Hello Beastie friends! Are you ready to go globetrotting again with Paddy and Plunkett? I hope so… Because stone the crows, this week’s destination rocks!
Yes, it’s a pretty easy guess this time! Through the miracle of computer wizardry, Plunkett has managed to transport himself and Paddy into the heart of one of the most recognisable monuments in the world. And since we’re here, how about we take a look around?
Please note that Plunkett’s images may not reflect the actual size of this place. That’s the joy of editing yourself into someone else’s photos.
“Oh, sorry! Here’s one with some humans in it for scale.”
“Wow, Plunkett! This place is really massive!”
This monument is believed to have been standing here since round 2500BC, although new findings indicate that some of the stones were quarried and shaped much earlier.
The smaller ones (called “bluestones”) which you can see in the foreground originally came from a prehistoric quarry in Wales. But archaeological evidence at the quarry suggested that there was a significant amount of time (around 400 years) between the stones being cut and their arrival at their current home. So, what happened to them in between?
Well, it turns out that the bluestones are second-hand! After a whole lot of digging on some pretty soggy Welsh hillsides, archaeologists discovered the remains of another, earlier stone circle. One which, after 400 years, was apparently picked up and moved east.
Oh yeah, and how do they know that these were the same stones, you ask? Surely rocks leave pretty samey indentations in the ground, right? Luckily, one of the bluestones broke as it was being removed, leaving a piece behind that could be paired with the end of one of the stones in this famous circle. Amazing!
But the best-known feature of this place is this arrangement of huge standing stones.
So after all that, I’m sure you’ll find it an absolute breeze to tell me the name of this place and where in the world it is! Go on, hazard a guess in the comments.
And where were the boys last week?
Answer – Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo, Japan! Congratulations to Tammie who pinpointed the boys’ exact location – nice one, Tammie! Be sure to swing by her site too… She’s preparing for the launch of her new novel at the end of the month and there are special offers and freebies up for grabs!
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.
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.
“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!
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 
“Awww, Plunkett!
“Taaa-DAAAAAAH!”
“… And wait for a bit. That’s it, straight ahead.”
… As the leaves had turned vibrant red before he’d even finished climbing up to where Paddy was sitting among the branches!
And with that, Plunkett started to clamber back down to ground level.
And now Paddy can scoop up giant pawfuls of red leaves, and give Autumn Beasties everywhere a run for their money. Nice hat, Paddy!
I still haven’t figured out why Beasties love Autumn leaves so much, but hey, at least they’re happy!
He’s just spotted it there in the distance… The Giant’s Causeway! Time to rush over for a closer peek.
Normally Paddy is left stony-faced by Plunkett’s enthusiasm for rocks, but even he has to admit that this is pretty cool.
Even more so when he hears about how they got here. Volcanoes are always awesome, even if they happened 60 million years ago! And this is just the beginning.
And yes, you are allowed to walk on the stones! The lads took full advantage of that.
“Aaaaah! It’s actually quite comfortable up here.”
… Before heading off.
“Come on Paddy, we don’t want to miss our train home!”
See you all next time!
“Oh Plunkett, can we have a go?”
“… It really does!”
But once they’d untangled themselves from these coiled ship’s ropes, Paddy demanded more shoreline sightseeing.
In certain places along the north Antrim coast, the sea has created a number of large rock pools… Perfect for a cooling dip away from the currents and waves. There’s this one, above…
“Who’s Peggy, Plunkett?”
And then, to wrap up today’s coastal sightseeing tour, let’s swing by what might be one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere – Whitepark Bay.
On a bright day, the sands on this beach gleam white in the sunshine. But even when it’s a bit overcast, it’s a lovely spot to stroll and look for fossils. As Plunkett contemplates the wilder side of the beach…
“Look how big this beach is, Plunkett! Those people look Beastie-sized from up here!”