CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM IRELAND

We've had a late rise in Ireland, Sean now has Chriatmas music pumping out on the cd player while Hil is cooking up the daddy of all Irish fry ups lining our stomachs for the icy weather outside. Snow was forecast but it looks as if it will be rain, welcome as the ice may melt and we can turn the horses out in the paddock.

It was a long journey to Ireland on the 02.30 ferry from Holyhead to Dublin, reminiscent of a refugee boat with families wandering around abandoned galleys in their pajamas, thankfully we were esconced in the relative comfort of the club lounge. We've had three Christmas greeting e mails fom Li in China.

I've done a bit of filming the past two days, partucularly nice truck scenes in Tipperary in the afternoon on Wednesday but by Christmas eve everything had come to a stop. Weather has been very frosty, minus 6 as we drove across the new motorway towards Cahir, traffic was noticeably absent.

The dogs are all in great form fighting for our attention, young Doug as boisterous as ever. The new addition is the neighbour's black and white kitten which has obviously good taste having adopted himself to Hil and Seans in preference to the poor hospitality next door. Shortly we shall start present opening, Sean has new cowboy boots which no amount of coercing would persude Hil to let him have them at midnight last night just before we all went off to mass ( joke).

We have English neighbours Ewart and Wendy coming for Christmas dinner this evening, sticks of Guiness are good and yet another 250th Guiness glass has been produced, ah simple pleasures.