanger. He’ll check again when he changes the coolant. Relief all round, especially for the wallet.

We fitted in a quick visit to Malahide Castle, complete with another funny and informative guide.

John and Chris have left for domestic duties so James and Yee Tak are currently in charge before the old girl is lifted out on Wednesday for power wash and scrub, stern gland and cutlass bearing, to get her all ship shape for the cruise up to Coleraine in September.

With the genoa down and stowed below, plus a final tidy up and polish, Heydays is ready to be left for a few weeks. We have time for a last walk out along the estuary just after low tide. An on-shore breeze seems to be creating some breakers over the sand bar at the entrance…note to selves for when we return…