Ram Dressed As Lamb

 I’m in the middle of a night’s overtime

I supposed to be saving for the electric direct debit hike due very soon.

Total false economy 

Just bought these on line from Harlow & Lloyd

I’ve message a friend in the states who I know would be up and around 

He sent a brief message back 

Ram dressed as lamb

The “Dont Hurt Him” Conversation

 I still listen to The Archers and will occasionally refer to the long standing radio show here, when certain subjects of interest raise their heads over the mundane.

Last night matriarch Jill ( 91 year old Patricia Greene) was having a bit of a heart to heart with her grandson’s twenty something girlfriend over a quiche.

Now I am the first to say that The Archers can at times be incredibly heavy handed and prescriptive, and to be honest that is part of its charm, I feel, but last night I felt the scene between old lady and young woman had a certain poignancy about it.

Only last month , it was broadcasted that Green was leaving the soap after playing the velvet voiced Jill for over 57 years. No reason rather than retirement was cited, but it was clear to me by listening to the change in the actress’ voice that she was frail and probably rather unwell. 

The scene she was playing revolved around a huge circle in the Archer’s storyline. In the 1950s Jill entered the soap as the lead’s second wife, a city girl, who was morphed into being a country farmer wife and last night’s scene had Jill discussing life with city girl Beth ( Rebecca Fuller) who is her favourite grandson’s girlfriend.

The scene was unhurried and full of gentle pathos with Green’s rasping vocals adding an extra depth to the scene and when eventually Jill turned to Beth and said “ You Won’t hurt him will you?” I was suddenly reminded of a similar, intense conversation from decades ago now.

My grandmother was long dead when I started courting. My mother was never privy to any partners I ever had, but I remember my elder sister meeting my husband to be many years ago now, a meeting she realised for the first time that I had decided that he was a “ keeper”

Just before we drove away from that first family meal, I remember her leaning into the car and saying to my boyfriend with a smile but in a low and rather serious voice. “ Don’t ever hurt him, or you will have me to deal with!”

It was a message , I know he never forgot, for I think it was the first time anyone had spoke to him in such a way.

And It was a message I never forgot also.

Having that matriarch in my corner .

Ladies View

I’m glad I made the effort to go to Nu’s party

I’m glad for so many reasons .

Of course seeing her, Jim and her family and friends, many who I consider as my friends for years , was the driving force for the trip 

But I also really wanted to push myself out of my ever comfortable comfort zone by driving the length and breadth of Ireland on my own .

To some , this may not sound too stressful.

A little arduous, perhaps but not stressful, 

But I must admit, for me it was! 

I’m always envious of friends such as Rachel (https://racheldubois.blogspot.com/) who seem happy and comfortable travelling all over the world by themselves. 

I’ve never done it, so I felt I needed to push myself with a series of firsts

Taking my Car on a ferry for the first time and navigating a new country was two firsts 

Ok it was Ireland 

But this morning I was the only car driving down the magnificent Ring of Kerry from the awesome Moll’s Gap

I was the only person at Ladies view , watching deer cross the road in front of me

And it was a first  for me to pass the glorious St Mary’s cathedral Killarney where I stopped for a full Irish breakfast at a delightful cafe, where the owner gave me a sandwich , for nothing “ to eat on my way” as she said it’s a far drive for you ! 

But now that I’m home, somewhat tired I must say I feel just a little proud that I’ve finally done it.

The Party

I won’t post photo after photo of merry partygoers, suffice to say that the afternoon and evening was paced and good humoured and full of friends old and new.

The bus picked everyone up from Kenmare square at three and dropped us off at Nu’s cottage not long after and she was there like the Queen at the gate to greet her guests. 

We drank gin and ate delish extra thin pizza freshly baked straight from the oven and talked bollocks until 9pm when the bus returned and everyone hit the lights of Kenmare’s pubs.

I got off the bus early and went back to my Airbnb.

I’m driving back this morning and couldn’t face another late night.

I slept well in my bed 

And this morning have just drank my bucket of coffee and ate the last of my scones

 It’s been a lovely weekend all told 

Scones for Breakfast

I hit Kenmere running. 

I knew I would. 

My sat nav crashed in Dublin port and I had to wing finding my way to Nu’s, so late I arrived at my own spotless little Airbnb apartment at Mrs O’Sheas for only a few minutes, before being picked up by the affable Brian, ( the designated driver for the day) and whisked to a lovely restaurant with Nu and family.

The rest of the evening was, to be honest a loud bit of a blur with more mutual friends and their grown up kids joining the fray at a bar which would not look lost in The Commitments.

The party proper starts around 3 pm today when a bus stops in the square to pick everyone up and takes them to Nu’s cottage, so I have a bit of time to go into Kenmare and have a mooch. 

As promised Mrs O’Shea has left me some of her scones ( tied Auntie Glad style on the doorknob) so  you can Have something with your tea

 I dozed after my breakfast then walked down to Kenmare Pier 

And listened to the gulls diving for fish in the bay

Across the Irish Sea

 This ferry lark is all a bit new to me.

Ok I’ve enjoyed the Manley Ferry in Sydney and years ago I was drenched and frozen on the Seattle ferry over Puget Sound but I’ve never taken my car on one of the new Ferries who boast everything all singing and all dancing.

I’ve yet to find the calming hygge lounge but the public rooms seem spacious and well designed and I love the sound proof boxes set aside for small children to run amok in. 

Every home should have one

The skies were somewhat bleak in Holyhead when I got to the ferry , but boarding was painless enough.

I probably won’t have time to blog again, until tomorrow. 

It should take four hours to drive down to Kenmare and this, my second trip , I am very much looking forward to. 

My first trip was four years ago, and was organised by Nu as a diversion after my husband left me. 

I can’t remember much of the trip except the quietness of her cottage and the beauty of Kenmare. 

I was very bruised and battered emotionally and all I needed then was her quiet company and a bit of sun on my face.

I am a third of the way across the Irish Sea and the sun has just come out as I type, a good omen me thinks .

Tonight I will join Nu and her hubby Jim and her extended family for dinner. I’ve known many of them for as long as I’ve known her , so I’m prepared for the noise.

Tomorrow I will explore Kenmare again before Nu’s party tomorrow evening

The party will be craic as many of Nu’s Liverpudlian/ Irish friends will be there 

They are exhausting and  energising all in the same breath and loudly refer to me as Jonney Gray! Or by my old and somewhat perplexing nickname of cheese and chives ( this is far too long to explain) 

I love them dearly 

I shall also be meeting up with an old friend from ITU and her husband who was a consultant there who have retired only a few miles from Kenmare. I put them in touch with Nu a while ago and they will be coming to the party too..

It’s a small world.

A Little Adventure

 Tomorrow I’m embarking on a little adventure

I’m catching the ferry to Ireland for the weekend. 

Not only that , but I am driving Bluebell 350 miles to Kenmare in County Kerry to meet with Nu and her family and friends at her yearly party there. 

I’ve booked myself into a lovely farm Airbnb just outside the town where, I’m told scones and jam will be waiting.

I’m a little nervous as it’s a new experience for me 

Toilet Training

 Roger has had a good day 

Four pees outside 

And a solid hour watching Eastenders and the start of Repair Shop