A proper Atlantic gale about two days in. Wind whistling around the house, and rain lashing the windows. The good news: the roof stayed where it was supposed to, and none of the windows or doors blew in. The rest of the week was very pleasant. Not sunbathing weather exactly, but plenty of sun nonetheless. The house was as it appears, small but very comfortable, with a lovely sea view. Good wardrobe space in the two bedrooms (one upstairs, one down), and a small but well-equipped kitchen area in the living room. Lovely sea views, and this being west Cork, a long list of lovely places to visit. Lough Hyne for example, Ballydehob and Schull (a pint in Hackett’s), Mizen Head and Baltimore (ditto for Bushe’s), and more lovely walks than you will ever have time for. One negative (for me at least), no internet connection, which is a drag if you have to keep in touch with work (I know, but not everybody can totally switch off), or with family. Still, the local bar, the Skibbereen Eagle, is only a few paces away, and they’re connected, so all is not lost.