Belvelly

Well that was a very odd day and a half! Himself was due at a hospital in Cork for a knee op this morning - at 7.30am! That would have meant leaving home at around 4.30am - nah! Instead we wandered up at a leisurely pace late yesterday afternoon and stayed in a hotel near the hospital. It turned out to be rather good - a colossal room, huge beds, big bath, a swimming pool and sauna (yes I availed) and most impressively a really good vegetarian meal - no goat's cheese in sight!

We were still up early enough to get to the hospital. Himself hurt his knee, which has always been slightly dodgy, two months ago and frustratingly hasn't been able to do any walking. After a scan and consultation he has had an arthroscopy -  keyhole goings on on his knee. He now has a large bandage and instructions not to cook or drink unless he faints or goes hyper on the anesthetic. Hopefully this will have done the trick. He'll be re-examined in 10 days.

Whilst all this was going on I went off to amuse myself. First stop Belvelly Castle. Cork city is built on an island and all around it there remain more islands and estuaries and this castle commands an incredible position. It used to be a gaunt and forlorn ruin but a couple of years ago was bought and  spectacularly done up. The interior is a bit over the top for my tastes but the exterior is magnificent - I especially like the golden tree (remembering the real tree that once grew from the battlements) and the lone figure. 

Then I went on to Fota House and gardens. The house was closed but the gardens were magnificent - formal gardens, rows of ornate greenhouses being done up, a huge lily pond, a fernery and a massive arboretum. What I really liked was in the middle of the formal gardens were large rectangles of wild flowers.  It was only drizzly at this point so I didn't get too wet. It has rained solidly all the way home. Just don't mention any heat wave.