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| Oh the buzzing of the bees and the cliffs and the |
Gosh, where do I start? At the beginning I suppose. Our first day was spent at The Curragh and the weather was more thank kind to us - not hot and not cold which is the best for racing. I have to say The Derby was very disappointing this year. For a start the fashion wasn't as good as previous years and secondly the horses were rather predictable with a lot of the favourites winning their races. Sometimes I just long for the outsiders to get a chance. When I see the little single horse boxes with someone's cherished horse hoping to win, I realise how little chance they have up against the big boys in their amazing horse boxes carrying up to 8 horses. I know also that the money was not around this year, further proof that the Celtic Tiger is lying low. Still, it was good to be with friends and we did have a laugh.
On then to The Greaville Arms in Mullingar. Oh my word - that place hasn't changed since the fifties. It was late at night when we arrived and Steven, our youngest had driven to meet us to hand over the dogs, and we couldn't change hotels so I told myself that I would be asleep and wouldn't notice the surroundings. Wrong! It was so hot we had to open the window wide and would you believe the young folk of the town were still shouting and screaming in the street way past 5 in the morning. I mean - what do they DO? Don't they go to work on Mondays? The noise was horrendous and I have to tell you - it was the girls using the colourful language.
Next morning we headed off in the direction of County Clare, stopping off here and there to walk the dogs and have a coffee. I found a lovely old book shop in one of the towns and bought a couple of books I look forward to reading. We had lunch in Ennis which is the most musical of all the towns in Eire, then it was off to Kilkee to join our friends. They were so pleased to see us which made me realise how much I had missed seeing them. A was quite tired - she has MS and has also had clots in her lungs so is quite fatigued a lot of the time but believe me - it doesn't stop her talking! The boys went off to play golf and we were left to catch up with 2 years of gossip - can't you just imagine? I was exhausted going to bed that night. We had dinner in Doonbeg at the golf club overlooking the beach and when we got back we sat outside and watched the sun go down. With a bottle of wine, of course.
The rest of the days were lazy and laid back. A wasn't up to doing too much but each day we went to the Pantry for lunch and in the afternoon we had tea in the cafe across the bay. I had loads of time to walk and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it. On George's Head I felt like I was the only person in the world. The noise of the bees in the clover and the birdsong was the only noise I heard. The turf is soft and springy and the flora contains more wild flowers than I knew existed. Tiggy and Dudley were in dog heaven - all that grass to hide in and all those exotic smells - dog bliss! I had a long walk back and I used that time to pray for people I knew needed help. I felt really uplifted and happy for the opportunity.
On Friday we headed off for West Cork where my book is set. We drove over Healy's Pass and I can't begin to tell you how beautiful it was. I have been before but each time it takes my breath away. We then drove round the Beara Penninsula which is very moderately inhabited but full of streams and waterfalls. You know, I have travelled far in my lifetime but I know I have never seen anywhere more beautiful. We drove on to Bantry where we found a hotel for the night. The entertainment was free - a local wedding with more style than Buckingham Palace. We sat mesmerised while all the girls of the town paraded before going in to the evening dance. Bryan was beside himself as it has been some time since he saw mini skirts that small. Poor ould thing - he was drooling, literally. Fair play though, they know how to dress up and they really put a smile on our faces.
I should mention that on Friday night we headed out to Schull, a tiny seaside village. It was heaving with people as there was a music festival on and they were spilling out of the pubs onto the street and the craic was mighty. We decided to venture down to the harbour and it was there we had a real surprise. A family from Normandy in France have set up a sort of open air cafe serving fish of all kinds and homemade genuine French Fries. B and I had scampi and I am hungry just thinking about it now. We watched it being cooked and carried it out to sit in the balmy air overlooking the harbour and enjoyed it with a glass of French white wine. The bill was so minimal we laughed as we had paid a fortune over the previous few nights eating out in Co Clare. Our friends are a wee bit snobby (in the nicest way) and stick to the well known tried and tested restaurants. In the same place I found a blue cottage which is just what I planned for Meredith in my book.
Yesterday we went to Skibbereen and Conakilty and I got to look at some shops. You'll never guess what I bought? A hat!! I mean, for goodness sake, why did I do that. It was also a lot more expensive than I thought it was so I am still dreading telling B. It was just so pretty and unusual and it fitted which was the most important thing. I also bought shoes to match. So I am now ready for the next wedding invitation coming in. Or the horse racing. Or anything really that involves a hat. Theresa, the woman who owned the shop told me she had never seen a hat look so good on anyone - and I believed her! No fool like an old fool they say. Dear God - wait till he finds out. I'm leaving town when he does. We did have a lovely walk on The Strand with the dogs though
Last night we stayed in County Kildare and we had a very civilised evening in a lovely restaurant and slept in the most comfortable bed of the holiday. We had a great bottle of wine and with neither of us driving we were able to enjoy it. Later we sat in the lounge and watched the world go by. All of the time I was storing information for the book. You know what? I have it in my head as a movie now. B says 'For goodness sake woman - just get the book written before you start casting, but sure I can't help it. I'm a dreamer after all.
So - it's good to be back in that I get to see PJ and my family but oh - the cooking - I think I've forgotten how. I have an awful feeling that at 5 o'clock every evening I will be transported to the cliffs of County Clare, the purity of the air, the buzzing of the bees and the songs of the wild birds.
Then a voice will call - 'Any sign of the dinner cooking?' and I'll know. I'm home!
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