The gods were smiling upon us again this year, the sun shone and there was barely a breeze over the bay. Sandycove was packed and as usual the smell of sausages wafting across the water attracted a great turnout.

As always, everyone pitched in, providing a dazzling array of salads and deserts, while I happily stood over the flames, tongs in one hand and a cool beer in the other trying to keep up with demand (“any chance of a second burger??”).

This is genuinely one of my favourite events in the club calendar, a chance to catch up with old dive buddies and get to know the new ones. I can’t really imagine a better way to spend a summer’s evening.