Will a 12-hour sleep banish jet lag? You betcha. I was ready to roll at 10 am, having gone to bed at 10 pm. Eight hours should suffice tonight.
I agree it was a late start but a phone call from Mary Egan got things underway. Would I like to play golf tomorrow at Coollattin? Of course. And a tee time of 10 am would suit me just fine. I needed to call Eilish to set things up.
My phone works on Whatsapp but the golf course doesn't use the app, so a personal visit was in order. I ended up confirming my appearance tomorrow, booking a buggy in case my feet don't enjoy the ups and downs of what they consider a flattish course. Well, except for the hilly parts, I guess it's flattish. The Par 3 in the walled garden is flat. Terrifying but flat. There's a small raised green that is more than adequately bunkered. It's certainly reachable from the tee but did I mention it's small? Photos tomorrow.
I have borrowed clubs, but no balls, tees, green repair tool, ball marker or hat. That has been remedied. Surely the five "previously enjoyed" balls will be enough. The weather forecast isn't what I'd call perfect. But we won't have to worry about the sun in our eyes. We might have to enjoy a few showers for about an hour. I'll bring along my raincoat, which isn't exactly typical rain gear. And I don't have waterproof shoes with me, nor did I bring a second pair.
Eilish told me that I'd be playing with really nice people? As far as my experience goes in Ireland, everyone is lovely. And then I found out it's actually some sort of competition. Yikes. I will never have used these clubs, have a regular (slippery?) glove to use, and will have zero practice before teeing off. Ah well, it will be lots of fun anyway. I'm betting I can find a pint of Guinness when we're done
It could happen that my shoes will become acquainted with the hair dryer for a while later in the day tomorrow. Stay tuned. The only other footwear I have with me is a pair of sandals and they are not suitable for wandering away from my cottage.
Then there was a short trip to visit Bob's tree at Coolruss. It's probably at its peak of redness as you can see. I stop by to pay my respects at that tree on every visit. Planted in 2009, it shelters some of my Dad's ashes.
I'm not one for posting pictures of my meals, but here is a photo of my substantial late lunch. Seafood chowder with brown bread. Very filling and I could have waited until about 7 to have dinner, but I didn't get that chance.
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I headed to Carnew to visit Mary, my oldest cousin who is closing in on 100. She still lives more or less independently. I arrived about 3:30. We chatted for a while and then I thought she was preparing something like tea and biscuits. Oh no - this is the wrong Mary for a wee morsel. She served a dinner of chicken, potatoes, carrots and beans (think baked beans) at 5. I protested that I was still digesting my lunch, but her selective hearing kicked in. Protests fall on deaf ears anyway. Eating dinner was not an option, it was an obligation. The main course was accompanied by a wee tot of Port and followed by endless offerings of apple tart and tea brack.
Just as we started to eat, some friends dropped in to visit Mary and they stayed and chatted and helped to consume several rounds of the apple tart they had brought, along with the bread which Mary had on hand. While Mary was in the kitchen, we managed to smuggle 4 slices of the tea brack into my purse so she'd think we consumed it.
I asked Mary what time I could possibly visit and not get fed. Of course I knew the answer. No time. She will always have food for company and you simply can't refuse. And she absolutely refuses any help at all. You'd have to tackle her just to carry a plate to the kitchen, and tackling is not appropriate behaviour towards one's elders.
A friendly genealogy guru was expected to visit me around 7, so I had to make my excuses and leave by 6:45, promising to visit again. Next time I'll fast before showing up.
Genealogy alert:
John O came over as planned and he had some suggestions for tracking certain of my ancestors, but eventually we agreed that the Walsh family in question might never be identified positively in Ireland. However, he showed me ways to explore some of the resources I already knew about and we made progress on the Kehoe line. I think I've found them in Clonegall. They have living relatives in the same area. I've been in touch with them before but we couldn't decide on a connection. It's a pretty sure thing now.
It's late now and I have to be up and about for golf, so I shall bid you adieu for today.
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