The Giant's Causeway (And meeting the family!).......
I've just gotten back from Ireland, I spent a long weekend there - visiting John's family.
I've never been made to feel more welcome in my entire life. His family are the coolest I've ever met - all forty odd of them! LOL!!
His Aunt and Uncle were emigrating to Australia so they decided to hold a huge party (and I think they invited everyone in County Antrim!) I was inundated with hundreds of names and faces - and my poor internal HDD went Pfth! and I think I got the blue screen of death. LOL! Seriously though it was amazing. The only downside was that it wasn't a longer visit.
Here is a sorta timeline to give you some idea why I'm so exhausted.
Friday
7pm - Left home with John's Mum and Dad and sister Karen and drove to the ferry terminal in Birkenhead - played cards and car games until we were allowed to board (up onto the open weather deck which was really scary cos the ramp was huge and very steep and the person in front stalled their car and we were stuck half way up (and John's back right wheel=brake needs fixing so it was creaking!)
11pm - Four course meal courtesy of Norse Ferries - tasted like school dinners (trust me that's a bad thing!) Fell into bed exhausted at about 12am.
Saturday
2am - God I feel like I'm being cooked alive!!!!!!! This cabin is so bloody hot! And no Air Con.
4am - WOW! The sea is really choppy! It's my first time at sea and I'm feeling a bit iffy, but I close my eyes and try and sleep.
7am - Up showered and dressed, went along to breakfast (again tasted like crap!) felt like complaining, but didn't. MEH!
8am - Drove off the ferry into beautiful Belfast. The sun was shining and I was looking forward to a wonderful weekend.
11am - Arrived in Ballymoney and dropped off the cases, then on for sight-seeing.
12pm - Kinbane castle - a ruined castle on a headland. John decides to run all 200 steps down the path (which by the way is blocked off for a reason!) Warning! Danger of landslides. Luckily we were the only people there - I stood at the top of the steps laughing at him. He comes back 10 minutes later Mwhahahaha! He was knackered! That'll teach him!
1pm - The Giants Causeway - I was lazy and got the little tourist bus down to the causeway - It was bloody freezing. Tooks loads of pictures. It really is a beautiful place and I'm so glad to have visited it. Got off the bus and banged my head on the luggage rack - nearly knocked myself out :( I cried :( I'm such a wuss. John took me into the Causeway Hotel and we had a really lovely dinner.
3pm - Bushmills Whiskey distillery - We went on the distillery tour, which was very interesting. Followed by a free drink of whiskey in the bar - I don't think I will ever be converted to a Whiskey drinker.
6pm - Home to Aunt Pearls for a shower and a change of clothes - get the glad rags on for the party!
8pm - 1am - PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!! Mental! Irish dancing and the lot! I was exhausted just watching them all! LOL!
Sunday
2.30am - Bed! SNORE!!!!!!!
11am - Up and showered and get ready for the family dinner at the Royal Court Hotel (Port Rush) for 26 people!!!!!
1pm - Mmmmm Yummmy! four course carvery lunch with profitteroles for dessert.
3pm - I can't move! I surely didn't eat that much!!!
3.30pm - A walk on White Rocks beach - It was freezing, but we all bundled up well and walked for a mile or so in the wake of the waves. I found a beautiful black stone :)
5pm - Back to Aunt Pearls to pick up bags and stuff - then on to Aunt Doreen's and Uncle Bryn's to say goodbye.
8pm - Back at Belfast at the ferry terminal - There is an hour's delay. So we play cards :) I whoop John's butt! Mwhahahaha!
10pm - finally get on board - and the good news is - this is a new boat and the staff are wonderful and the food is amazing and the cabin is bigger and has airconditioning (Thank you GOD!)
11.30pm - SLEEP.
Monday
5.40am - Wake Up Call - for Breakfast - I stumble into the shower and then we go down to breakfast. Yummy.
7.45am - We finally drive off into Birkenhead. John goes to work and I get a lift home off his Mum and Dad.
10am - Home at last - I had a nice bubble bath and then went to bed for a couple of hours.
5pm - Made nice meal for John for when he comes in from work - and of course writing this on here.
VERDICT - Fantastic - I was made to feel really welcome by John's family - although they did embarrass us by asking when we were going to get married! Eeek! Although at John's expression, I don't think he was adverse to it - so watch this space.
I've never been made to feel more welcome in my entire life. His family are the coolest I've ever met - all forty odd of them! LOL!!
His Aunt and Uncle were emigrating to Australia so they decided to hold a huge party (and I think they invited everyone in County Antrim!) I was inundated with hundreds of names and faces - and my poor internal HDD went Pfth! and I think I got the blue screen of death. LOL! Seriously though it was amazing. The only downside was that it wasn't a longer visit.
Here is a sorta timeline to give you some idea why I'm so exhausted.
Friday
7pm - Left home with John's Mum and Dad and sister Karen and drove to the ferry terminal in Birkenhead - played cards and car games until we were allowed to board (up onto the open weather deck which was really scary cos the ramp was huge and very steep and the person in front stalled their car and we were stuck half way up (and John's back right wheel=brake needs fixing so it was creaking!)
11pm - Four course meal courtesy of Norse Ferries - tasted like school dinners (trust me that's a bad thing!) Fell into bed exhausted at about 12am.
Saturday
2am - God I feel like I'm being cooked alive!!!!!!! This cabin is so bloody hot! And no Air Con.
4am - WOW! The sea is really choppy! It's my first time at sea and I'm feeling a bit iffy, but I close my eyes and try and sleep.
7am - Up showered and dressed, went along to breakfast (again tasted like crap!) felt like complaining, but didn't. MEH!
8am - Drove off the ferry into beautiful Belfast. The sun was shining and I was looking forward to a wonderful weekend.
11am - Arrived in Ballymoney and dropped off the cases, then on for sight-seeing.
12pm - Kinbane castle - a ruined castle on a headland. John decides to run all 200 steps down the path (which by the way is blocked off for a reason!) Warning! Danger of landslides. Luckily we were the only people there - I stood at the top of the steps laughing at him. He comes back 10 minutes later Mwhahahaha! He was knackered! That'll teach him!
1pm - The Giants Causeway - I was lazy and got the little tourist bus down to the causeway - It was bloody freezing. Tooks loads of pictures. It really is a beautiful place and I'm so glad to have visited it. Got off the bus and banged my head on the luggage rack - nearly knocked myself out :( I cried :( I'm such a wuss. John took me into the Causeway Hotel and we had a really lovely dinner.
3pm - Bushmills Whiskey distillery - We went on the distillery tour, which was very interesting. Followed by a free drink of whiskey in the bar - I don't think I will ever be converted to a Whiskey drinker.
6pm - Home to Aunt Pearls for a shower and a change of clothes - get the glad rags on for the party!
8pm - 1am - PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!! Mental! Irish dancing and the lot! I was exhausted just watching them all! LOL!
Sunday
2.30am - Bed! SNORE!!!!!!!
11am - Up and showered and get ready for the family dinner at the Royal Court Hotel (Port Rush) for 26 people!!!!!
1pm - Mmmmm Yummmy! four course carvery lunch with profitteroles for dessert.
3pm - I can't move! I surely didn't eat that much!!!
3.30pm - A walk on White Rocks beach - It was freezing, but we all bundled up well and walked for a mile or so in the wake of the waves. I found a beautiful black stone :)
5pm - Back to Aunt Pearls to pick up bags and stuff - then on to Aunt Doreen's and Uncle Bryn's to say goodbye.
8pm - Back at Belfast at the ferry terminal - There is an hour's delay. So we play cards :) I whoop John's butt! Mwhahahaha!
10pm - finally get on board - and the good news is - this is a new boat and the staff are wonderful and the food is amazing and the cabin is bigger and has airconditioning (Thank you GOD!)
11.30pm - SLEEP.
Monday
5.40am - Wake Up Call - for Breakfast - I stumble into the shower and then we go down to breakfast. Yummy.
7.45am - We finally drive off into Birkenhead. John goes to work and I get a lift home off his Mum and Dad.
10am - Home at last - I had a nice bubble bath and then went to bed for a couple of hours.
5pm - Made nice meal for John for when he comes in from work - and of course writing this on here.
VERDICT - Fantastic - I was made to feel really welcome by John's family - although they did embarrass us by asking when we were going to get married! Eeek! Although at John's expression, I don't think he was adverse to it - so watch this space.