Day 4 - Taking it easy

Lahinch Beach and Promenade

 After all the busy-ness of the last few days, I thought I would just take it easy today.

We had a lovely dinner last night - and many of you commented on it, so I thought I would add a picture!!!

Boiling Bacon and Cabbage

Lots of cabbage there!!!! It was lovely. I think our equivalent in Australia might be corned beef and cabbage....  different source, but similar meal.

Then I headed for bed, and had a fantastic sleep! I woke up about 5 am, and read some emails and your comments and then went back to sleep and didn't wake up until 8.30 am. Luxury!!!!

So today I have the "go-slows"! 

I drove into Lahinch, and things were a little different from last year...

First of all, I am in a different house. How lucky am I to be here! But my house in the last few years was very central and I could walk everywhere. But this time I had to drive about 5 minutes and park up in the top car park.

Top car park.

You can park down near the Promenade if you want, but it costs you €2. If it's raining, I might resort to that because it's a bit closer to the action!!

Then I was all primed to have my first coffee in Lahinch at Val's coffee shop, but it is closed on Wednesday and Thursday! 😢 So I went to Joe's instead. 

Next I went for a walk along the Promenade and although the day is mostly sunny, the wind is freezing off the ocean. I will have to train myself to include my hat and scarf when I go walking along there!!!

But the beach is as beautiful as ever. There is something very special about Liscannor Bay, which is the name of the beach at Lahinch. (Liscannor is the next town around - on the way to the Cliffs of Mohr)

Lahinch Beach

Lahinch Beach

There were quite a few school kids there in their bathers - I presume they were having a swimming class, or surfing???

Surfers at Lahinch Beach

Surfers at Lahinch Beach

On the way back to the car park, I called in to the Church, and lit a candle to St Anthony. I'm still traumatised by thinking I had lost my keys last year, and I prayed vigorously to St Anthony. Fortunately, they eventually turned up, but I still say thanks to St Anthony on a regular basis for all the things I continuously lose!!!!

St Anthony in Lahinch Church

My next part of the day led me to Ennistymon - a town about 4 kms away. I was going to get some petrol, but all the bowsers were full and nobody was moving. In the end I gave up and I will go back tomorrow.

But the other attraction about Ennistymon is that it has a SuperValu supermarket, which is where all the locals do their shopping! So I stocked up on all the essentials and now I can start settling in, although I feel very much at home already. I even bought a few cans of Smithwicks - just means I won't have to go into town to enjoy my health kick for the day!!!!!

One other little jobbie I had to attend to involved a phone call to Australia....

Before I came over here, I loaded up my prepaid credit card with some Euros, as that saves me paying a bank fee every time I tap, tap...

And I could have sworn I knew my pin number! However, I obviously didn't, because every time I tried to enter it "Computer says Noooo" I tried to fix it on line, but still no joy!

In the end I had to ring Sydney and answer a million prompts, but it seems to be sorted now... fingers crossed. I always seem to have some issue with banks every time I leave Australia!!! I guess that's one of the joys and challenges of travel!

I can imagine how much my Telstra Bill will be when I get home... but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and fix the problem!!!

So I had some lunch, and that's me done for the day! I was toying with the idea of going into The Atlantic Hotel for dinner - my favourite watering hole! But then Marie has tempted me to stay home for a chicken and vegies dinner - an offer too good to refuse!!!

I was going to watch the footy match between Adelaide and the Magpies, but by the time I got myself sorted, it was all over!!! The mighty Hawks are playing here on Saturday morning at 6.15 am but I will be well and truly up and about for that!!!!

So that was my quiet day of rest. Sorry - not much to report, but it's been lovely to not rush anywhere, nor drive too far. 

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Late edition!!

Marie just took me up to the Cemetery to say a prayer for her Mum and lay some flowers...

For those who do not know..

Nora Curtin is Marie's Mum and she died on the 11th June this year.

She was married to Pat Curtin who is my Dad's second cousin, and they lived on the farm that my Great grandfather emigrated from. Her son, Sean, still runs that same farm today.

Nora was a beautiful lady who always welcomed me with open arms. Her husband was only 54 when he died, leaving her with two small children and a farm to run. I remember the very first time I met, she was so gracious and said "Family is always welcome here".

May she rest in peace ...

Nora Curtin's grave at Callura Cemetery

Marie at her Mum's grave

Moira at Nora's grave