If this is Tuesday we must be at our destination

As I sit here typing, we're waiting for the heat to come on for the morning. The "dew" is continuing to fall and apparently, it won't be done until the sun goes down. Conclusion - not a good day for golf. But I'll back up a bit.

The trip itself was pretty good other than the 2-hour delay leaving Toronto. That kind of tipped our planned schedule on its head but it wasn't a bother in the end. Having splurged on Premium Economy tickets, we enjoyed our wider seats that actually reclined more than an inch. Ours were in the last row of the cabin and when we did recline them to attempt sleep, there was nobody's lap there to land on.

Dining on beef tenderloin (well that is what it was called), with real cutlery was a treat. The cutlery was a treat. You can call airplane food anything you like but it pretty much all tastes the same. The linen napkins were a nice touch. And the wine flowed freely, although I didn't imbibe. I should have. 

Sleep was elusive except for the odd few moments at a time but we managed to get through the entire day's adventures once we'd arrived, without falling on our faces. (We stayed awake until 10 when, having admitted we were brain dead, we yielded to the sandman.)

A very helpful guy at the Vodaphone outlet at the airport had put the Irish SIM cards in our phones and we were all set. We were in good time for the 11:45 bus to Wicklow town where Oliver met us with his shiny silver Prius and we were off for what turned out to be a very substantial dinner that Mary had spent the morning preparing. It was so substantial that by packing up the meat we left on our plates we have protein for at least two more dinners. Thus fortified we set out, with me at the wheel of Oliver's Prius, with a destination of Shillelagh, home of that well-known stick, and the closest town to our temporary home.

Have you heard that I'm destination-challenged? But this is a route I know well. I did know it well until we were on the Aughrim-bound leg of the trip. Construction! Road closed! Detour sign pointing to a narrower road heading left. That was the only sign for the detour. We made a brief reconnaissance stop at the Meeting of the Waters near Avoca. Avoca??? We didn't want to go there, even though Fitzgerald's pub might have been warm and welcoming. BUT I had turned in the wrong direction. (wrong direction was how I met our Byrne cousins so I don't really get upset at such things now). After passing the Woodenbridge Hotel, not at all on our way, we finally found a sign more or less pointing in the direction of our intended target and finally arrived - almost directly. 

Our diversion was to check out the Coollattin Golf Club where we had a tee time for today. The course looks immaculate and we were excited. Well, until today's weather. We're going to reschedule for tomorrow. I believe we're meeting Jim for a beer instead.

A brief shopping stop was required for coffee, milk, wine and beer - and some apples. Mary had given us some scones and bread. Did we remember butter or jam? Nope. She'd given us two duck eggs for breakfast but we have no butter to cook them. Boiled eggs might be traditional but we are not inclined that way. And there's no butter. Breakfast was coffee and a scone or two - warmed up but in need of butter. Have I mentioned that missing item?

Heating oil is now outrageously expensive and the heating is on a timer. It is not currently in line with our usual schedule. We shall learn to reprogram it. Soon. Meanwhile, it has warmed up nicely.

So here are a few photos from the journey. I'm not good at taking or posing for selfies and believe myself to be marginally more intelligent than I appear. Please humour me and don't point out my shortcomings. I'll get better with practice. 

Waiting for our flight to depart from Toronto

At Dublin airport waiting for the Wexford bus to depart - somewhat sleep-deprived but we are on our feet and enjoying the lack of precipitation at that moment, We were the only bus passengers to wear masks despite the sign on the door.

One of the few photos of Mary. She won't stay still for a picture

Oliver and Pat in the kitchen after our big meal

No Mary is not attacking Pat, she trying to elude the photographer

And our little vehicle is already to face this wet day. Who knows what adventures await - but not on the golf course.