My arrival in Dublin was a surprise for most of my friends there and a surprise for me as my bag didn't quite make it on the same flight as me! Grant and I flew from Boston for Conor's 40th birthday as a surprise (no I didn't jump out of the cake). The the of us met more than12 years ago travelling in Asia and had many laughs over the weekend. Conor's party was definitely a mad affair with much singing, dancing, drinking and eating and of course catching up with many friends. Coming home as dawn was breaking was not something I had done in s long time, I think the jet lag might have helped there!
L'Hotel Mike and Des provided outstanding hospitality and is one of Dublin's best kept secrets. Cooked breakfast, champagne brunch, personal shopping service, private tours of Dublin and the christmas markets and a chauffeur service around town was outstanding. And then into the bargain they threw a Christmas party the following weekend with more laughs, catching up, singing, drinking and eating (they were having it anyway but I certainly enjoyed it!)
One of my many highlights during my ten days in Ireland was attending a community choir rehearsal in Ballymun with Alan. Al is in the Irish National Chamber Choir and as part of a proves with the city council has been rehearsing with the community choir for the last8 weeks in preparation for a workshop and concert in Christmas week with the chamber choir. I had a great time singing along, I think it's as close as I'm going to get to carol singing this year - not quite my annual carol gathering it was far too cold to start with but lots of fun.
I took a break from the wild ways of Dublin and went on retreat to Laura's just north of Belfast to relax, read, repack my bags and get caught up in Professional MasterChef (which an Aussie won just by the way). Snow fell for two of the nights I was there so staying in by the cosy fire and being sustained by hearty soups was just the ticket. We did trip into Belfast a couple of times and it was really interesting hearing Laura's stories of growing up there during 'the troubles'
As always one of the things I love most about Ireland is the warmth and generosity of the people there. This of course goes without saying for my many friends there who I've either met travelling OS, travelling in Ireland or back in Australia. Thanks Des, Mike, Laura, Jantze, Diarmurd, Conor and Al for putting up with me!
And then for s flying visit to London where in less than 48 hours I caught up with Aunty Anne and he friends and delivered her Christmas presents, shopped, checked out the Christmas lights, found a new cocktail bar with Alia, went to a lunch time concert at St Martin's in the Field and went to a west end show. It was lots of fun and reminded me how much I love London. I was also reminded of how far away Australia is or on the other hand how close Europe is when we chatted to a French lady over lunch who had travelled across on the train for the day to see the 'Leonardo Exhibition' - oh to be able to do that.....
I'm off to France for Christmas and new year will let you know what happens there in the next update.......
"Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep & permanent, in the ideas of living." Miriam Beard
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