Tuesday 9th May 2023

Up with the larks this morning, as I am off on my travels again, this time to Dublin (and beyond) for work.

Jools left at six as she had much to do, while I had until nine when the taxi was due, so dossed around, packed, had breakfast and so on until it got to ten to nine, so packed away and was ready when the cab stopped outside.

A quick trip into town to the station, where thanks to a rail strike on Friday, I only had to buy a single ticket, but how to get from the airport home is yet to be decided.

The driver told me that the Sunday bus service has been cancelled, and their core weekend business was taking those who came by bus then had a drink or two, back into town, that work has now died, and their busiest day is now their quietest. On top of that, we have lost the direct services into town now, instead mini-buses go via Martin and Guston into town, and on her way back at the weekend, Jools said just about every seat was taken.

Another "improvement"

And then a half hour wait on the platform for the train, now outside rush hour, so lots of seats and able to sit on the side of the train I prefer.

An hour later I get off at Stratford, get the DLR to London City, where there was no queue to check in, or at security, so all sat down in a quiet corner to have lunch and read WSC and watch the world go by.

All as painless as I had hoped really, as easy as it used to be getting to Denmark.

Board at two, and a half full plane meant me having a whole row of four seats to myself, and fine views of east London as we climbed throwing off the bounds of gravity and into the clouds before turning west.

British Airways cut backs mean just a tiny pack of crisps, but instead of water there was a small can of pop instead.

Clouds over much of England, though I did see the three piers of Blackpool as we crossed the coast, and later, the Isle of Man, partly covered in cloud.

And down into Dublin, where at security, the official looked at my passport, shrugged and let me through.

Bag was waiting, as was Patrick outside, who took me to his car for the 90 minute drive round the city then out across the Emerald Isle to Tipperary, where we were to spend the night in a fine hotel called the Horse and Jockey, where we would quality control test their Guinness.

Dublin, like most cities, has traffic from hell, and even on the motorways it was mad. But it thinned out, and soon the countrysdie turned green. Turned many shades of green, really. We passed farms, ruined castles, and twons with names in Englash and Gaelic, the latter seemed more romantic that "Queenstown" or something.

All in all, a fine day. And work to, so get paid.

The hotel was packed. Mostly with families with young men wearing red rosettes. These had been confirmed, apparently, and this was an excuse for a huge family celebration.

Celebrations.

Several generations ate and drank and laughed at each table, and children ran around like children do.

We had to wait half an hour for the burgers we ordered, but there was an endless supply of Guinness to keep us entertained while we waited.