Must do better!

 

SIX months! Since I’ve written my blog - I’ve written it in my head several times but just haven’t put it on the keyboard. What can I say, I’ve had a very busy summer and a couple of health issues but the last couple of months I have no excuse - most do better!

We were packing for Ireland not long after we got back as Punchestown races were calling. A great opportunity to dress up, meet friends, people watch ….and of course enjoy the races and some great craic with the wonderful Irish folk we meet along the way! This year we met two lovely fellas from Kelso who ended up on our table on day one and joined us on day 2 as they were placed on a table for two and felt a bit daft staring into one anothers eyes in a dark corner - they were great fun! We spent the last morning at the National Stud which was very interesting - we've never had such good weather in early May in Ireland and had to have a warderobe rethink as many of the racing things that I had packed were to keep out that Irish north westerly wind - meawhile we were basking in 23C.

Then on to Killarney - it seems every time we visit lately they are in the middle of some festival or gathering, this time it was a car rally and the town was full of boy racers except no one told us until we ended up in the middle of it on a single track lane going in the opposite direction through the Dunlop Gap! We literally had to pull in so close to the edge that I feared for my life as cars queued up to go past us blasting their horns, giving us obscene gestures and shouting abuse ar us as they had to slow down to pass us, while I stood at the side of the road in my best Sunday frock en route to lunch at Sneem! This happened not once, not twice but several times as we inched along the narrow road which got narrowere and culminated in a line of food trucks and a barrier obstructing our path! At this point Mr P got out of the car and asked them to remove the barrier as we needed to get on and were late for lunch date - not unlike king Canute demanding that the sea retract. He was answered loudly in Gaelic I think and then a marshall was called and we were told, 'No.' and had to turn around and inch our way back till we found a turn off that was a bit of an off raod, cross coutry route to avoid the rally racers. Anyway we got there eventually and after a stiff drink were none the worse. Thankfully our journey home was hassle free.

Easter if I remember rightly, was lovely and sunny and my son joined us for the weekend - there was lots of food, wine tasting and good company. We  really have had a good summer in the UK which seemed to stretch on and on

The highlight of the year was the family visitors from the US and SA. Sean, Nadine and the children arrived and we had a lovely week locally with days out to castles, hostoroical houses and vineyards and evening beach walks followed by playing UNO. Grandson Craig arrived mid week and joined in the fun. The Americans then left for London and Craig and I joined them from Monday to Wednesday - also joined by my sister and niece for a big famuly catch up - it was just lovely. I hink when all your family live nearby you take it for granted where family time is precious for my far flung family. 

Following which I had downtime …….August (my least favourite month) was spent lying down, visiting doctors, a day in hospital and general maliase which dragged into September. The weather was lovely so I got the rest I needed and sat out in the sunshine enjoying the river traffic and a few good books. I was fully recovered by Septemver when my sister, Julia came to visit and we had a couple of fun days together. 

Then we jetted off to Jersey - Ive always been curious about the Chanel Islands and really didnt know what to expect. We chose to stay in St Helier in a room with a great view as we were uncertain of what the weather would be like - the forecast looked wet. It did rain most days but just briefly and we timed our activities around the daily shower. On day 2 = unknown to us - there was the Jersy Airshow and our hotel room was literally a ringside seat to all the action. It was thrilling and the finale was a great aviation display by the Red Arrows - something I'll never forget! We also had an island tour where evidence of the Nazi occupation was very musch in evidence and we visited a vineyard, museums, down town department stores, the famous Durrell Zoo and I had a somple but excellent Italian lunch - it was a lovely relaxing yet interesting break - we wanted to include Guernsey but our day trip was cancelled due to high seas so that will have to wait for another day.

We spent an accidental weekend in the country last weekend as we had booked accommodation to coincide with horse racing but the horse didnt run and it was too late to cancel so we went anyway ad used the time to visit family in 'Jillu Cooper' country - who had died that week and her books, films and life story was very much in the media and I thought about her sense of fun and general love for life attitude a lot while we were there. 

So now we are already getting ready for our next big trip and the year has flown. Mid Novemer we are off again for three months - which means a lot of planning not just for packing but also getting things  done before we leave and making sure we have a clean bill of health. Ill be doing my 
Christmas shopping in New Zealand, wrapping it in Los Angeles and putting it under a Christmas Tree in Michingan before heading south again to the warmer side of the US - exciting times. The idea is to travel 'while we can' and make the most of life. 

Well that was a mammoth catchup post - and a lesson to keep up to date and keep my journeling on track!