Moving on

Cherryfudge

A day of brain fog and a lovely day in Dublin, though I'm exhausted now. (Memo to self - in an ideal world, holidays should be preceded by several days off to get ready and followed by a week off to recover).

We got up at 7.30 so we could get the train (a drive then a train) and a couple of trams at the far end. I still haven't worked out all the terms on Irish transport. I think Enterprise is probably either a train company or a type of train service and it's probably in large letters on the header of some website so I've missed it because it's so obvious. Then there are red and green trams. You are supposed to know by osmosis how to get from one to another but perhaps culturally one should rely on the fantastic Irish sociability which came to our rescue (as well as giving us a delightful train journey opposite a young Mum and her gorgeous toddler who will probably go far for his outgoing nature and interest in his surroundings).

Mind you, I think the ferry company lost marks for communication: no one told us we were supposed to have studied the carpet after we parked, then find the same colour carpet going back to our cars. No wonder some people didn't get back to their vehicles for a while! We only managed it by going through a door that said 'staff only', though perhaps that's not relevant as we'd seen other passengers using it.

Oh and yesterday we had to ask for directions inside a building because I saw the door said 'Staff only' and failed to see the sign above the adjacent door directing us to the exhibition. It was perfectly clear, but over six feet above ground level, so it was my fault for being five feet tall and looking in front of and around myself.

You see why I think I need a week to recover? And this is in an English-speaking country, holidays in France used to drain me as the effort needed for translation was huge.

Anyway, we finally got the first tram, then went to get another, did a good job of radiating confusion and were rescued by a helpful passer by: followed her instructions and found a tram line which was probably the right one but we couldn't find which way the trams were going... so we walked. Walking was  good idea as it was a nice day (14 degrees - it was over 20 last week!) and we saw various things we would have missed on the tram. DH is a much better historian than I am and was telling me what was significant and why, and honestly a day is not nearly enough to see this city.

I was also a bit hampered by feeling spaced out and a bit off balance, so I think the virus is still in there somewhere and perhaps I've hardly felt it recently as I've been having restful mornings. However, it cleared up after lunch in the art gallery (nice café) and we spent ages going round. I may have mentioned there's an art gallery in every holiday for us, and even I am starting to join the dots, not in terms of artistic achievement but in having heard of various painters and seeing more in paintings than I did. There's some amazing stuff out there: it's perhaps a case of finding what I like and taking time to look closely and think about it rather than seeing everything.

The brain fog got to me over using my PO card which has euros on it. I couldn't remember how to pay with the app, but it occurred to me later that I've always paid with the the accompanying card, and the app is just like a banking app so I don't use it to pay. Duh. It's been a year since I used it and in that year I've slid seamlessly into paying by phone nearly all the time, hence the confusion. A year ago I wasn't as modern as I am now.  

Both our train journeys were good, through gorgeous scenery and actually very close to the sea at times. I made quite a lot of progress through my book and bought another off a charity table in the station on the way home. I've also got DH an art book from the gallery as he has a birthday at some point, and having worked out the PO card, I bought our afternoon drinks as well.

We treated ourselves to smoked salmon sandwiches for tea, which was quick and easy, and tomorrow will be a restful day, with the only planned outing being to an area where DH has ancestral connections.

Am pleased to report DH has had no emergency symptoms related to yesterday's phone call, or indeed anything else. He's on the lower of the alternate doses of his medication today and will have the same tomorrow though normally he would be on the higher dose. At least he's found out there are no side effects of stopping suddenly, which had been a concern.

Expenditure:
Holiday lunch (cash) about 30 euros (sorry no E symbol on this laptop)
Gift 26.50 euros
Holiday afternoon tea 13.80 euros
Holiday tram fare 4 euros
Donation (for book) £1

Cherryfudge

Lovely weather - again - today, and a relaxing time to recuperate and prepare to travel again. DH went for his morning walk and dropped his phone which landed in water... so we are down to one phone between us for now, though he got it out and is hoping it will dry.

In the afternoon we went ancestor-hunting through gorgeous countryside and found a grave, the churches the family had attended and finally, what we believe to have been their house, up a tiny road past a farm. Success! They aren't my ancestors - my Mum's story of an Irish connection has never been proved - but DH has spent such a lot of time on family history and this puts it into context. It was also interesting that this particular churchyard had so many people who passed away in their eighties and nineties, a complete contrast to the one of a few days ago where there were a great number of infant and young adult deaths.

Dinner was fishcakes, and we've bought picnic food for the journey tomorrow. I put a load of washing on this morning and managed to iron it this evening so there won't be much to do when we get back. However, I've had a look at my schedule for the month ahead and there is just so much to fit in. It's rather overwhelming. Then work let me know there were no relief hours for a couple of weeks - which is useful in terms of time but it's something I look forward to and they pay me. Then they had someone cancel so I have three days next week after all. Meanwhile one person had to do the church cleaning on their own today as I was away. I have to learn to take things one day at a time!

DH has had the reduced dose of his medication today but not the zero dose the consultant advised. I can see why - he needs to get us home and can't risk a sudden setback. Good job we will be home soon, though we won't get this wonderful view anymore.

Expenditure:
Housekeeping £14.48
Phone data £8.50

Sun_Addict

Sounds like you’re having a wonderful time in the Emerald Isle ☘️ I live in a predominantly southern Irish/Italian area and can confirm they are indeed very hospitable. 

Cherryfudge

Safely home! We had a little longer than expected this morning to pack up as there was no one using the accommodation after us, so we left it clean and tidy to my satisfaction yet with minimal stress. DH even fitted in a local walk before we left.

We decided on a dinner meal locally and found an Italian place to eat. I had a tagliatelle verdure and DH had sea bass. One last drive through the idyllic countryside lasted a bit longer than expected as we got stuck between someone who went at 30 mph in a 60 area, and there was no chance of passing on the narrow roads! Then when we got to Belfast, the sat nav sent us into some dead end among industrial buildings rather than to the ferry! Unfortunately between early lunch and slow driving, there wasn't time to explore the castle grounds which we'd had recommended (perhaps a reason to go back!) Anyway, the ferry was a lot less busy than when we arrived: I think it was probably less than a quarter full and the crossing was as smooth and sunny as could be.

We arrived in Scotland around tea time and pulled in to a picnic area for our tea, after which the car decided it wasn't going to charge phones anymore, thank you. The radio also started to behave erratically, so the problems are probably linked. As DH's phone is out of action, that left us with just mine and carefully conserved battery to get us through the four hours' drive home. I had a power pack that boosted it so we never got to crisis point.

The drive itself was beautiful: we agreed we'd go this way if we go to Ireland again, though I suppose we might have decided otherwise if it were stormy, wet and cold. Arriving home, I watered my new plants that I put in the wall baskets just before leaving and which were just starting to droop.

I need to get to my bath and bed now: I've prepared the session for the children tomorrow while waiting for the ferry! 

Expenditure:
Holiday - meal out - £40.50

rachmac3

That sounds like a lovely trip, and returned home just in time to save the plants! Winning!

rtandon27

What a lovely recount of your time away - sounds like a recharge was had.🥰

pennywisepoundstupid

Sounds as though you had a lovely rime away, Ireland is on my travel bucket list.

Cherryfudge

I seem to have recharged the batteries a bit while we were away - and amazingly the children's session went quite nicely this morning. I say amazingly because I'd not done the quality of preparation it probably deserved, but we got there. Clued up helpers were a big asset.

We got sausages out of the freezer for lunch and picked up some basics from the supermarket on the way home so we are set till tomorrow. DH has the whole week off as he wants to help get the house and garden in order: we hope to have the new path done after next weekend and the weekend after that our friends are coming to stay. DH has now stopped his tablets as per orders, so we are praying that goes well! Meanwhile he's gone for a walk (he's doing sponsored steps throughout May) and to look at a record fair, then he'll wash the car.

I've done 15 minutes of ground elder control: the dark plastic hasn't stopped it growing as it's probably not dark enough but the dry weather and the work done before we went away have helped reduce new growth.

The book I'm reading at present has given me some ideas towards my course and I've just remembered the author found it helpful to set out the plans for the next day, the evening before. I do similar quite often but with so many bits and pieces going on this month, this is the plan for this week, depending on how DH does without the medication:

Monday - ring ICT and get my work password reset. Send off last month's timesheet and start this month's. Check emails in case there are any changes for Tuesday's class. Work in the evening.
Tuesday morning - DH to look after the grandchildren while I help with a class then I meet up with them for the afternoon. No evening meeting as my friend is going on holiday.
Wednesday - DH has more blood tests. I haven't planned anything till my evening meeting.
Thursday - Helping with Toddler group in the morning. Breast screening in the afternoon (very close at hand so not a problem). Work in the evening. DH's team are doing the church cleaning.
Friday - work in the evening.
Saturday - all day session for my course.
Sunday - DH on teas and coffees rota at church and I'm helping with the little ones but not leading the session.

In the background I have course work to do, though chipping away at the journal has helped keep me aware there. I could also do with looking up things that the team don't have access to but need to know (allergies etc. for the children we have on a Sunday) and re-reading some stuff for the Wednesday job. That last one isn't priority till the others are done. 

So into that we intend to fit:
Garden - at least 15 minutes a day, whether that be general weeding, mowing grass, watering tubs, battling the ground alder or potting on things that have outgrown their pots.
Tidy and clear in the spare room
Shampoo carpets - two stains have resisted recent cleaning.

Sun_Addict

Welcome home sounds like you had a wonderful time in the Emerald Isle. Snap - I also have a mammogram on Thursday afternoon as well as a dental check up in the morning - can’t wait 😬

Cherryfudge

Sun_Addict said:

Welcome home sounds like you had a wonderful time in the Emerald Isle. Snap - I also have a mammogram on Thursday afternoon as well as a dental check up in the morning - can’t wait 😬

LOL - we know how to party!