Thursday 28 March 2024

On the road to Gatwick for our flight to Dublin. An incident free drive in good weather, sees us at Gatwick in one hour and through security in another hour, to sit down to a coffee and a sparkling rose. A couple of bottles of gin at duty free, after discussing how many we could bring into Ireland (we chose two) and a short one hour flight to Dublin.

I’m sure you all know how officious and totally humourless customs and immigration officers are. On a ‘prick’ scale of one to ten, US officers are both the worst and most scary. Definitely a 10. Some Poms are not far behind but the Irish? “Hello there. What brings you to beautiful Dublin, then? Ah, sampling the Guinness, eh? Four weeks, you say. That’ll be grand. Enjoy your stay” Got to be a big 1 on the scale.

Not to be outdone, the lass at Europcar is likewise friendly, giving us tips on how to avoid parking fees and where to see the cliffs etc. “So, you’d be wanting the extra driver? That’s €375,” “Er, no,” says Lady P. Then she fixes Flashy with those twinkling blue eyes, smiles and says” So, you’d be sampling the Guinness then?” They do say the Irish are fey.

We, that is Lady P, drives the breadth of Ireland from Dublin to Finavarra. From the Irish Sea to the wild Atlantic coast.

We were on “M” roads pretty well all of the way and a stop in a chilly 7C at Kinavarra, to get basic supplies, still saw us arrive at our cottage just as the sun was setting.

We are in a very comfortable and interior renovated stone cottage, a stone’s throw from the ocean, on a small, thin finger of land. In fact, we have been told, in typical Irish, that the road in is OK in all weather.  Except when it rains a lot or there is a high tide or when the fairies get cranky, or something like that. Still, it’s comfortable and warm; the stove, cooker and fridge all work; and we have gin.

Kids Irish breakfast for Flashy

Our home exchange cottage. And, yes, that is blue sky!!

View out the drive this morning 5C, feels like 2C. Nice day.