Must Visit. . .

The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition National Museum, Dublin Sheets of rain, howling wind and chaffing cold. If you can manage to walk down Dublin's quays in October, then go see this Shackleton exhibition which finishes mid-month.

While the rest of the world was at war in 1914, Ernest Shackleton was sailing around the Antarctic. And when he lost his ship on ice, his crew got stranded on Elephant Island for 18 months. What followed is one of the greatest accounts of daring-do in expedition history

Must Do. . .

Luas pub crawl Leave your car keys at home and go drinking in the knowledge that you'll always have a designated driver. (And you won't have to buy them a coke either. ) It's up to you which Luas line you choose, but I'd be more partial to the Red line: the pubs are more fun, the characters more colourful, and you won't find a single West Coast Cooler drinker in sight. Last tram is at 12.30am (except Sundays, when it's at 11.30pm) so go early.

Must Go. . .

Surfin' dirt mountain boarding Between Bryansford and Kilcoo, Co Down Take advantage of the new Dundalk by-pass and head to Co Down where you can go surfin' dirt.

If you can imagine skateboarding with wheels on a muddy incline, then you come close to what mountain boarding is all about. Everything you need is available for hire (except washing detergent) and there are a number of slopes to suit all skills and ages. Check out www. surfindirt. co. uk.

Must Read. . .

Put What Where?

by John Naish This book promises it will teach you how to make foreplay last 70 days, a tangle of new positions including gibbon grabbing and fish gobbling, and lovemaking techniques that will make you live forever.

Culled from over 2,000 years of bizarre sex advice, Put What Where? makes for hilarious bedtime reading.