epicwaves

We have to be up early for our flight to Dublin from Manchester. This means driving from Sheffield and leaving at 7am. Joel and Lindsay get up to say goodbye. They have been so kind and hospitable, it has been a pleasure staying with them.

They are themselves, in the middle of extensive house renovations so we have bunked in at Joel’s parents place, but despite this have gone out of their way to make us welcome. Joel’s parents are in Australia at the moment and have stayed at our empty house in the last week or so. Even although we have never met we can stay at each others house and know that the cutlery will still be there when we get back, such is our brotherhood!

Our flight to Dublin is uneventful and our car is waiting for us so we can drive to Carrick-on-Suir to the home of Malcolm and June. How hospitable & welcoming!

Three things cement the fact that we’re in Ireland today. Firstly when we stopped for lunch, an ambulance goes by and a young mother urgently crosses herself.

Secondly, in our hire car a sign on the dash says “Accident report form in the glove box. Don’t fill in until you’ve had an accident?”

Thirdly, everyone knows not to ask an Irishman for directions but we were getting a bit desperate when we couldn’t find Malcolm and June’s house. So against our better judgement we stop to enquire of an elderly farmer. ‘Shure, I know em. Yur go down tere & take tree rights. Trite, trite, trite” Sounds simple enough. However, turn around and take a left would have saved a quarter of a tank of fuel!

Ireland, you’ve got to love it!