Day 254 - Sunday, September 11th, 2011

Hard to believe that it is the 10th anniversary of the most famous date in recent times - September 11th, 2001. On that date I was in Copenhagen on a 3-week trip around Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, and popped into the pub after a failed attempt to visit the Carlsberg brewery, which was closed. In typically nonchalant Danish fashion, the few people in the bar weren't reacting outwardly to what was going on, making the sight of the collapsing buildings all the more surreal.

Back to the present, and despite early (ie ultra-late) morning retirements, I awoke virtually on time and hauled the others up to make it to the tee about 15 minutes tardy, but this caused the appropriate authorities no real dramas. Conditions were gale-force windy, although mercifully it managed to stay virtually dry during proceedings, where I deservedly registered the grand total of €0 in the Nuremorofen Skins Challenge. Unquestioned victor of the day was Conch-Shell, whose decision to leave his driver in Al The Almera's boot paid rich dividends, with total earnings of €44.

5 miles of walking in gale-force winds combined with ravenous thunder made the chicken curry and chips in the clubhouse taste utterly sensational, even though it would normally have been deemed ultra-bland. The trip back to Dublin was speedy and after dropping all athletes off, recuperation was enabled from 6pm onwards.


Action from the Nuremorofen 4Skins Challenge

Contentment : 14 / 25
Excitement :    2.5 / 10
Memorability : 4 / 15

Overall Score : 41% (94th out of 254)

Day 253 - Saturday, September 10th, 2011

An early start to this particular Saturday morning, with Al The Almera summonsed to go and collect the Three Swashbuckling Golfing Musketeers Danny Son-of-Hoon, Conch-Shell and English to make the hour-long journey to County Monaghan. A slight fly in the ointment presented itself in that the quays were cordoned off due to a fire, so the Musketeers had to make an arduous half-mile journey with their golf bags - utterly heroic!

The weather predictions had been quite horrific but thankfully didn't quite materialise, with cloudy but largely dry conditions at the Nuremore Hotel Golf Course, a very fine challenging affair. I played the most horrific golfing round of my match, which was no mean feat given recent form, and alas Conquer's decent form was not enough to prevent another victory by Team Ski.

Much more pleasing was a foray to the jacuzzi and sauna, which cleansed the body and also the palate for an assault on the hotel bar with its very delicious Guinness and very fine chicken pasta. After a number of convivial games of dominoes, we summonsed Patrick the Taximan to whisk us into Carrickmacross Town for the paltry sum of €2 each, where we sought out a pub with a dartboard for many splendid games, before adjoining to a late bar for banging choons and more refreshments.

The evening/morning was concluded back at the Nuremore Hotel with nightcaps in the residents bar that lasted until the wee hours.


Daniels, English and Damo size up their respective putts


Fine scenery surrounding the 17th fairway

Contentment : 15 / 25
Excitement :    4 / 10
Memorability : 5.5 / 15

Overall Score : 49% (41st out of 253)