the other Robin
Unregistered User
(9/25/03 4:41 pm)

Here we go-Chapter 1, Our First Day in Heaven

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Robin: My sleep pattern has been interrupted lately. I don’t know whether it is OLD AGE or excitement about the trip. I fall asleep early but then wake up about 5:00 in the morning. I have not been too concerned about it because I figure my sleep pattern will be worse in Ireland with the 6-hour time difference. This morning it was 4:30 am. GRRR! Later….

Randy: The drive here was non-stop chatter. You would think we never get to talk, but the truth is, we are often interrupted and always have a list of unfinished responsibilities hanging in the background… but not today. We are free of the weight and it has taken the slack out! We both got so sleepy last night. Tried to stay awake until regular time last night in hopes to sleep in this AM, but alas… we were both up early. Oh, well. Maybe this will help us sleep on the plane.
        Hard to believe that the next two weeks we will be waking up in another country across the ocean… living in someone else’ home! I can’t wait.
        BUT, before we get out of town, we will be enjoying worship with a few others… we are going to Willow Creek. Bill Hybels is preaching this week. (my husband is a minister too!)

Musings from my husband: As I drift awake from an hour or so of light sleep, my burning eyes focused on the window. What had been pitch-black night, lit only by the small lights on the wing of the plane… had slowly started to creep into dawn. The sky was pink and orange and it was casting its tint on everything in its path. Where the ocean should have been was a cottony blanket of clouds. Random tears in the fluff made it seem as if, by night, an army of angels had used the ocean as their playground, dragging their feet through the soft cloudy floor and leaving tracks as evidence of their nocturnal adventures. If they had only thought to fall on their backs and made some snow people.

Day 2 – Monday, September 8, 2003

Robin: We’re here….can’t believe it. We had a fairly uneventful flight except for strong turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean. Mom vomited once but for her…that was an answer to prayer. It was only once! We had TV and movies on board so were entertained by Bruce Almighty. Watching TV helped pass the time. We tried to sleep but anticipation of the Island kept us awake most of the night. We both dosed for an hour or so. We landed right on schedule and picked up our vehicle. We were all a little leery about having to drive on the wrong side of the road-on the wrong side of the car but Randy is doing great. He catches on right away. We rented our car from Argus and felt like they gave us the best rate because we had to rent a van so dad and mom could be comfortable. We stopped to eat a bite a DURTY NELLIE’s…..quite a place and was established in 1690. Food was good although it was rather dark in there. We then headed to the B & B (Headley Court) only to find that she thought we were coming yesterday and counted us as a ‘no show’. She was two hours late getting home so we slept in the van in her driveway until she got home. We were all exhausted from the trip over and not sleeping. Next time I plan to take a Tylenol pm or sleeping pill on the plane. I think it would make the first day more tolerable. (landed at 10:00 am) When Kathleen, of Headley Court, arrived back at her home, we straightened everything out and all headed to bed for a nap. After a couple of hours, we hoped back into the van for a little sightseeing…drove through Limerick and looked for a Cyber Café to Email the kids. Our phone card will not work and I don’t know if it is me or the card that doesn’t work right….found out later that I need to dial 001 and not just a 1 before the number. Limerick was an awesome place with colorful row houses and quaint shops. Randy and I wish we had time to spend the day strolling the city… next trip! On the way home we stopped at Thady O’Neills Steak House. I had Irish Pizza (Sweet Bacon)…it wasn’t all that great but I was anxious to see what the Irish do with a Pizza….ours is better! Randy had Mussels for an appetizer and Monkfish and Tiger Prawns for an entrée. I am looking forward to a good night of sleep and tomorrow meeting some nice Irish folks. There is an interesting shop across the street we will investigate in the AM…..Ministers Rest.

Randy: the trip to the cyber café, Surfers, was a trip. It was located on a street corner, in a very small storefront. The manager was a scruffy chap who looked to have experienced a great deal of life. Several computers littered a raised countertop at the back, and half a dozen phones were scattered into the opposite front corner of the room. Only a couple people occupied machines when we walked in, but several units appeared to be in mid-repair. The proprietor promptly sent us downstairs to Computer #8. When we inquired about something to drink, he pointed toward coffee…. but it was me who was asking… he had two things cold to drink… a few cans of juice, or 4 tiny bottles of Diet Coke. I haven’t seen a Diet Mt. Dew since we left for Chicago! We got on immediately and checked email… writing a quick note to Jen/Mike & Jen/Barry. We forwarded most of the same to Janet H to forward to many others.

Note:
I highly recommend Headley Court in Bunratty. Kathleen is a doll, her place is very clean and her food is delicious. You can have fruit and yogurt, bacon,egg and toast, or french toast. She always serves good Brown soda bread and cereal with her breafast too. I enjoyed going to Durty Nellies but I can't say that I thought the food was exceptional...just okay. If you can, I recommend trying to sleep on the plane. I was too excited and was very pooped when I got there. We flew Aer Lingus and got totally separated from our folks in our seating. They seemed a bit disorganized but I had a good rate of $540 so we managed. I watched prices and bought in April.

stannseniors
Registered User
Posts: 42
(9/30/03 1:09 pm)

chapter 1

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i want more - chapter 2 needs to come out before we leave on Oct. 2.

the other Robin
Unregistered User
(9/30/03 3:51 pm)

Can I help?

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If you will email me at robin@locl.net (my office)today or tomorrow...maybe I can help with anything last minute. We just returned one week ago Saturday and had an awesome time. I can't wait to go again! Do you fly out on Thursday?