A long day

Back blipping on Tuesday morning

Yesterday, we drove some 530km to deposit cheques in Barclays Bank in Newry!

We didn't set off particularly early - just had our normal gentle start to the day.  On the road by shortly after 10, we stopped at the nursery in Aughrim that we visited before en route to Dublin on 20th Oct.  This time, it was decent weather, we had a short wander, bought some plants - mainly pond plants.  Good job we didn't tarry too long.

Reached Newry at maybe 2.30 ish.  We'd completely failed to think about bringing any UK coinage - a very kind lady gave us 60p to feed the meter when she saw we were going to risk leaving the car without a ticket.  Good job she did - we passed the traffic warden as we walked to the bank.  We weren't worrying too much about time - after all, banks close at 3.30 (or even later) don't they?  Got to the bank at 2.55 - as we entered, we read a sign on the door telling us that the bank now closes at 3.00pm!  Phew!!!!

Cheques duly deposited, despite fighting with machines, and W having an out of date bank card with him!  On the way back to the car, W forged ahead to make sure we didn't get a ticket, I tarried to get a couple of photos to remember the trip!  

My blip is one side of a sculpture commemorating, in 1994, Newry's 650th birthday.

We then found our way out of the city to a hotel in the outskirts where we were able to relax and eat a late lunch. 

As I got back into the car to drive home, I tweaked a muscle in my right side.   We had to stop a couple of times to add electrons to the battery.  Should have been just one stop, but for some reason the charging had stopped at only 69% at the first one, and that wasn't quite enough to get us home comfortably.  Rather than wrangle with the charger, we decided that we, in any case, would need another comfort break, so drove on, and stopped at Gorey Services to top up.

What with the long drive, and the discomfort from my muscle, I was shattered when we got in just before 10pm and retired straight to bed.

I can report, a good night's sleep has much improved the pulled muscle, but I shan't risk a session on the exercise cycle today.