In episode two, James meets some people who have got the work/life balance just right… from life on the ocean wave in County Clare with John McCarthy, one of Ireland’s top surfers, to a relaxed family smoker business in beautiful Connemara where owner Graham Roberts fillets and bones up to 50 fish an hour. Graham says: “I’m very content around here between work and between home. I’ll never be wealthy doing what I do but if I can live in a place like this doing something that I enjoy - absolutely brilliant.”
James heads to the west coast of Ireland to the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions where one million visitors enjoy the view every year. We meet John McCarthy who has been surfing since the age of 10 and has competed all over the world in search of the perfect wave. John lives, eats and sleeps surfing and runs a surf school in County Clare, when he’s not spending time with his new baby daughter.
Also this week, James samples the good life with the Green family at their guest house in County Cork, where they grow most of their own vegetables. James tries his hand helping to tag the ears of the pigs on the estate to ensure they can be traced. He says: “They say never work with children or animals but these are rare breed saddlebacks so I’m hoping they’re a bit more refined.” Sadly the pig in question gets the better of James and he realises he won’t be giving up the day job just yet.
James also enjoys a spot of fly-fishing for salmon with Justin Green before sipping a rhubarb martini, made with homegrown rhubarb from the grounds of the house, reminding him that in Ireland - life is for living.
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