So good to Iz had a great time and is on her way back, look forward to seeing those photos!
Well back from Dr's looks like a bad case of tonsilitis and chest bad, so now have inhalers, antibiotics yuk, just be glad when I'm better. But no work for a week or study at college!
Take care all X gonna have a sleep X
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JPB
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Mon 28 Sep, 2009 07:09 am
@Barry The Mod,
ohhhh.... me likes swing!
Feel better soon, Tulip! Glad to see that you're going to the doctor.
Why, Thank You, Dutchy! I enjoyed that very much. It brought a smile to my Monday morning. Enjoy what's left of your day and have a peaceful, restful night.
Loved it Loved it Loved it Love Ireland Love The Irish LOVE IRELAND Loved it Loved it Loved it Love Ireland Love The Irish LOVE IRELAND Loved it Loved it Loved it Love Ireland Love The Irish LOVE IRELAND Loved it Loved it Loved it Love Ireland Love The Irish LOVE IRELAND Loved it Loved it Loved it Love Ireland Love The Irish LOVE IRELAND Loved it Loved it Loved it Love Ireland Love The Irish LOVE IRELAND
Can’t even begin to write down how good the weekend was - everyone was so kind, the family were great " it just all seemed so easy, somewhere crossing the Irish Sea I found confidence and was dusted in some sparkle sprinkle " I had the best time " we had the best time!
So... after 11 hours of travelling and back now with only a few hours sleep over the last 4 days, just gonna put a couple pics up and try and write laterz. Have a little fella here who LOVES HIS MAMA and I need to get him to bed " then I think I may sleep too " it’s been the busiest 4 days ever...... hasn’t stopped " lived, laughed and loved.... danced......... ohhhhhhhh.... so much dancing to the big band oh oh oh oh oh oh oh... I was in heaven.
First Dance
3 countries, 3 languages (whoda thunk it) and a whole world of hugs and love
Flying away from Wales
Soaring
Peace
Saving Private Ryan
Treasure
This morning
What a perfect sighting thisavo
How do I feel? A bit like I’ve got wings and the luck of the Irish
It’s so good to see y’all " I have so much to yabber about, some things never change... but I lived in a different world this weekend and I was just me - it was the best!
Welcome back Izzie, you've been missed, but so very pleased for you that you had such a wonderful time in Ireland. Your pictures as always are awesome, thank you for sharing them with us. Sleep well, talk tomorrow. (((Izzie)))
Well can talk a bit better but neck glands still bit swollen and sore. Can breathe better with the ventolin too. The antibiotics keep making me very tired, cann't do anything.
Although did sit down and do some drawing this afternoon which really took my mind off things. Gonna go out with dogs for a walk in a minute.
Hi annis, good to hear there is a little progress, just look after yourself and take care. All well downunder thanks, almost midnight here and about to call it a day. Good night. (((annis)))
I've been zzzzzzzzzzzzzzing................sooooooooooooooooo tired after work and another 6.30am start, had to have a wee rest - which turned into a mammoth sleep - NO NIGHTMARE - wonderful dream, tho a stranger was present - (in the dream that is, not here - doh - no nightmare, gobsmacked)! I will try and get here a bit later, I wanna tell y'all about Ireland.
Tulip - you did call, didn't you? So sorry I was completely incoherent - I couldn't even open my mouth to talk...blah blah "sleeping" lalallalala land. Need to get some dinner first and will call you a bit. G is on his way over to pick up his stuff and I need to go search for my black kitty - he's been missing since I left (mmmmmmmmmm). Gonna go talk with the neighbours and see if anyone has spotted him
Oh my " where to begin " first thing Friday morning I guess... 6.15am start... and out the door at 7.30am " just a half return, into Molly and up to G-folks to swap into the Mafia car (their car is enormous and black " the whole family has a thing about cars I’ve since discovered)! How strange " met the G-parents only twice before so.... ‘twas all a bit weird, but easy. G drove, G-folks in the back, GMaMa clickety clack clickety clack on the knitting needles with some super-duper bobbly wool making a scarf <pass the sweets> and G & I acting like kids on their hols in the front! The sun was beaming and the hot air balloons were in flight.
Took us 5 hours to get to Fishguard, crossing the over the beautiful Severn Estuary and...”"Croeso i Gymru” = Welcome to Wales - and just the right timing to board the Stena Europe " big ‘ole Ferry. The sea was like a still pond in the harbour but it was very cloudy and tho there were other folk on the ferry " no-one was quite as brave as us as we set off across the Irish Sea " it was blowing a hoooooley " you could barely stand up " we were the only folk on the deck and took a million or so pics, tho it was impossible to keep the camera steady. I did my Titanic bit " danced a jig on the deck and sang a Celine!
After 3 hours on the blue, blue sea, wonderfully windswept and having the hint of being at sea on our faces, the sun came out and Land Ho... Eire was before us " it felt we had only been on the sea for a few minutes. Just after 6pm, after a 3.5hr crossing, we got in and drove onto Irish land at Rosslare. The sun was beaming again and was starting to set " it was all very dream like. We set the sat nav... only had words with her once, drove through the town (lovely wee houses and tiny shop fronts all different colours) " and found our beautiful hotel. “The Ferrycarrig” at Wexford.
I’ve always wondered how it must feel to be part of a big family. I’ve often wondered how it must feel to be in a position of “being treated like royalty”. I was about to find out. We walked into the hotel " it began. Uncle80 met us in the foyer... along with family who arrived the same minute who had flown in from Singapore and Seattle... we didn’t even get to unpack the car or anything before we were whisked down into the restaurant where, well, I can only describe it as ... being treated like a princess. Food appeared... not just food... works of art, each and every course " we hadn’t “brushed up or brushed off” and were certainly not dressed for a dinner setting " however, it didn’t matter a hoot " immediately drinks appeared on the table... GUINNESS no less... and it was smooooth, cold, delish. I must say, funny how things happen, yes...we did celebrate “Arthurs” 250th birthday! The nite was spent getting everyone’s name, their children’s names, their children’s childrens' names... and I didn’t get one wrong <big smile> The memory banks were storing. G’s Mom is one of 8!!! Each one of 8 has at least 3-4. Each 3-4 has at least 3-4!!!!! And every one of them that I met was simply lovely. By the end of the evening we had smile lines all over our faces and had talked and talked incessantly.
This is where the Irish took over. Their hospitality, their “way”... I don’t believe I have ever met a clan of folk who not only sing when they speak, but are the most accommodating folk in the world. Nothing, nothing " was too much trouble. There was a wedding reception taking place on the deck above the restaurant (this hotel is huge, it doesn’t look it, but it was vast " the decor was ... well, there are paintings everywhere, beautifully decorated, immaculate.
Bedtime. Gosh. How to describe the hotel rooms. STUNNING. Unc80 is errrrrrrrr.... very well known " he basically had taken over the hotel and we were all provided with a room with a view and a balcony overlooking the grounds and the river. No words. It was dream like too. We had to get up early the next morning and were too tired to unpack ... the only thing that wasn’t 100% perfect about the weekend was the wedding guests decided to “sing their way thru the halls” " unfortunately, our entire party maybe got 2-3 hours sleep at most on Friday nite... but, ya know, it was a wedding and they were all a bit on the merry side.
So, up early and the other family members and guests were arriving. We had a get together and then decisions on what to do and where to go. First up, we visited Unc80’s country retreat just outside Wexford. He lives in Ireland for about 4 months of the year " his house was ... intriguing, mind blowing. The paintings and “bits and pieces” from all over the world. Each room was perfect. Thing is, nothing was “over the top” " it was all just very lovely. Understated... but never in my lifetime will my world be that way. We went into Wexford ... we people watched, had so little time really " wanted very badly to go and see “the Emerald Isle” but there were so many people to meet, it just wasn’t gonna be possible. We had lunch at a little place just in the street. Your kind of back street cafe " but with a difference. Again, the Irish hospitality " we were just the average tourist and yet we were treated so fine. Watching the folk go past and hearing the Irish banter " tiny little shops, everyone a different colour, tiny wee houses and very different to England " I’ve seen similar in Scotland " it was a treat.
We got back to the hotel and had a wee rest before dressing for dinner and our first formal dinner " this was supposed to be “dress down”... OMGOSH... they don’t do dress down. We were “dressed down” ... again, it didn’t matter. This was a “get to know you” dinner " so we were supposed to be all separated out. Unc80 (you would think he was 20) was the host with the most. We learned different things about everyone. What was so fabulous was watching the family dynamics... hearing the stories of garden parties and how the cousins talked of ghost stories at the bottom of the stairs. G’s cousin in a prof. Photographer " listening to what he does and how he does what he does... fascinating. All these people, they were so different in lifestyle to G & I... SO DIFFERENT... they have top notch jobs and travel everywhere and this that and the other. HA! We are different to them in lifestyle. Thing is tho, it was like sitting with your family and talking. Some of the folk I felt I had known for ages " it was so comfortable. Nothing seemed “extraordinary” yet is was completely “extraordinary”. Unc80 had given every guest a present when we arrived. He writes. He writes poems. He speaks my language. He lives, laughs and loves. His whole life is geared around “living”. He gave me a copy of each of his books, each with a different message in the front " I can’t tell you what that means. He’s one of these people, my sorta person, he makes sure he knows your name. He uses your name. Everything is personal. Every individual in his life “matters” and he makes sure to know that “you” enrich his life, not the other way round. He listens. He has travelled the world extensively " but you know what, he hasn’t been to a B’hai Temple. He came to our room and I showed him the pictures of the B’hai Temple in Chicago " he was interested, he listened to what I said and I know... I know the next time he gets the opportunity " he will visit a B’hai Temple on one of the continents, he will make a point of doing it. I know this because he will do that, not just for him, but because it meant something to me. Isn’t that just the best?
OH, in the afternoon, a wedding took place at the hotel, the bride and groom were beautiful " I have pics...... what a setting to get married in " the kids were in kilts, the Irish were laughing. Live music........ Can you imagine sitting by the river with the stars above and hearing a live band singing this Galway Girl. It was dream like!!!!!!
Anyhoo.... it was a very late nite again " and again, 2-3 hours of sleep before getting up the next day and other family arriving for the birthday celebration on the Sunday nite. We had “team leader” and “map monitor” - the family en masse were going to Saving Private Ryan’s beach. Curracloe. O.M.Gosh. <sigh> To see this huge family, many in their 70s and 80’s being like children " at the beach, paddling in the little waves, the nephews (all in their 40’s and 50’s) like kids, splashing, us, taking pics of them reliving their childhood and so many stories " they all looked like kids. It was so wonderful to watch and be in the midst of, be accepted as part of.
" a very Irish pub where other family and the Birthday Boy were lunching. The pub that you walk into and say “We with MrX” and miraculously, tables appear, Guinness appeared (Guinness with a bite), hospitality and generosity have no bounds... we had a great lunch having walked the beach " now, at this point I must say, G-Mom has never left England. She got on a ferry, she floated across the sea, she doesn’t and never had drunk alcohol " she did both this trip " and I believe she will do it again. Quite outstanding actually. MaMah...vellous.
Then eventually back to the pub where, due to a few little nuisance “aches and pains” I had to lie down and slept for an hour (such a waste of time but very needed). We thought dinner was at 8pm... I got up at 6.30pm " formalites commenced at 7.00pm " so the quickest shower, hair and slap on the polyfiller and down to where the gathering was. THIS WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD.
mmmmmmmmmmmmm.... the hoi paloi " who were completely ordinary folk, just very wealthy ordinary folk " were the best. I still remembered everyone’s names (ha, even the family were asking me which made me laugh). I was suited and crispy white shirt and got out the beautiful jewellery that sees light of day once of every 10 years or so. It was brill. We were called for dinner and went up stairs to the private dinner setting.................... ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh <sigh> How very blessed we were to be experiencing this. We found our tables, moved the place settings as you do (slap the wrist) and were sitting with the South African godson... and one of my fave ladies of the trip " aunty S " she made me roar with laughter " when her and her sister talk " ah, it’s so lovely, you would think they were 12 year olds, and Aunty S is so ditzy. Love to pieces (bless her heart). Again, you see things in families you don’t expect " they have different ideas to me, racism being one of them. I remained quiet during these discussions " my comfort level was not good enough " ah, everyone has their reasons for the way they feel, but I couldn’t take the conversation any further, so busied myself. One fella was starting a “joke”.... G (which shocked me) did ask him to not continue with the joke as I have strong feelings on the subject. Well, he did carry it on... but... no worries " it’s a little sad for me to hear folk speak that way " but I’m not strong enough out of my comfort zone to elaborate on my feelings.
Anyhoooooooo.... champagne was rolling, Guinness was on tap, the finest wines " again, works of art for food, it almost seemed criminal to eat such a masterpiece. We then had fab speeches (G-fell asleep " POKE) and then a famous Irish StoryTeller who had us laughing (except for snoring G "POKE again>, then the bit that made me cry...George (he was mayor of Wexford and is a bit of a super hero around the town " sings, dances, he’s opera!) He sang... I cried... his first solo was Bring Him Home from Les Miserable, the second.... Danny Boy (ahhh BEAgle) - I cried again. The most uplifting vocals. So, I had to go hug him and tell him he was brill. As you do!
Then, the band " 21 piece orchestra... I died and went to heaven... Glenn Miller was the first toon “In the Mood” " could it get any better... YES " Michael Buble “It’s a marvellous nite for a Moondance” It was. I danced I danced I danced....G does not dance - EVER... he danced and danced and danced " his brother does not dance (I met them earlier on, they are very close, this was pretty huge for me)...his brother danced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I danced with the story teller, I danced with “M” " Unc80’s daughter, we hit if off well and were like naughty school kids. We even Vida Loca’d!!!!!!!! Frank Sinatra, ending off course with New York New York, but this one was a little on the special side.
I didn’t want the nite to end. I didn’t want this dream to end.
Unc80 had the most fabulous time " he truly was so happy that so many people had made such a huge effort to get to “where he considers home” and that we were with him to experience the most celebratory weekend. We’re invited to his 90th. I doubt he can top his 80th... but he’ll make a darn good go of it.
There was a professional photographer going around all nite so I’m hoping that we will get access to Unc80 website if we can to have looksee and see if there are any proper pics
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh " it was soo gooood. We didn’t end up going to bed until 3.35am and were up at 6.20am and checked out and left by 7.30am, packed up in the mafia car and heading for Rosslare. It was overcast... we got on the ferry, met some more family, L- the cousin photographer, talked pics and amazing the The Mythic Garden in Chagford where Tulip and I were t’other day. To top off the perfect weekend, I saw a tall ship sailing past the ferry, it was quite a distance, but, man, she was sailing her soul.
It simply was the best. We arrived back in sunshine and left Fishguard around 12.45pm and arrived back home around 6.30ish, by this stage we were exhausted. G had to go back to his dawgs and cats and an empty house (daughter left home for college on Monday)....
I had to get the little fella organised... school run this morning, work ‘til 2pm............ zzzzzzz. Black kitty been MIA for 4 days.... fret.
Haven’t had a chance even to look at the photos yet... will get them up as soon as poss.
So...
Here I am, on terra firma...
NOW.... where is our Missy a????????????????????????????????????????????
((BEAgle)) and ((Blue))
[quote="Tryagain"]
BTW I hope y’all familiar with the time honored convention that when the ‘Thread’ owner has gone AWOL the longest serving crew member takes over at the helm….. Ho, ho, ho, it’s a pirate's life for me!
[/quote]
" thank you my darlings for keeping us sailing and I missed you too. I cried in Danny Boy, I cried in “Bring Him Home” " but then i would a? Funny ‘ole stick me " there’s a thing s? My boys.
Tsar " fear not " your Irish email connection should connect without any trouble at all at all... luck of the Irish to ye. Hope all is happy with you.
Bazza " PARIS mon ami " have a FAB time... send my love to the Eiffel! Glad you got txt " just couldn’t get online. JPB " so glad you have been keeping a look out for me " isn’t that music the best... I could spend my life living in the music. I was born in an era too early!!
BIGRED " so happy to hear from you and to know you are doing so well. Visiting this side of the pond. Do give me a shout if you are down in the West Country at all... would love to meet you. There’s a room to stay if you can get here. Take care BigRedDude. ENJOY. x
FQ " oh, so much more to tell.............. hahahahhahhahahha.................... may dancing continue. Love you sis.
Tulip " tried to call you girl " it went onto answerphone " so assumed you were sleeping. Will call in the morning from work. Don’t worry if you can’t pick up or have company. We’ll catch up soon.
McT- thanku " it meant a lot to me to go, at one stage I didn’t think I would have the confidence. I don’t know how it appeared. I think my breath of wind whispered to me and... there is was... and I did it effortlessly. Such a good feeling.
So I whipped up a soufflé, my aperitifs were delectable... and now it my cake had a cherry on top. The I ate it. How utterly spoiled I have been. I don’t think I will ever be that “taken care of” again in my lifetime. It sure felt good begin part of such a memorable and happy occasion. I have many thank you letters to write.
The next time I return to Ireland " I intend to travel around. We were limited in what we could do, but every minute was filled with a divine sense of right to live life to the fullest and to be given the opportunity to have a dream come true.
The sunrise this morning was exceptional...it was like the river turned orange and red...
And then I woke up!
Where to now. I have no idea. Just good friends still.................. we’ll see. It’s working... and some!
I love y’all........ it’s been the best. Pics to come... when I can.
IRELAND............. PADDY BOY AND MRS PADDY - you live in a beauty I can't describe - not only in your land, but straight from the soul. You're blessed folk. xx Thanu to your beautiful country and all who made this time best time ever.
Hi Izzie, 'Danny" boy read your story with great interest, an absolute wonderful post, like I was there with you. You obviously had a great time and let your hair down a little. Looks like life is starting to look a lot brighter for you and I'm extremely happy for you this is the case. Look forward to some more of your photos. Waves from downunder. (((Izzie))).
Delectable..souffle.. pieces of art are all that stay in my mind
am soo glad that you had a "royal" time! as BEAgle says..do look forward to the pics and next time u go out carry sme small sticks for G to keep his eyelids open!! how can he think of sleeping during such amazing time?
me cming out of ma shell pretty well..till now with FB games..gt stuck there and I guess its a good way! however our admin guy saw me playing "pathwords" for quite smetime so am sure theyd block FB soon again..
Thn i hope BEAgle would be there around in the threads...
Sometimes i feel mind is the most obstinate thing Ive ever come across.. but nething is possible they say right??..
Hi verbivore you are true to your word as you said we would be meeting again on the yabber-liner. Good to see you, hope you're keeping well and not experiencing to many discomforts. The Beagle is a pretty busy boy these days running an incapacitated friend around but always manages a bit of time for playing the threads. Take care precious one. (((verbivore)))
I am here Iz...not real sunshiny as of late but I am doing better. Man, things got hard around here. I can't seem to juggle it all. I am taking on a lot of baggage that I don't think I need to...trying to figure out what to lug along and what to cast overboard is hard sometimes! So many people to care for and not enough hours in the day.
I have an older friend I take to PT and the doc every so often. Her husband is dying of lung cancer and I have gone to sit with him quite a bit. There is so much flu down here already. I am filling in at church for teachers who are out with their kids. The boys have scads of homework. All three. Getting them to sit down and do it, getting supper on the table and them bathed and in bed seems to have become all I can do in the evenings. There is of course, my teaching three days a week. My two days off are full of writing workshops at school ( I go help the intermediate school with creative writing right now) and the house is topsy turvy because I am so tired once I get the kids down I just sit - and stare at the TV - not good - not what I like - but reading seems to have become a chore instead of a joy now. Everything just seems like one more thing to do....I need a new attitude! - mine is sorry right now!
I just threw up all over you all! So sorry!
You know - I do this every once in a while...become partly cloudy. It will get better. It always does. I just have to find my footing again and readjust and then I skip along again.
I may be back more often soon...but don't worry if I don't post as often. Sometimes, I just don't have anything to say (It is RARE - but it does happen).
I loved hearing about your weekend Izzie. It sounds lovely! Like a dream. I love it when things are like that. So happy for you!
ah... OkeyDokey girlie - know the feeling so just know we're here... and there... and I'm hugging you big and wishing you sunshine soon.
Could you mebbe kick one of your days at the intermediate school into touch. Maybe, just maybe, giving yourself some time for you would help a little. I know you enjoy what you're doing there - but your life is so busy, and it's sometimes hard to keep yourself! You end up losing you and become all things to everyone else. How about just a couple hours on those 2 days...? OK... won't go on - that's not gonna helpful for you - but I do understand. I have graduated to the "be selfish brigade" - I think I just won a medal for it. I do take my time and I'm actually so fortunate that I can do that. I know our circumstances are very different and we live very different lives. The similarity tho - is everyone needs a little time to recognise who they are to themselves... not just who they are to everyone else. Easier said than done. I know.
OK OK OK... I'm not supposed to be going on. I'll hush now. I love you Mis - so much - so you take care and jump aboard whenever you feel you wish to. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(in the dream that is, not here - doh - no nightmare, gobsmacked)! I will try and get here a bit later, I wanna tell y'all about Ireland.
and next time u go out carry sme small sticks for G to keep his eyelids open!! how can he think of sleeping during such amazing time? 