title Christmas at Da Gorls, Monkstown Farm, Dublin - 25th December 2024 intro We've done Christmas at home for the last several years, so for a change decide to head over to Da Gorls in Monkstown, near Dublin. Because we're only there for a couple of days we fly over, which turns out to be a good move as Holyhead ferry terminal is closed until January. The downside is that we can't take much with us, and of course it also means we're flying Ryanair, which is never a great experience, although at least the delays are fairly minimal - at least on the way out. After we arrive, we head into Dun Laoghaire for some excellent food in Delhi Rasoi, then the boys head back with Evelyn and Louise whilst Nosher and Isobel meet up with Jen Mac for a couple of drinks. The next day, after the traditional morning dip in Dublin Bay, it's Christmas Day dinner, which is always that little bit more fun when cooking in someone else's oven. imgp8673 We're at Gridserve for a top-up charge imgp8676 A comedy Santa roams around at Gridserve imgp8677 There's a bus already waiting at Stansted mid-stay imgp8680 We're back in the secret basement seating area imgp8681 Isobel gets a photo of Fred's new hoodie imgp8683 The boys play Exploding Kittens at Stansted imgp8686 We head off to the gate past the sparkly tree imgp8687 Harry's on point as we head to the gate imgp8688 The rest of the gang in the non-priority queue imgp8689 The plane is still not ready for boarding imgp8690 Fred, Harry and Isobel join the queue imgp8691 A 737 in "Buzz by Ryanair" livery imgp8692 Isobel does a bit of crochet on the plane imgp8693 Fred's off the plane at Dublin imgp8694 The boys in Dublin Airport imgp8697 Someone waits for people dressed as a dinosaur imgp8701 We wait for the bus on Monkstown Avenue imgp8705 Fred looks caught out imgp8715 A load of food arrives imgp8717 Da Wheeze gets stuck in imgp8724 Ganesha and a Santa in the restaurant imgp8728 Hot kitchen action imgp8729 Naan bread is cooked in a tandoor imgp8732 The Delhi Rasoi restaurant in Dun Laoghaire imgp8733 McCormack's bar in Dun Laoghaire imgp8742 Jen Mac raises a glass imgp8745 Evelyn, Isobel and Jen imgp8749 Pub life imgp8750 Festive window decorations in Juice Yard imgp8751 We head into McCormack's on Mounttown Road imgp8753 Isobel and Jen wander off up the road imgp8759 Sunrise of Idrone Terrace in Blackrock imgp8761 The ever-present old post van is still around imgp8763 Fresh giant silver tags on the footbridge imgp8764 A nice sky over Dublin Bay imgp8766 Evelyn and Isobel prepare for a swim imgp8768 Fred roams around on the rocks imgp8772 Evelyn and Isobel are in the sea imgp8774 Fred and the Winkies imgp8776 A freezing Isobel gets changed imgp8780 Graffiti on the sea walls imgp8782 More swimmers on the seafront imgp8785 A dog roams around near Fred imgp8793 It's now packed with swimmers imgp8798 The Winkies look like they've been repainted imgp8804 Fred hangs around imgp8808 There's a rainbow blob over Blackrock park imgp8809 New tracks for the DART look like a model railway imgp8810 A dog runs around as the tide heads out imgp8811 The crazy spaniel thunders about imgp8818 Loads of birds on the mudflats imgp8819 More graffiti on the walls imgp8820 Fred stumps off imgp8824 The old mock-tudor shelter is replaced imgp8825 Child-like painting in a car park imgp8826 The dramatic Blackrock DART station imgp8827 A nice old Mercedes imgp8829 The nudies of Blackrock imgp8831 Another view of the nudies holding up a rock imgp8832 Evelyn gets ready to do some Buck's Fizz imgp8833 Isobel has given Evelyn on of her epic blankets imgp8835 Cheers for Christmas Day imgp8837 Isobel gets some Christmas breakfast on imgp8838 Fred and his new favourite Gobshite hoodie imgp8840 Harry in his own world imgp8845 There's some present opening in the lounge imgp8848 Fred holds a box of Tayto crisps aloft imgp8853 Evelyn peels some parsnips imgp8854 Da Wheeze is on spud-peeling duty imgp8858 There's a game of Scrabble going on imgp8861 It's cracker time and Christmas dinner imgp8863 The famberly around the table for Christmas imgp8869 Louise reaches over for something imgp8879 The Christmas pudding is well and truly alight