Off to the wedding

Early up at 5 to finish packing, and thinking, and packing.  Bright and sunny as we drove to Southampton’s tiny airport and we passed smoothly through. Various Hampshire friends were on the flight to Dublin, Charlie and Marishelle, Anne and Guy and the Shaws.  We picked up a car from a woman at Avis who was absolutely lovely and did everything she could to get the price down and give us a smaller car than we’d booked when we were still bringing Mum.  Taken to the airport car park by another charming man.  Maybe they aren’t tired of tourists in Ireland. 

Stopped off at M&S and did a race round. It was hard work because we needed a Euro coin to get a trolly, didn’t have any cash so we struggled with the weight of the baskets, kept forgetting things and managed to get out without the excellent M&S coffee that I was extolling the virtues of as I went in.   Again lovely helpful staff. 

Vik was determined we have lunch at The Winding Stair in the centre of Dublin a place I’d written about from my time there last year.  We got a bit snagged in traffic getting in and parking looked dicey but although we were 45mins late for our booking, they were very relaxed and it was worth it.  We sat in a sunny window overlooking the Ha’penny Bridge and ate a delicious fish plate of pates and smoked fish.  And Irish chorizo with tomatoes.  A glass of wine and lovely coffee and we were off.  

Drove down in sunshine, passing fields being harvested, flocks of black crows settling on the stubble.  Jackdaws?  The fields are small and the hedgerows still thick.  V kept exclaiming at the green but I think he’s pre conditioned.  

Home for the next three nights is a little quad of identical new build houses in Croan behind the older family farmhouse.  The  brothers Jono and family and Anthony and family are here too and the place is run by the only person in Ireland who seems to actively dislike tourists.  Also joining us are @treshnish ! Good to have non family here too to make us behave! 

Everyone was having a nap when we got here, although Sue was out for a run.  V also went off to nap and I sat drinking tea looking out over the golden field as above, enjoying the vivid pink of great willow herb against the gold, and watching house martins skim the barley.  I hoped for the sake of the weather tomorrow they would fly a bit higher.  

We all met for drinks in the dying sunlight, then it started to rain and we scuttled indoors.  

C&V came to a simple supper of Cook lasagne brought over by Sue with salad and very good raspberries and cream with lovely Irish cheeses.