This morning when I got up it was bright, dry and quite mild. So, I was ready to burst into "It's a beautiful day in the neigbourhood." Since I wasn't alone and I have a terrible voice, it would have been more of silent lip singing. That thought came and went quite fast.
It was my last day with company and I suppose I'll have to start not only talking to myself, but also doing all the cooking and cleaning up. It's been wonderful having live-in help who are also cheerful and easy to please. They were amenable to all suggestions and had some of their own. Now I have to plan my own days and meals too. And there's nobody to clean up after me.
The second song I considered for my theme, and this one is a recurring theme, is an Irish song that includes the lines: "we're on the one road, maybe the wrong road" and that is a very accurate statement about my directional ability. We set the map app for our destination of Greystones DART station and for some reason she didn't start yapping right away. I had a look at the map of our proposed route and immediately misunderstood. The voice was so annoyed with me that she continued the silent treatment. Try as we might she wouldn't give oral directions. And, setting out anyway, I went in exactly the wrong direction and wondered why, when she started to talk, she kept directing us onto L roads leading who knows where.
The penny finally dropped and we turned around, having wasted about 20 minutes. No sweat, they could get the next train and I'd still be on time to meet my friends for lunch. Once we saw signs for Arklow and the M11 which would take us to the destination, I stopped following "the voice" and used the road signs. It probably took a bit longer but it was time to take a stand.
After dropping Braden and Sammie in Greystones, I let "the voice" direct me to the Avoca shop at Kilmacanogue. This time it was blind trust. I could only do what I was told and couldn't look at the map at the same time. The trust was justified as I arrived at the right place only a few minutes late. Parking there is a bit of a nightmare but luckily I saw someone pulling out and was able to replace them before the next raindrop hit the pavement.
We had a lovely lunch and caught up on happenings since our get together last year. Some folks just get along well and our little group of four certainly does. We met at the Canada Come Home Gathering in 2013 and have stayed in touch.
Once again trusting the voice to direct me back to Minmore, I set out on the N11 and happily sailed along the highway. The sun was beginning to lower and from time to time it was quite a nuisance having it shining in my face. Luckily, the clouds stepped in front and saved the day once I reached the dreaded L roads. This time I had the pleasure of following a large truck for about 15 kms. Happily that meant I would not be surprised by an oncoming car swooping around the next corner. Bad road+truck=benefits.
The owner was still waiting for the plumber to repair whatever ails the pipes to the shower when I arrived back. The shower was by then completely out of commission. So, I accepted the invitation to move into The Store a day early. I packed in a hurry and once I got sorted out in the new digs, realized I'd forgotten a couple of items in the freezer along with my toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and soap in the bathroom. Thanks to text messaging I contacted the owner and he's going to deliver the items to me in the morning. Great service. It's a couple of hundred yards away - right across the road. But I no longer have the keys.
I hope he's able to get the shower situation sorted out. The next lot of visitors arrives tomorrow afternoon. He's a very nice man and was very apologetic. Things happen, and besides, it gives me something to say.
Anyway, here I am, with my latest candidate for song of the day "Raindrops keep falling on my head." This time it's "raindrops keep falling on my roof" because I'm warm and dry indoors.
No photos were taken today so there are none to share. I can't promise anything for tomorrow. It may be so non-memorable that I won't even post.
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