Brief stint in Ireland!
Alrighty,
So the reason for this trip to Ireland is because Ed's parents were having a grand 30'th wedding anniversary celebration and they wanted Lucie and Ed to come, and myself as well by default. They bought all our plane tickets and made accommodations for us at the Kettel Inn which was literally down the street and around the corner from Ed's parent's house. We could only go for 1 day because of the kitties and Fergal needing his medicine daily.
So I wake up early the morning of because Ed wants us all to be ready to scoot out the front door at 9am on the dot! So I wake up at 7:30 to shower, and get myself all dolled up. I was washed, teeth brushed, packed, makeup'd, dressed and shoe-ed. It was about 8:45. Lucie was barely up yet and Ed hadn't showered yet. *Shakes head* I find I am infernally prompt, it is both a gift and a curse...for I am annoyed when others are not as orderly and prompt as myself. HOWEVER! I totally expected this, especially from my sister so I get on the computer to see if my love is still awake (he was!). So I start chatting or "ghetto texting" with him for about half an hour. Then Ed hurries us out the front door. We fairly jog to the bus stop and make it only just on time for the approaching bus. We take the bus to the train station, buy tickets and some muffins so we can have a quick breakfast. Then we have a very quick 45 min train ride to Stansted Airport and get there about 3 hours before our plane is set to depart, much to my woe. I don't like being *that* early. We check in, my passport gets a quick once-over and we go through security fairly quickly. Then we wait. And wait. And wait.
And wait.
And wait. And finally when our plane is set to start boarding...they change planes and gate number. This is announced to us who are in queue so everyone immediately rushes over to the new gate (50 instead of 45). It looked like quite the cattle herd. Then we get in line again and wait some more. Finally we get on the dingy plane which corresponded very well with our cheap tickets. The airline is called RyanAir and they are known for their cheap tickets and cheap planes. Any who we manage to wrangle an entire row for Ed, Lucie and myself. The short, 45 min bumpy ride ensues. We land in Dublin airport where, much to my surprise and pleasure all the signs have both English and Irish! (Gaelic) It was pretty cool. We take a taxi over to Ed's mum's house and I found myself gawking and the beauty of Ireland! There's a brisk wind and its slightly chilly but sooooo GREEN! Everywhere! And the sky was a sparkling blue! Then we get to Ed's very large house. It was very modernish, and yet at the same time comfy with many pictures of family up on the wall. When we pull in to the drive way we saw the "pig-man's" truck and very quickly were intrigued. We also saw a port-a-loo (the british version of the american port-a-potty) and I was tickled to see how much nicer it looked than the plastic box with a hole in the floor that american's have to use. (Later on I used it at Claire's insistence and it was lovely inside! (Claire being Ed's mum and David being Ed's dad)).
Outside the house we also met Helen, Ed's sister and Timmy Ed's little brother. We had been informed that Timmy invited quite a few of his friends who were going to be camping outside in the orchard area, which is why the port-a-loo was rented. So we go inside, chat with the main family members and a few other people who were hanging out and staying at the house. Ed's mum made us cheese sammiches and we had this strange fruit juicy beverage which I was kind of meh about because the flavor was too diluted with water. Anywho after this Helen drives us down to the Kettel Inn so we can get all check in and settled and Lucie can take a quick nap. Then we walk over to the house around 5:30ish with one of Ed's uncles (I think) who happens to be a dentist and Lucie laments about her horrible wisdom teeth extraction and we all very happily ramble on. I was amazed by the beauty of the area and the long winding road we were walking down. It was absolutely beautiful! The trees, flowers and birds. (There's this one bird in the UK who sounds distinctly like an owl that I've been hearing ever since I got here). Anywho we arrive and then commences The Introductions. I got to hear Lucie's spiel about her hope for a job soon and how Ed got offered a job in London and she might get an offer near Salisbury and the commuting would be atrocious but they might try it for a year la di da about 15 times. I personally found myself repeating how I am entering my fourth year of university, how I am double majoring in English and Classics (answering many questions about why these two subjects and what a double major is) how old I am etc. It was very nice, actually. I loved chatting with Ed's family. The English are very pleasant, welcoming and surprisingly loud. It was a family gathering so it was to be expected but the English and Irish accents were very pleasant to be hearing constantly tinkling in the background. I sipped on this delicious English alcoholic drink called Pimm's which I hope to find in the US as well as soon wine.
As the hour grew closer to 8 the hog they had been roasting looked just about done so the catering-pig man came out to carve up the piggy quite nicely. (I had previously learned that this piggy was one of four which the Allcutt's raised themselves for food along with several chickens they keep on the property for fresh eggs). So Ed is the first in line (someone had to do it and he was more than happy and easily convinced) and I was near the front. I received a portion of the pig, some of the skin (which is DELECTABLE), some delicious homemade spicy mustard and homemade applesauce which Mrs. Allcutt made herself. Then some potatoes, two kinds of pasta salad and regular salad. Everything was exceedingly delicious. I longed to go back for seconds but didn't want to end up incredibly stuffed. So as I sat in the chair outside under the tents and the sun had set, I began to shake in my seat from the cold. I went inside to warm up a little and "use the loo" even though I didn't really have to. I wandered around and found a parlor area where Claire's sister (Joy) was reposing with her mother in law, father in law, and husband (all Joy's). Lucie quickly joined us due to the dropping temperatures outside. We all sat in that room happily cocooned and I became fast friends with Claire's sister. She showed me pictures on her camera dating back from 5 years (she clearly doesn't use or empty it enough) in which Lucie starred in a few. We chatted and after a while saw people with desserts and quickly traveled to the dessert table to see what was offered. There were two types of cheesecake (lemon and strawberry I believe), a brownie complete with ice cream and a strange desert at the end which I wasn't quite sure what it was. I was about to opt for the cheesecake when the dessert server told me if I knew what the dessert on the end was. I replied that I didn't and he told me it was called Banoffee. It sounded strange so I reached for a cheesecake and he asked me if I was sure I didn't want to try it. After a moment's reflection I realized that all I've been doing since I came to the UK was trying new foods and desserts and drinks so....why not? I grab a slice of the English Banoffee pie and a quick explanation from the server as to what it was. He informed me that it was a pie sort of creation with a graham cracker crust, toffee, treated "condensed milk" (which is actually what Cubans call Dulce de leche), bananas and cream. I try it and find myself in HEAVEN! This is my new favorite dessert. I quickly resolve to find a recipe and make it for my people (more specifically for my man) when I get home. As Joy, her mother in law and I all finish up our slices a lady in the room resolves to go get more for herself and Joy. I silently resolve to go get more Banoffee as soon as I finish my slice and damned be to appearances! As the lady comes back she tells Joy there was no more brownie but she got her the last slice of Banoffee. (I was slightly sad) and Joy quickly exclaims that she doesn't like banana's and hands the slice to me. I have another moment of heavenly contentment.
Then we chat for quite a bit more and Ed joins us, he goes to go fetch a beer for himself (and me as I requested one) and more chatting. Then there was some coffee (my first cup of instant) and as the hour grew late (we had moved to the dining room area were the rest of the young people were conversing we decide to leave. It was about 2:45 am. We say our goodbyes, I borrow a warm little sweater from Claire so I can survive the walk to the Inn and we walk down the EXTREMELY dark path. It was a few blocks of utter darkness (picture on facebook) and finally we find ourselves at our little Inn. We each quickly hop into bed and commence sleeping. The next morning we are woken from our slumber by a wake up call at 9am. I shower, dress and we head down to our full Irish Breakfast. It consisted of two very large, very delicious sausages, I chose poached eggs, toast, jam and marmalade, black and white pudding (black pudding is made with blood and it wasn't very pudding-esque at all. It was more like a round of fried hash browns that was dark brown), potatoes, beans and the most delicious bacon i've ever had. Ed informs me that its from a less fatty, but more meaty area of the pig between the ribs which i found to be delicious. The we take the quick walk down to Ed's parent's house and sit chatting with various family members throughout the morning until about 2:45 pm at which time David took us to the airport as our flight was scheduled to leave at 4:30. We go through customs and all that quickly and without troubles. Ryanair of course delayed our flight but it was only for about half an hour then we waited an extra 10 minutes for our crew to arrive. Then we have our short, bumpy flight to Stansted. When we arrive I was slightly annoyed with my sister due to some behaviour she was exhibiting so I walk ahead of them quite a bit and go through customs (even though I didn't have to) and end up coming out a different area from them. I was slightly panicky as I was presumable lost in an airport in another country. Eventually, after I trotted down to the trains to see if they were there (they weren't) then back up again to see if they were waiting by where I *should* have exited (they weren't) and decided to walk back down to the trains and check the actual platform our train was supposed to be departing from I encountered Ed as I was on the way to do this.
We quickly head down to the trains after this little event, get on the train and depart for Cambridge. Then we arrived at around 9, and as the buses stop running at 5:30 on a Sunday, resolve to take a taxi. We arrive home and the first thing I jump to do is hop on my computer and see what my love has been up to and contact him. And there ends my brief, chilly and beautiful journey to Ireland.
So the reason for this trip to Ireland is because Ed's parents were having a grand 30'th wedding anniversary celebration and they wanted Lucie and Ed to come, and myself as well by default. They bought all our plane tickets and made accommodations for us at the Kettel Inn which was literally down the street and around the corner from Ed's parent's house. We could only go for 1 day because of the kitties and Fergal needing his medicine daily.
So I wake up early the morning of because Ed wants us all to be ready to scoot out the front door at 9am on the dot! So I wake up at 7:30 to shower, and get myself all dolled up. I was washed, teeth brushed, packed, makeup'd, dressed and shoe-ed. It was about 8:45. Lucie was barely up yet and Ed hadn't showered yet. *Shakes head* I find I am infernally prompt, it is both a gift and a curse...for I am annoyed when others are not as orderly and prompt as myself. HOWEVER! I totally expected this, especially from my sister so I get on the computer to see if my love is still awake (he was!). So I start chatting or "ghetto texting" with him for about half an hour. Then Ed hurries us out the front door. We fairly jog to the bus stop and make it only just on time for the approaching bus. We take the bus to the train station, buy tickets and some muffins so we can have a quick breakfast. Then we have a very quick 45 min train ride to Stansted Airport and get there about 3 hours before our plane is set to depart, much to my woe. I don't like being *that* early. We check in, my passport gets a quick once-over and we go through security fairly quickly. Then we wait. And wait. And wait.
And wait.
And wait. And finally when our plane is set to start boarding...they change planes and gate number. This is announced to us who are in queue so everyone immediately rushes over to the new gate (50 instead of 45). It looked like quite the cattle herd. Then we get in line again and wait some more. Finally we get on the dingy plane which corresponded very well with our cheap tickets. The airline is called RyanAir and they are known for their cheap tickets and cheap planes. Any who we manage to wrangle an entire row for Ed, Lucie and myself. The short, 45 min bumpy ride ensues. We land in Dublin airport where, much to my surprise and pleasure all the signs have both English and Irish! (Gaelic) It was pretty cool. We take a taxi over to Ed's mum's house and I found myself gawking and the beauty of Ireland! There's a brisk wind and its slightly chilly but sooooo GREEN! Everywhere! And the sky was a sparkling blue! Then we get to Ed's very large house. It was very modernish, and yet at the same time comfy with many pictures of family up on the wall. When we pull in to the drive way we saw the "pig-man's" truck and very quickly were intrigued. We also saw a port-a-loo (the british version of the american port-a-potty) and I was tickled to see how much nicer it looked than the plastic box with a hole in the floor that american's have to use. (Later on I used it at Claire's insistence and it was lovely inside! (Claire being Ed's mum and David being Ed's dad)).
Outside the house we also met Helen, Ed's sister and Timmy Ed's little brother. We had been informed that Timmy invited quite a few of his friends who were going to be camping outside in the orchard area, which is why the port-a-loo was rented. So we go inside, chat with the main family members and a few other people who were hanging out and staying at the house. Ed's mum made us cheese sammiches and we had this strange fruit juicy beverage which I was kind of meh about because the flavor was too diluted with water. Anywho after this Helen drives us down to the Kettel Inn so we can get all check in and settled and Lucie can take a quick nap. Then we walk over to the house around 5:30ish with one of Ed's uncles (I think) who happens to be a dentist and Lucie laments about her horrible wisdom teeth extraction and we all very happily ramble on. I was amazed by the beauty of the area and the long winding road we were walking down. It was absolutely beautiful! The trees, flowers and birds. (There's this one bird in the UK who sounds distinctly like an owl that I've been hearing ever since I got here). Anywho we arrive and then commences The Introductions. I got to hear Lucie's spiel about her hope for a job soon and how Ed got offered a job in London and she might get an offer near Salisbury and the commuting would be atrocious but they might try it for a year la di da about 15 times. I personally found myself repeating how I am entering my fourth year of university, how I am double majoring in English and Classics (answering many questions about why these two subjects and what a double major is) how old I am etc. It was very nice, actually. I loved chatting with Ed's family. The English are very pleasant, welcoming and surprisingly loud. It was a family gathering so it was to be expected but the English and Irish accents were very pleasant to be hearing constantly tinkling in the background. I sipped on this delicious English alcoholic drink called Pimm's which I hope to find in the US as well as soon wine.
As the hour grew closer to 8 the hog they had been roasting looked just about done so the catering-pig man came out to carve up the piggy quite nicely. (I had previously learned that this piggy was one of four which the Allcutt's raised themselves for food along with several chickens they keep on the property for fresh eggs). So Ed is the first in line (someone had to do it and he was more than happy and easily convinced) and I was near the front. I received a portion of the pig, some of the skin (which is DELECTABLE), some delicious homemade spicy mustard and homemade applesauce which Mrs. Allcutt made herself. Then some potatoes, two kinds of pasta salad and regular salad. Everything was exceedingly delicious. I longed to go back for seconds but didn't want to end up incredibly stuffed. So as I sat in the chair outside under the tents and the sun had set, I began to shake in my seat from the cold. I went inside to warm up a little and "use the loo" even though I didn't really have to. I wandered around and found a parlor area where Claire's sister (Joy) was reposing with her mother in law, father in law, and husband (all Joy's). Lucie quickly joined us due to the dropping temperatures outside. We all sat in that room happily cocooned and I became fast friends with Claire's sister. She showed me pictures on her camera dating back from 5 years (she clearly doesn't use or empty it enough) in which Lucie starred in a few. We chatted and after a while saw people with desserts and quickly traveled to the dessert table to see what was offered. There were two types of cheesecake (lemon and strawberry I believe), a brownie complete with ice cream and a strange desert at the end which I wasn't quite sure what it was. I was about to opt for the cheesecake when the dessert server told me if I knew what the dessert on the end was. I replied that I didn't and he told me it was called Banoffee. It sounded strange so I reached for a cheesecake and he asked me if I was sure I didn't want to try it. After a moment's reflection I realized that all I've been doing since I came to the UK was trying new foods and desserts and drinks so....why not? I grab a slice of the English Banoffee pie and a quick explanation from the server as to what it was. He informed me that it was a pie sort of creation with a graham cracker crust, toffee, treated "condensed milk" (which is actually what Cubans call Dulce de leche), bananas and cream. I try it and find myself in HEAVEN! This is my new favorite dessert. I quickly resolve to find a recipe and make it for my people (more specifically for my man) when I get home. As Joy, her mother in law and I all finish up our slices a lady in the room resolves to go get more for herself and Joy. I silently resolve to go get more Banoffee as soon as I finish my slice and damned be to appearances! As the lady comes back she tells Joy there was no more brownie but she got her the last slice of Banoffee. (I was slightly sad) and Joy quickly exclaims that she doesn't like banana's and hands the slice to me. I have another moment of heavenly contentment.
Then we chat for quite a bit more and Ed joins us, he goes to go fetch a beer for himself (and me as I requested one) and more chatting. Then there was some coffee (my first cup of instant) and as the hour grew late (we had moved to the dining room area were the rest of the young people were conversing we decide to leave. It was about 2:45 am. We say our goodbyes, I borrow a warm little sweater from Claire so I can survive the walk to the Inn and we walk down the EXTREMELY dark path. It was a few blocks of utter darkness (picture on facebook) and finally we find ourselves at our little Inn. We each quickly hop into bed and commence sleeping. The next morning we are woken from our slumber by a wake up call at 9am. I shower, dress and we head down to our full Irish Breakfast. It consisted of two very large, very delicious sausages, I chose poached eggs, toast, jam and marmalade, black and white pudding (black pudding is made with blood and it wasn't very pudding-esque at all. It was more like a round of fried hash browns that was dark brown), potatoes, beans and the most delicious bacon i've ever had. Ed informs me that its from a less fatty, but more meaty area of the pig between the ribs which i found to be delicious. The we take the quick walk down to Ed's parent's house and sit chatting with various family members throughout the morning until about 2:45 pm at which time David took us to the airport as our flight was scheduled to leave at 4:30. We go through customs and all that quickly and without troubles. Ryanair of course delayed our flight but it was only for about half an hour then we waited an extra 10 minutes for our crew to arrive. Then we have our short, bumpy flight to Stansted. When we arrive I was slightly annoyed with my sister due to some behaviour she was exhibiting so I walk ahead of them quite a bit and go through customs (even though I didn't have to) and end up coming out a different area from them. I was slightly panicky as I was presumable lost in an airport in another country. Eventually, after I trotted down to the trains to see if they were there (they weren't) then back up again to see if they were waiting by where I *should* have exited (they weren't) and decided to walk back down to the trains and check the actual platform our train was supposed to be departing from I encountered Ed as I was on the way to do this.
We quickly head down to the trains after this little event, get on the train and depart for Cambridge. Then we arrived at around 9, and as the buses stop running at 5:30 on a Sunday, resolve to take a taxi. We arrive home and the first thing I jump to do is hop on my computer and see what my love has been up to and contact him. And there ends my brief, chilly and beautiful journey to Ireland.