After a nice day out and a lovely meal we sat in the conservatory area watching the bad weather hammer the windows, playing scrabble and whooping Mrs Fogg, when into reception comes something worse than a loud American, yes you guessed it “Colonial Old Boy and his put upon wifey”. The happy couple had by all accounts driven hundreds of miles from a wedding, decided not to stop for food so they could get to the Dolphin B&B, unaware their restaurant is only selective days of the week and today ain’t selected.

Wherever they have come from they (or rather “he”) didn’t like “it was crap” and you just know his evening ain’t gonna get much better. Wifey continually apologising for her husbands bad manners and demeanour just wanted to get some biscuits or something to snack on and proceeded to eat more or less the entire pack of whatever they had, stopping to offer him the last one, well talk about moan, groan and whinge. Next was the fact they need to stop somewhere in Dublin on Thursday, without making any bookings in advance of travelling at a time when 50,000 Americans are about to descend on the town for an American football match. cue the helpful B&B owner, since not only did the happy couple not have any bookings, they had no idea where to stay or anyway to book anything either. As the helpful owner tried to find them accommodation and call ahead for them, all she got was “well I don’t want to stop there, there’s no parking”, “I don’t like that one it’s too close to the centre”, “that’s no good, the price is too high”. Personally I would have suggested he invest in a phone or learn how to use computers himself! Still the fun continued, as he whittered, moaned and groaned loudly with wifey asking him to quiet down. The straw and camel situation came when they found out there is no tea or coffee facilities in the room and the owner has gawn to bed. Dawp!

Lucky us, the happy couple are next door and currently investigating the patio door, by sliding it open and slamming it closed, over and over. Now this is what makes Britain great and the worrying thing is this guy is probably a “captain of industry”

Whilst the Dolphin Beach looks nice and is warm and friendly, when you scratch the surface you find the flaws and it is such a shame because the location and service are exceptional.

The room has massive sliding windows out to the beach, but you are given the impression that the lock has only recently failed, so “the father” has fashioned a wooden bar to stop the door being opened, as cobwebs sit on the bar. The super king size bed is actually two separate beds bolted together with a hole in the middle and a plastic cover on the mattress to make you sweat (last time I saw that was when I was 3!). Cobwebs adorn most “you wouldn’t dust there would you” type surfaces. The sheers are filthy and have never seen the inside of a washing machine, as is the same for the mingling shower screen. The piece de resistance is being woken at 4am by the mice playing football!

Nice location, but not one for the recommendations I’m afraid. You do sometimes wonder whether you have been spoilt by some top class places, but a relaxing B&B has to have a little more bang for the buck and we have stopped in some smaller places that excelled in all areas at a comparable if not cheaper rate (Gale River Motel in New England, Aspiring Lofts in New Zealand).

Still time to walk along the beach and enjoy the peace, before heading into Clifden for the day.

Oh what fun, the Holyhead Travelodge never was that nice, but when your greeting from the receptionist is “we would like to send you to another hotel 5 miles away which is much nicer than here” you gotta worry. No lights on the top floor due to water damage, collapsed beds and grot. Travelodge, scrummy!

But here we are with the Folks for BBQ, fun and food, before spending a few days exploring Ireland some more.

Tomorrow, well no Me Spike to wake us for breakfast, so for once I get to sleep in past 6am.

It’s Always BBQ Time in the Foggy Household.

Yet another fantastic weekend of burnt dead animals, sunshine and life. We don’t care if it rains, that’s why B&Q invented Gazebos.

We will be leaving the Gazebo all week and making the most of the warm weather.

I’ll be back and he is.

My monster FatBoy went back to the shop on Thursday night after I gave the dealer a piece of my mind (yes I know there ain’t much to go round, but i am a giving chappie) after the brake reservoir sealant had apparently perished creating a leak, dripping brake fluid all over the rear brake reservoir. The dealer despatched a driver from Preston to come to our humble abode to collect it and repair it, and so they should.

Since the brake fluid had dripped, it had removed the paint off the rear unit as well. The bike had apparently been through a 99 point check before I got it, so that wasn’t one of the points then, I asked. A rather apologetic dealer owner greeted me and Mrs Fogg this morning when we drove to Chesterfield to pick it back up. Here you go sir, your new 99 point check that HAS been carried out for definite this time. Time for some freebies methinks (valet kit, new chrome footplates since the existing ones have peeled and a nice discount off cleaning stuff).

Then it was the 75 mile trek back on country lanes with my very own Safety car as protection.

So yes, The Hog is back, time to get that cherished plate.