Around your heritage in 8 days!!

Back again from the whirlwind tour of Scotland!! And yes, it was even more than I ever thought!! Can I move there tomorrow please?? Only a few days left of the Irish adventure and then moving on for a few days of Queen Lizzie's home city. A day of Ireland and hopefully the Book of Kells waiting for me, then happy Paris!! Have to admit to being a tad tired, and feeling a bit rushed with only two full days left to organise myself, get rid of extra weight... from the luggage thank you! ... get clothes washed and so on. In the meantime, as it is the photos that makes this so long in getting up and running, the text will be the way to go for the moment. The photos can go in later!! Hey .. a whole computerised slide night!! Anyone interested?? Or maybe Irish slide night... with Irish dinner party. Scottish slide nght with Scottish theme (bagpipes included) with haggis neeps and tatties as the main dish? Hmmm. Have to wait and see.

In the meantime... I'll add some text about the trip way down South... that was eons ago, I know... soon! But as its nearly midnight in this part of the world.... night all!!

So, this is Irish time??!!

I can't believe how quickly time seems to go here. With not much happening in Northern Ireland, and the Scotland trip postponed... a trip to the Republic was just the thing. A tad more expensive than I would have liked, but it was worth every cen... er.. penn.... er... euro!!

In the meantime, Scotland is on again, and due to other unforseen circumstances, now have a few days in London, a night in Dublin, then on to the next planned leg ... Paris. Its amazing how long it takes to make accommodation bookings.. most of the downtime in Ballycastle has been spent in organising places to stay in Scotland, flights to and from England, a decent affordable place in London etc. And thank goodness for internet reviews!! Dodged a few bullets there (hmm, maybe even literally in some cases).

Hopefully I'll get more blog done.. doesn't seem the same to have to do it when you are back home. Grrr.

Hey.. and thanks to everyone who has kept in touch!! I really has meant a lot.. feet well grounded, sense of humour retained and it helps knowing someone actually reads the blog and my emails. By the way son (not that you would be reading this) you have just been unvoted son of the year! .. please send balance of kudos back!! Lol.

The North before the South

Wednesday, 12 May

Plotting and planning, booking and rebooking have been the main activities over the last few days. More walks around beautiful Ballycastle... oh hell, why not... have some more vision to make your eyes green with envy!! This place changes day by day... Fairhead is just like a waterpainting that changes constantly. Could you ever get sick of watching the play of light, clouds and mist on this magical landscape? No fairys or leprechauns.. just the wonder of nature at its sublime best!!













But still... today there was time for a drive.. such a beautiful day again. Revisiting some of the places we had briefly glimpsed on our last drive along the coast. Today was action day!!

Carrick-a-rede

Finally I got to see the place I have promised to take Joan after she has departed this mortal coil and gone to a better place (huh? after seeing his place, there is a better place?). Action Jacksonette was at her best .. burtsing with energy. The scenery and colours from the cliffs at Carrick-a-rede were brilliant, and my poor pathetic camera just couldn't take the best of it - good as it is for a point-guess-shoot.












Of course I got into trouble again!! As we made our way down the narrow windey road to the car park, I couldn't help but notice the motorbikes parked, probably here for the NorthWest 200! Some I don't think I'd seen before. I gazed at the glistening azure ocean, diamond sparkles glinting from the soft cap waves... the vibrant green of the fields that were bursting with life, the placid black-faced sheep grazing peacfully, the sheer cliffs circled by nesting seagulls, the white surf rushing into the narrow beaches at the bottom of the rugged cliffs... and realised it wasn't going anywhere for the moment.

So.. off I run to check out the motorbikes!!! LOL!! Hey.. they could have been taking off any time as soon as my back was turned. Come on, would it be me any other way?? Besides, these roads are crying out to ride on!!

Anyway, after laughing off the chastisement, I got to do the excellent long walk on the well fenced path along the cliffs to the infamous Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge. It looks so cool, and the rock island on the other side beckoned with mystery. Wow.. the views!! Not a place to be in high winds or big surf and tides let me tell you.

From a distance came an occasional grunting noise.. no, not the sound of someone trying to climb the seemingly million and one steps to the bridge... a bird? turns? nope... seals... camped just on the other side of the rock off the island.
The bridge? Not at all scarey. Didn't even move much. But it was a beautiful still day. Enough to get slightly reddened if sitting in the sun for a long time. The views again were amazing... and I still can't help being amazed at the plants and flowers that grow in so little soil, seemingly staight out of the rock itself. Not just lichens or mosses... full flowering plants and grasses. The tenacity of life!!!

Another climb up a million and one steps, breathless at the exercise and again the beauty of the place! Heh... bikers and other tourists also making their way down to the infamous bridge. We couldn't help notice how well we fit in - walk to it with coats or jackets on, then everyone returning clutching coats in hand along with cameras, kids, dogs etc. I had to pity the riders that had to lug their bike jackets up and down!! (half their luck!!). On to the next stop...

Let the surprises truly begin......

OK... back on deck (or comp) after my jaunt around Southern Ireland.. more on that later.. promise!! I even have photos if you are really really unlucky!!

Meanwhile back in Ballycastle and time......

Saturday 8 May ....

Remember I mentioned that first walk along the beach (sans sun, surf and, well ... real sand really). Glimpses of what this country really is continued to show through. Driving back the short distance to the house, I spy a pile of old stones piled on top of each other ... somewhat resembling an abbey? church? convent? of ancient times. Umm.. I'm kinda thinking flashes of ancient headstones might have given that away. 'Oh that! That's just the old Friary' I'm told. And that is very much the attitude of so many people that live with these monuments day to day... its part of life.

You go past the green fields of sheep and cattle, and there in the middle will be a vine covered ruin of a shed, or a cottage, or an ancient tower, or even a castle. The modern and living co-exisiting with the ancient and decaying. How about this being in your back yard??? More on this amazing building, its history and its more modern day functions in Hidden Secrets.

Oh, and how did I find out my information? Check out the entry in Only when true character shines through ... you know the drill .. just click on the link above.

Sunday 9 May

Who's son won son of the year??? Oh, that would have to be mine I guess... a great email from Jr arriving on Mother's Day for me... and he beat me to sending him his birthday greetings too. You just have to love that time difference huh? Not much doing in Ballycastle today... preparing for socialising in the afternoon, so no jaunting today!! And this is the charm of the place... what did I find in my morning wander??

My new home!!!









But the neighbours are a bit loud ....








The errr... ummm ... shortcut?? OK, maybe in distance as the crow flies, but wow this is some uphill climb!! Great endurance training for anyone who really wants to... and the locals above don't seem to care how out of breath you are.... heh..lucky for me I wasn't in too bad nick!! (Thank you, no comments from the peanut gallery or kangaroo court!!)

But never fear... I found something to keep me going later if the walk home via the shortcut got too much.

Yep, ANZAC Bar and Grill

Skipping over Monday and Tuesday... original plans were to be out of Ireland on Tuesday 11 May to start to feel my Scottish roots regenerate and to start to order the locals around as any good wannabe Laird should.... but poor Joan was too ill to go... Doctor's orders - not fit to travel. So these days were used for cancelling, reorganising and deferring our trip to the land with the checkered past... oops.. I mean chequered patterns. OK.. tartans... and don't moan too badly at the poor jokes, or I'll just have to provide full details and examples of my family backround - tartans, castles and all!! Err... did I mention I was going to try and visit at least 3 of my family castles???? heh heh heh.

Anyway... deferred for a fortnight was our trip, so it was. And therefore, the realms of opportunity opened for further travel and insight loif experience was opened up. To the internet!!!!! Oops, more days without blog or journal updates. But wait till you see the results... stay tuned!!

The Many Moods of the Antrim Coast

Friday, 7 May

So Friday has arrived.. my first full day in Ireland.. and with it arrives the clouds, resplendent in their solidarity with a biting wind. Ummm... have I left home???? Did someone say 'summer in a seaside town??'

Can't sit about though.. out and about... walk along the beach.
What more can an Aussie ask for... sea, sand umm... sun? waves? nope..not today, but spectacular!!

Sand ranging from grittier sand as we know it, to big pebbles. And yet come winter this same beach can be covered in feet (yes, feet, not centimeters or metres) of stones and boulders. When there aren't too many, the local council may come and take them away.. but otherwise, they leave it to the rockhurling sea to come retrieve its ammunition to play another day.

A chilling wander down to the River Margy... gently easing into the sea - browned by the slow seeping of peat into its waters... the secret of the quality of the local whiskey I'm told (Note to self: Must take some time out to test the quality of the local offerings). Happy to shiver my way back to the car. Hands turning blue... lips so cold it was difficult to talk (yes, even for me!)


Saturday 8 May

What a difference a day makes. Saturday dawned so bright and clear that Scotland could be clearly seen!! A long walk of discovery and exploration, a drive to get a taste of the lighter moods of Antrim. The result???.....

Welcome to Ireland!!

You know, you would think someone on holidays who has access to internet would at least be able to update their much flaunted blog fairly regularly huh? Oh well, shows how wrong you can be!! I can't get over how quickly time goes and how busy it can get. Maybe I should stay off MSN and email? Yep, that might help, but that's not going to happen is it?? Its good keeping up with everyone, and besides, even those that can't get the blog have at least emailed and kept in touch! Good outcome anyway I look at it really.

So back to my arrival...

Thursday 6 May ... on Irish soil!!

Well, tired I may have been, but didn't feel jet lagged at all. Ballycastle is about 3 hours from Dublin airport, and despite the fatigue, I didn't think for a moment I'd want to sleep!! I sure got that right.

Travelling through the countryside, past fields and villages, my senses and thoughts tumbled with the traditional and modern all mixing together. My brain couldn't quite take in that the glimpses of everyday life here were not just the postcard snapshots of coffee table books or tourist advertisements. This was the real thing. We see pockets of Ireland in parts of Australia, as we see parts of Scotland in places like the Southern Highlands (damn, missed the Highland Gathering again this year).... but this was constant, and a classic or cliche everywhere you turn.

Ok... now you will know I really write my own material....

As we drove past small vivid green fields bordered by well kept hedges, I was taken with the farming practices and herds here.... Suffolk, Irish and Blackface sheep; Charolais, Belted Galloway and Fresian cattle... some in small, discrete herds others in totally mixed herds of breeds and species. Don't forget the occasional modern tractor with the sheep dogs running around the farm house!! And yet, this is real life.. not a TV show directed on queue.

Major issue hitting Northern Ireland - er... how fast is 40 miles and hour?.... umm... how far is that in kilometres, not miles? Yup, I think I do have a few euro coins for the toll. What do you mean is it a church or a chapel.. is there a difference??? Welcome Suzie, to the brave new world of Northern Ireland - or should that be the Brave Traditional World...????

The place made up for it though... country lanes bordered by tall hedges.. no shoulder to the road at all.... large tractors pottering up the road to 'the far field' with little cars zipping around them on a road barely two lanes wide.... Then we hit Ballycastle!!


As you enter Ballycastle, the Antrim Coast opens up to greet you with spectacular views right through to Scotland!! Some well deserved gloating from my hosts, and we are home... with the constantly changing framed watercolour of Fair Head ever at the back doorstep!! A quick dinner of Irish version of fish and chips.. that would be battered Cod (yuumm.. cod!) and chunky chips just like we had back in the good old days in Australia.

At that point, exhaustion got the better of me.. and so to bed under a soft warm doona for a well deserved sleep!!

Irish soil at last!! OR Paris in Spring!!

When last we left our intrepid traveller, she had survived CDG airport and was being whisked away by a random bus, hopefully to be delivered to some form of air transport that would get her, and the other brave explorers, to their final destination (well, sort of).

We rejoin our heroine, holding back the gales of laughter at ridiculousness of the situation, as she steps off the airport bus...

Thursday 6 May - still.

Freezing whipping winds greet us as we file off the bus and towards the little jet waiting in a line on the tarmac. I just can't help myself. I have to ask the question to the guys around me... 'this is Paris in Spring isn't it?' Chuckles and agreeing comments come my way big time. Again I am oh so grateful for the boots, stockings, coat and scarf/shawl. Now, about the soft romance of Paris in Spring... I'm not feeling the luuurve!! Oh.. maybe its romantic as they huddle together in their designer gear for warmth and survival. LMAO!!!

Oddly enough its the sound of Irish accents I have to get used to, as for the seemingly last hundred hours or so, I had got used to tuning in to the French language and accents. A quick flight this time... coffee service only... oh yuk!! Preset Nescafe 43 cups ... rip off the top, add water and hand to the passenger.

Another window seat, with a charming young chatty companion (yep, forced to talk again! *sigh*). She tells me about her lots of travels, her fiance of 5 years waiting in Dublin, her mother in the Seychelles wanting her home, his Mauritian family wanting him to marry in Mauritius etc etc. Nice girl, but shaky on some of her story... again, the believability score was as shaky as some of her details, but other than ask general questions, I just couldn't be bothered trying harder.

Waiting to see my first sight of Ireland, it was impossible. Thick cloud cover lay over the land as if waiting for 'the grand reveal'. Just as we came in to land, we broke the cloud cover and my heart (yes - apparently I still have one left) and eyes were filled with the verdant brilliant (oh, OK... emerald) green of the land below!! Full of wonder and excitement I couldn't wait to get off the damn plane and meet Jo at the airport.

Got off the plane (thank you coat and scarf) and headed to the terminal across the tarmac (see, its not just Canberra after all!!) Joined the small queue at customs ... oh no, my flight chat buddy is ahead of me!! and only one booth open!!! and why is she taking so long to go through... uh oh.

Sure enough, it seems as though the Customs officer thinks her story a bit shakey too. She was still there as I left!! At last, I'm allowed to go through... and there is Jo waiting for me!! Woo hoo!!!

Made it... tired but excited and still full of energy. Just the drive from Dublin to Ballycastle now.

Was it worth it? If I can get this working, you can see for yourself!!!





Till next time .....

The Trip - SING to PARIS

Wake up you lot!!!! Aussies - always asleep when you want to talk to them!! Lol.

Anyway ... highlights and lowlights of the trip from Singapore to Paris. By the way, is this site good sleeping material for you guys?? Its got to be useful for something. I know I now have one person linked or followed or something... and another has this on their favourites (does Jo in Ireland count seeing its happening with her?). Ooo.. and now a follower (big hugs) and a couple of people who claim they will check the blog as I go. Heh.. we'll see. Questions will be asked upon my return.

Oop.. don't worry about the following bit... twitter etc is NOT the go. Just comment!!! Actually... for those who know how, leave a comment to tell others how to Follow without twitter etc.

Anway enough admin - to the blog ...

Thursday, 6 May

The flight from Singapore to Paris was long (I think). Found myself in the window seat again, but placed slightly away from the actual window in a row of only two seats..... right in front of le toilettes!! Not much leg room even for me. Lucky I'm a short arse and the guy next to me wasn't exactly a giant either. I knew I was getting closer to my destination when I found myself seated next to a freckled redhead guy with a strong accent. Not Irish, but getting closer to that side. So here is the strong pommy and aussie accent chatting away, as we are surrounded by French being spoken everywhere!!

Apart from chatting, I also managed to get in two movies, some on-board French lessons, eat, sledge the French flight attendant (male of course) and get some sleep. No freezing on this flight - well, until we hit Paris.

Highlights of the flight... waking to see storms off the wing... the lightning flashing to the earth as we sailed around the storm front leaving it to do its utmost on the earth as we cruised by in warmth and safety. Hey.. does anyone remember the episode of Twilight Zone where the guy sees the lightning flash .. then the monster on the wing of the plane.. slowly ripping up the wing? Luckily I didn't see the monster on the wing.. and the plane stayed up... but the scene did flash through my mind.. right after the first lightning bolt.

My companion was catching another flight to the UK about the same time as mine departed, so we decided to hang together for the fourish hours at CDG.

I have to say, CDG airport did nothing for either of us. It was so badly sign posted that we found ourselves on the outside of the transit area - and had to go through the whole security thing again.
The terminal was pretty much dead and only one coffee outlet open.

So, ever so bravely she joins the queue, while Ian minds our gear and makes a couple of calls. Suddenly it hits her that she hasn't seen or heard how to say 'cappuccino' or 'mugaccino' in French!! Lucky others asked first!! So, a Mugaccino it is... ordered and understood!! Woo hoo!! But then out comes something we would barely call a cappuccino.. so damned small. Then the price? 4.50 Euros. Hmm..not bad for an expensive coffee really.. hang on... double that!!! AAGGGHHH 9 bucks for a horrid tasting small cappuccino??? Neither of us bothered eating or drinking in the airport again. What a rip off!!! And is croissant aux chocolate really a breakfast food in France???

But at least it was easy to get out of the airport and on to Ireland... NOT!!! Lol

Both flights to the UK had gate changes (downstairs vs upstairs) without announcement. Lucky we checked again. Bid au revoir to my Pommy friend as he headed off to catch a plane to Newcastle. Time to board... nope.

Crowds at the gate waiting on a flight to Zagreb (no thanks, not today... or any other day really). It was delayed twice ('difficulties preparing the cabin for departure'). Finally word of mouth came that they were asking for people who were on the flight to Dublin... the gate has been changed (suprise!!) oh yeah.. to the gate next to the one it was supposed to have left from.

We mingle, we mutter... well they do.. it took everything for me not to break up laughing!!! Finally get checked in... then stopped as the airport employee had to check we are in the right place and going the right way. Doesn't seem to matter that a bunch have already gone through... and that he has stopped the main group a couple of people behind me... so now there are at least three groups of us to deal with. DOH!! Sure .. follow the covered airwalk to - er... a set of employee use stairs to get back down again so we can jump on a bus!! LMAO.

We pile onto said bus, and seem to drive on and on and on around the ariport. I know what I was thinking... but it was the nice old Irish couple next to me that verbalised it ... we began to think they were driving us to Dublin! Hmm - interesting to see what would have happened when we hit the Channel.

Well.. that was Paris.. can't wait to see what awaits when I get there for a whole week. I'm dreading it already! My French is certainly getting better... at least being able to undersand what is being said.

And on that note... salut mon amis!!

My techno ability may even get upgraded for the next post with the advent of uploaded photos!

The Trip - SYD to SING

Hello faithful followers of my journey ... all one of you (well, maybe two). Lolol.

Let me just say, the best $25 I spent was on my new scarf/shawl that matched my new red boots sooo nicely!! Between that and the little blanket supplied by Qantas for the flight to Singapore, I managed to make it without freezing.. just!!

Not a very eventful flight, but damn I love watching the differences in my country!! The urban crawl of Sydney BLINK the bush covered mountains BLINK the open farm lands and rural townships BLINK the land turning browner and less productive with more desolate areas obvious BLINK INSERVICE Lake Eyre and the myriad of dried 'water holes' (hey - some had water in them still!!) BLINK rolling sea of red sand and rock. All this while we chased the burning end of day that flamed brilliant oranges and left lasting embers glowing on the horizon.

The flight was slightly delayed from Sydney as they closed down an entire runway due to bad weather. That left less than an hour between flights... by the time I had some rough idea of where the wretched gate was, they were already advising last call. AAAGGHHH. Thankfully one of the Qantas crew came through and pointed me in the right direction. Final call my eye... they had hardly started boarding!!!

Most interesting convo of the leg? OK.. sitting down are you???? This may come as a surprise...

I didn't have one!!!! I just took in the scenery, the experience and the movies. Think I may have even dozed a little....

But don't worry, it gets better from here.... The Trip - SING to PAR.

The Trip - CBR to SYD

This next blog post is coming to you from sunny Ballycastle - no, freezing Bally... no windy B... no cloudy. Well .. from Northern Ireland!! Seems against all odds I made it in one piece and yet again defied the laws of logic, and Ryan's Law (that Murphy was an optomist).

Some highlights for those either remotely interested.. or for those who just loooove to live vicariously through the likes of this intrepid traveller....

Arrival at Canberra airport. What could go wrong? Oh so organised!! Even down to checking with the Travel Agent about size of suitcase, weight etc. And of course, Jr and I estimating how heavy my biig case was. How good were we?? For those of you who don't think I can pack... I was aiming for 27kg and.... came in at under 24!!! Woo hoo.

Shame the allowance was only 20 kg.... Grrrr.

Thanks and hugs and kisses go to absolute honey at the Qantas check in who took pity and did a deal for me.... so no additional fees applicable!!! That man deserves a raise!!

I was so glad I ignored everyone that thought boots, scarf, coat etc were a bit over the top for heading into Northern Summer. Damn it was cold at Canberra. AND just as bad in Sydney.

No problems at Sydney as such... apart from chaos, queues, cranky staff and total ignorami at the check through to International. My personal favourite? The 'alternative' mother and child all in orange based colourful hemp clothing... of course she didn't know about liquids to be in clear bottles, and in clear, resealable plastic bag. Most interesting was the liquids she was putting into the bag provided to her by airport staff.. bottle upon bottle of essential oils (I DID say 'alternative'). LMAO. Imagine the island of orange, clinking oil bottles being thrust into plastic bag while a sea of human chaos flowed around them to get through the queues

Oh.. and I managed to avoid getting arrested or fined for my phone on in the security area too!! A sweet smile and utmost apologies to the poor harried airport staff member did wonders. He then took great lengths to explain that I could be fined $1000 for just having it on, let alone answering it!! Can't help wondering if anyone was going to tell the whole bunch of people behind me who took and made calls while we waited in line for security checking. *sigh*

Most interesting convo for the leg .....

Coffee and pie for lunch, no empty tables left. And here was this poor lonely looking gentleman seated by himself at a table that could hold four people.. so lonely he was reading a book!! Lol. Of course I asked if I could sit at his table, and we started chatting.... turns out to be a very interesting citizen of the world, with kids who are also high flyers and citizens of the world. Owning companies over the world, he has been travelling for some time, even had farms in Kiwi land based on his wife's parent's initial property. I'm still working on the believability score!! Have to say my BS meter was going off a fair bit.

Well, that's enough for my second post. Stay tuned for the next post..... The Trip - SYD to SING. Don't forget you can ask questions or make comments based on the post (I think). Who knows what this thing can do?? Until next time..... I'm away then.