Hello everyone! Wow, it’s been a busy week for me… So it was such a relief to find out that Plunkett had been messing around with photos on the computer again. Thanks Plunkett, you’ve saved Tuesday’s blog post!
He and Paddy thought it might be fun to place themselves somewhere far-flung and interesting, and see if anyone can figure out where they might be. So, come on down and join us for the very first episode of…
Where in the World are Paddy and Plunkett?
At the suggestion of Shirley from Handmade Habit, we’re heading to east Asia for this debut adventure. Thanks, Shirley! Now, no more clues… Are we ready?
Well, this is very nice.
I’d like to go here myself… Oh, wait a sec! I did!
Clearly Plunkett has got his paws into my old holiday snaps. Here are a few more visual clues to help you figure out where exactly the boys might be.
You’d hardly believe you’re in the heart of one of the biggest and busiest cities in the world here. This temple is set in a park of tall old trees and shady bamboo groves, and it’s possible to grab a quiet moment or two to yourself there, as you can see.
I also really loved the craftsmanship of the building’s details… Check out that beautiful door in the top right photo!
The temple is dedicated to a former ruler of the country where it’s situated, and celebrated its 100th birthday last year. It’s not just a tourist attraction either… The locals love it too! Many (and from what I can see, that numbers in the millions) choose to come here for the first prayers of the new year, making it the most popular shrine in the country.
And now all YOU have to do is to figure out the country, the city and the name of the temple! Have a guess in the comments… And let us know where you think the boys should visit next!
“Pop it in the side of the computer here… We’re on our way! Look at all those photos.”
Let’s swing in for a closer look.
I don’t know about you, but this is EXACTLY the kind of view I needed to see today! And the boys’ tour isn’t finished yet… Now they’re off to Carlingford town.
“Yes, Paddy! Carlingford Castle was built by King John of England, and has been here on the shores of the Lough since the 12th century.”
There’s a medieval church too. Plunkett is in raptures over all that lovely stonework.
“I’ll just zoom in here, for a closer look…”
I can think of worse places to spend a day looking for the “little people”! The Mourne mountains are also nearby.
“And there are some incredible beaches, too.”
“I’d love to go there sometime, Plunkett!”
“… We can!”
The only solution here is to provide these little monsters with their own Beastie-sized snacks, in the hope that they will leave your plate alone… At least long enough for you to eat a couple of mouthfuls. So here are some of my favourite adventures in Beastie cuisine, collected together in one menu for the first time!
This 
You’ll notice that 
Or, for the more daring diner, we’re also serving 
Sometimes they’ll even opt for fresh fruit!
They’re always eager to start the day off on the right paw, anyway, whether that’s with a 
… A big ol’ 
… Or a fry-up of their very own!
So, did your favourite food make it onto the table? Or do I need to update my menu? Be sure to let me know in the comments!
Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to walk this off later.
Glengesh Pass is pretty spectacular at any time of the year. The last time we were there it was late summer – look at those rolling green hills! It’s also on the way to Glencolmcille, where a Beastie can dip his paws in the Atlantic if the mood takes him.
Mind you, it’s not all sunshine and sand dunes here. Sometimes it can be a bit on the breezy side…
… And the traffic is terrible.
All this would really give you an appetite. Lunchtime! Conveniently enough, we’re just passing through Ardara… Nancy’s Bar here does a cracking lunch, and a very tasty homemade cider.
Alright, time to head north! And because we’re travelling by blog, we can enjoy two sunsets at two different locations. First, Fanad Head, where there’s a beautiful lighthouse to admire…
… And rocks to scramble over.
Next, we can journey to the northernmost point of the island of Ireland – Malin Head.
Then we can cruise by the wide sandy beach at Five Finger Strand…
… Before catching the last of the daylight on our way home.
Don’t forget to leave a rock monster behind to show we were here!
And once we get home, we can warm up by the fire and swap adventuring stories.
Aaaaah! Toasty.
And while some shadowy thickets retained a feeling of chilly mystery when the clouds parted…
… In some places the winter sun broke through the trees and made the empty fields glow.
And there are wonders right at your feet in the undergrowth, too.
These alien-looking marvels are fungi called earthstars. They pop up in the same place every year, so I always make sure to check in on them when I’m in the neighbourhood.
But where was Explorer Beastie while all this was going on? Ummm…
Well, I suppose the holidays are a time to rest up and recharge your batteries.
Paddy was up nice and early, so he spotted it first. And of course, the very next thing he did was…
“What IS it, Paddy?”
“Look at that!”
But just looking at the snow was never going to be enough for Paddy. I think it’s time to head outside and play in it, don’t you?
It looks like he already has a project in mind, too. Look at him go!
“It’s a SnowBeastie, Plunkett! What do you think?”
Much better! It’s almost as cute as you are, boys.
… And get toasty again by the stove!
… While still preserving the useful key features (a Monday-Sunday week and note space at the bottom) that help keep me on track.
… Paddy is, as ever, happy to oblige. Revisit his attempt to obtain gainful seasonal employment from a certain jolly Beastie in a red suit 
… Or overindulge in high-calorie foods.
But you may wish to take your mind off the Beastie-shaped gap in your life by perusing the shelves of our 
… Or enjoy a picnic together.
Yum!
And if that wasn’t enough, we’re also within walking distance of the National Botanic Gardens…
…The city centre parks of St Stephen’s Green and Iveagh Gardens…
… And spooky St Kevin’s Park, as featured in our 
Plus you never know who you might bump into along the way.
Dublin is also packed full of interesting old buildings to admire. The city is especially well-known for its Georgian-era architecture – a style that was popular for just over a century, beginning in the early 1710s.
How about you? Have you been seeing what’s on your doorstep with fresh eyes these past couple of months? Be sure to tell us all about it in the comments!