Well hello there everyone! It’s a beautiful sunny day here in Dublin, and to make it EVEN BETTER, some pictures from Paddy and Plunkett dropped into my inbox last week. I was beginning to wonder where they’d got to… When they’re quiet, that’s often a sign of mischief brewing. But here they are, on the road (or rather, the rails) again!
The lads do enjoy a nice trip on the train.
Hey look, we’re here!
Um, Cullywherenow?
Cullybackey is a village that sits almost halfway between Belfast and Derry/Londonderry. It may be small, but they have an interesting welcoming party standing by to greet our adventurous Beastie duo!
And it doesn’t stop with leprechauns, either. Look out, Plunkett… Here be dragons!
Oh, and unicorns and fairies too!
But you might be surprised to learn that these wondrous creatures are not the reason Paddy and Plunkett took the train to Cullybackey. Well, not the only reason.
Walk on a little further, and…
Ta-daaaaaah! Bluebells galore!
And as the boys ventured deeper into the wood, the bluebells really started to take over!
This incredible display is in Galgorm Wood, a forest managed by the Woodland Trust. Better still, these bluebells are the kind native to Britain and Ireland, rather than the invasive straight-stemmed Spanish variety which has elbowed them out in many places.
But in such a profusion of bluebell blooms, a Beastie could easily get lost.
“Paddy? Paaaddyyyyy!”
So, where’s he got to?
Oh, I see him! Paddy can never resist a bit of tree climbing, and storm-felled beech trees make a perfect Beastie climbing frame.
And on the other side… It’s a Beastie-sized cabin!
You’d better get the kettle on, Paddy… I think Plunkett will need a big cup of tea when he eventually tracks you down!
Do any of you have a local bluebell wood to explore? Or is there another plant that heralds the change of the season where you are? Tell us all about it in the comments!
And I’ll have a new Beastie for you all to meet next week, so be sure to join us then!