Happy Birthday Sandra !!!!!!!!!!!

Hi again,

Well Sunday dawned, a lot drier than Saturday. The Sandy Hills at Rosapenna is challenging at the best of times .. but with gale force winds as well, it was extremely interesting !! Here we are on the first tee. And here's the Guest of Honour at the start of what would prove to be a brilliant round - a fantastic 35 points in very tricky conditions, easily the best of the day .. but then, you can't win your own prize .. so I'm afraid Sandra's prize was the satisfaction of a wonderful (dry !) round of golf on an amazing course. We saw a lot more of the magnificent views around the course on Sunday, and really enjoyed the game. We did have a few dodgy moments when the trolleys blew away leaving golf bags abondoned on the fairways ! but all good fun and we were delighted to get in dry from a terrific golfing experience.

I had a chat with Old Tom Morris afterwards and asked him his views on the course and the day .. I asked his advice on a few golfing matters, but got no answer. He didn't say much. I don't think he was listening !







After the golf, we relaxed over lunch and watched the golf from Wentworth. Then we got into our glad rags and assembled in Sandra's suite (and it WAS a suite !) for Champagne, nibbles, prizes and some nice words .. Drawing from her vast experience as Lady Captain at Wimbledon Park, Sandra assembled a very interesting and eclectic prize table ! Here she is in Lady Captain pose, with the assembled Press Core on view in the mirror ! Then down to business .. the team prize for the Satuday round was won by the Dublin team : Jill, Helen and me. It must have been the 2 pars on the 8th, which Helen had predicted would save us from the potato peelers .. but she was wrong !!!!









The big winner of the Sunday individual round was Rosie, who had a brilliant back nine to sail home. As well as the golfers from Wimbledon Park, it was great to have Anna Bananna and Claire with us to (provide ! and ) enjoy the craic ! We had some really nice 'cupla focail' from Corinne and Helen and Champion Rosie, to express how we all feel about Sandra .. our best friend. Happy Birthday Sandra !!!!! Then it was time for her birthday present .. amazing what you can fit in a small envelope !!









So after a wonderful reception in Sandra's suite, we moved to the dining room for our final dinner together at the wonderful Rosapenna Hotel. The food as always was fantastic (far too good actually !) and we again had no option to retire to the bar for a few farewell drinks. In the absence of our friends from Wexford, we had to provide our own entertainment, but that was no bother to Flops (the Chicken !), Jill (Patricia), Jane (Men & Chocolate !) and Ricky Dicky Do from Anna and Helen. Another great night's craic and slightly earlier to bed this time around for the journey back on Monday, starting in the very elegant Bus and trailer !! A fantastic weekend, great fun and some good golf too in a magnificent location. Thank You Sandra and Very Happy Birthday !!