Day 9 - A relaxing day

Wattle's washing

 Well, the most important thing is that Wattle's washing is done!!!! All clean and neatly folded!! It's certainly worth €12. If ever you are travelling through Ennistymon I can highly recommend Kath Cleaning. The gentleman who runs it, remembered me from last year, so that was a bonus. He is a friend of Pat and Marie and used to play soccer with Pat. Although, I suspect everyone in Lahinch and Ennistymon is a known to Pat and Marie!!!!

The next thing on my list of jobbies was to pop into the Supermarket and pick up a few things. One very good thing about supermarkets over here is that you can buy alcohol there as well, so I bought a bottle of Oyster Bay Merlot for tonight. We're having Boiling Bacon and Cabbage again!!! Yum!!!

I also bought another of those little dinners - this time Roast Beef... My Roast Lamb dinner last night was delicious... and only €6.50 each.

Roast Beef dinner

I also bought a lotto ticket for Marie and Pat - that might bring them a ticket to Australia!!!

So I dropped all that home, so I could put those cold things in the fridge, then I was off again to have my coffee...! 

I parked up at the top car park today - beautiful view from up there. Tide is out today..

View from the top car park

Schools are still using the beach - how lucky are those kids!!

Surfing lessons

There is heaps of seaweed at the minute, and it is way up the steps that lead down to the beach. I think they predicted very high tides for the Equinox. We were having a discussion about that over dinner last night - shortest day, longest day and how that is opposite to Ireland in Australia.

Seaweed

Then back to Val's again for coffee...

Coffee at Val's

I did my usual walk along the promenade, and just stopped frequently to take it all in. To me, Lahinch has a real feel of "home" to it...I'm not sure if that is inherently in my blood, or whether I have acquired it over my frequent visits. I often wonder what it was like for my great grandfather, John Curtin, when he was about to migrate. Was it a really painful experience, or was it a big adventure??? He would have  walked the beach I'm sure, and the streets of Lahinch. Then he had to leave everything and take his young wife to the other side of the world... Brave man!!!

Another thing I did was visit an Art Gallery!! Don't all die of shock. You know I am a complete pleb when it comes to such things, but I really like this man's art. It might not be to everyone's taste, but that's ok !! I like bright colours and that's what got me through the door..

Phillip Morrison Art

So, after all that physical and mental energy being spent, it was time for lunch. And where's my favourite watering hole....???? The Atlantic Hotel, of course!

They have nice simple lunches, if that's what you're after, or full blown meals.

I opted for a toasted ham and cheese sandwich, and it was lovely. Over here, the sandwiches all come with potato chips, and do you know, you cannot buy plain chips here anywhere!!! Everything has onion in it, or salt and vinegar, or any flavour under the sun.... but never Original!! The only thing that is close is Pringles - they at least do plain chips!

But while I was there I ran into Gabriel, who was one of the waiters last year when I was here, and he looked after me beautifully.  I thought he had moved to New York, but he has come back for a little while before he continues his adventures.

Moira and Gabriel

So now I'm home after that nice and easy day. Each afternoon I sit here in the conservatory and write my blog. It is a wonderful room, surrounded by windows, so on a day like today, when the sun is shining, it is beautiful and warm and light. I am so blessed to be here with the Shannon family.

It was good to have an easy day today, because tomorrow I am going back to Gorey for a few days. I am definitely going to check my Google Maps before I go and make sure I know exactly which main roads I want to stick to!!! Hope I can negotiate my journey safely! 🙏