I read in today's Metro that one of Boris Johnson's bright ideas for tackling crime is to install airlport style scanners at railway stations. To be fair this patently daft idea has already been put forward by Torylite New Labour so he can't take all the blame.

This just won't work, the average train takes far more passengers than an aircraft and there just is not time to screen all the passengers in the limited time that a train is being made ready. To prevent terrorists from joining the train elsewhere it would also be necessary to install security screening at every railway station in the UK, many of which are not even manned, not to mention railway/tube/metro interchanges.

And while on the subject of Airport security I could not help notice that the staff at Stansted Airport were asking every other passenger to place their shoes through the X-Ray machine. Now it would not be too difficult for any potential miscreant to get through that, so whats the point of doing it at all, aside from making the whole process of travelling more unpleasant than it needs to be.

QueeneMab, Old Nick and I have just enjoyed a wonderful break with Landers UK and Scoobydoofus at their place in Galway, so thanks very much chaps, it was brilliant and you must come and stay with us sometime soon.

Our adventure kicked off when we arrived at Knock Airport and were whisked away to Chez Gay to meet Eddie and Hille the dogs and Max and Huw the cats. After a whirlwind tour of the premises we were off to Lough Corrib to take the dogs for a run.

In the late afternoon with just a hint of the "lovely soft" rain the country is famous for we enjoyed the stunning beauty of the lake as Eddie and Hille splashed about in the surf. Then back to Chez Gay for delicious chile cooked by Scoobydoofus, stopping only for a couple of pints of the black stuff on the way home.

The following day, fuelled by some monster bacon sandwiches we were off to Galway, where we had a look around the harbour and the town before setting off to Kinvara for lunch. Kinvara was in the midst of the Cuckoo Fleadh (a festival held since 1994)that marks the passing of Bealtaine) so it was chock full of people watching the occasional fun-running child stagger towards the pub where its parents were quite wisely enjoying Champagne or Guiness with their lunch, not to mention the customary fellow dressed as a cuckoo trying to get in everyone's photos.

We had a very tasty lunch at one of the pubs, but poor Old Nick who had not been too feeling too well missed out. Then we bundled back into Landers truck for the drive home and a splendid cheese and cold meat dinner with home made houmous and soda bread (it was yummy and thanks for the bread recipe Landers).

Well waking up the following morning Old Nick was feeling a bit better, but genorous soul that he is had passed on his bug to both QueeneMab and I, just in time for the trip home.

And here is a useful tip for anyone using Knock Airport. you have to pay a ten Euro Development Tax as before you enter the security screening area so have some cash on you. Quite why this can't be collected when you buy your ticket I don't know, I suspect it may be to help keep the advertised price of the ticket appear low, but then I am a cynical old bastard.

Despite Old Nick's bug, we all had a brilliant time and thanks once again chaps for being super hosts. come and see us soon.