Gardener's Diary

DAY 1

Day 1- Sunday –8pm

In a bit of a grumpy mood, so Julie suggests I go away for a bit. I ask her how long I should go away for. Tells me to come back when in good mood. Might be gone some time.

Day 1 Sunday 10pm

Found great looking hostel in County Sligo called the Gyreum Ecolodge in Castlebaldwin. Looks like a spaceship built from wood and bitumen sheets. Was voted the country’s most unusual hostel. Just the ticket. Bags packed and ready to go.

DAY 2

Day 2 Monday 9am
Lads to school, dishes washed, bags thrown into the boot of car complete with pillow just in case. Kiss Julie. Off to ecolodge spaceship.

Day 2 Monday 3pm
Time on my hands. Stop off at Rossinver Organic Centre. Paid €5 to walk around garden . Great place, well worth a visit. Found Gyreum spaceship in middle of nowhere. Parked up and saw man called Brendan on roof patching up gaps. Told me I could have a 6- bed room to myself. Happy days. Asked more questions about ecolodge. It’s powered by geothermal pumps, wind turbines, has a reed bed system and eco toilets at the bottom of the garden should I decide to use them. Vegetable patch looking bare yet but showing loads of promise, just like at Rossinver.

Day 2 Monday 9 pm
Fixed TV. Owner Brendan hadn’t watched for two weeks. Thought it was broken. Pushed scart lead into the back. Can now watch Corrie in the morning. Great place, fine design with big round open plan area for gatherings, green weddings and sleeping. Welcoming hearth in the centre with seats. Rickety staircase going to library above. Big hole in floor upstairs, looks good but makes me feel a bit wobbly when I look down. Staff really friendly, feeling at home. Cook up some noodles and hot chocolate and off to one of my 6 beds for an early night.



DAY 3

Day 3 Tuesday 1pm
Long lie in. Great rest. Brendan still on the roof blocking holes. Has no problem with me hanging around looking lost. Decided to visit friends in Boyle. Warmly received. Get fed loads of healthy soup from home grown veggies. Tempted to stay the night but spaceship is calling me back.

Day 3 Tuesday 11pm
Get back to Gyreum Ecolodge. A couple have arrived, but still have the 6 beds to myself. All very friendly. Was told of a group of 15 people coming to visit for a Viking re-enactment fight on a neighbour’s field. Brendan going away tomorrow leaving them to look after the Ecolodge. Time to move on. Make cheese sandwich and plan the route for tomorrow.

DAY 4

Day 4 Wednesday 2pm
Got up late again. All quiet before the Viking warriors arrive. Decided to go to hostel in Donegal town as it’s on the way home. Don’t want to travel far. Hostel busy but room to myself. Have shower as couldn’t find the one in the spaceship. Go into Donegal town for a walk. Quite busy and bump into people I know. Too close to home.

Day 4 Wednesday 11pm
Woman that owns the hostel is a bit strange, comes into TV room and takes the remote control off me and turns volume down saying people need to sleep. No-one, but no-one takes my remote control. Woman locks up hostel complaining about latecomers, looks at me as though I should call it a night. Feel uncomfortable so creep upstairs to bed.

Day 5 Thursday 3am
Can’t sleep. Heating on all night, room like a sauna as only 7 feet by 5 feet. Open windows but traffic noise keeps me awake. Missing the spaceship.

Day 5 Thursday 7am.
Woman from hostel shouting giving early morning calls. Walk downstairs. Woman is sitting outside kitchen looking at us all wishing we would leave. Grab a banana from the fridge and duly oblige.

Day 5 Thursday 8am
Can’t get out fast enough. Strange woman with staring eyes turns cooker gas off at the bottle every time someone finishes eating and keeps looking at her watch. All my food still in kitchen. Daren’t go back in to collect it in case eyes meet. No doubt it will be in the bin by 9am. Leave the room keys on table near door to avoid seeing woman. Time to go home. I can be back for 9:30 am.

Trip worked. I’m happy. Don’t have to go far or be away from home long before realising I’m onto a good thing.

More pics from Rossinver in April

More pics from the Gyreum Ecolodge