A short entry today. Mainly a quiet day of rest and a chance to catch our breath. And good news in the bathroom department - good pressure from the shower, toilet seat aligned well, sink taps that stay on but not too forcefully, and all fittings in good condition - overall, it's looking promising for high final score.
Went for a drive into town (local Ardonians would probably be shocked that we didn't walk the relatively short distance) and thought we had done well to find a 4 hour Pay and Display car park for only €2. Subsequently found free parking at the back of the supermarket only a short distance away - Europe 3: Higginses 5 - still in front. As for the white lines in the car park to highlight the designated space for one's car - clearly another case of being more of a guideline, rather than actual indicator of where one should park.
Had morning tea and scones in a delightfully presented pub - I was particularly impressed by the cleanliness of the carpet - almost looked new (perhaps it was! Perhaps they had heard we were coming). I imagine it would be subject to all manner of less than pristine footwear over time (especially in winter), so to keep it looking so good would be quite an effort.
Took a drive with Sean and Diane, primarily to look at the site of the house they are building out in the country - a delightful spot indeed. Also had a look at the Jumping Wall - an old church ruin where one of the church walls seems to have somehow 'jumped' a distance of about a metre - legend has it that one of the local parishioners who had been buried next to the wall had led a life perhaps not in keeping with burial on consecrated ground, and so, in a fit of pique presumably, one stormy night (no connection of course) the wall somehow moved enough to place his grave beyond the bounds of such ground - a delightful story and one which seems to demonstrate perhaps a peculiarly Irish way of resolving a problem - resourceful and subtle in its own way. Also an interesting headstone of a gentleman who died "...between Feb. 1874 and May 1880" - did he take a particularly long time to die, or did no one notice until the latter date and they had to work out when they last saw him alive, I wonder.
We (just the adults - finally!) then went out to dinner in the next town at a lovely restaurant, The Courthouse (not surprisingly, a refurbished old courthouse) whilst the kids stayed home for pizza - probably a welcome break all around.
Still feels a bit strange accepting the overwhelming generosity of Diane and Sean in allowing us to use their house - hopefully we will be able to repay them when they come to Australia (hint, hint) - I only hope that they can resist the temptation to look through all the cupboards in every room. Patrick is also finding it strange, but more so because of the number of One Direction posters on the wall in Tarryn's room when he is getting dressed - not feeling particularly comfortable about being 'watched' by so many young men.
Now at the half-way stage of our trip, and everything still going to plan. Many lovely experiences and memories, and still clocking up photos at a rate of knots - slide night is going to be a marathon, and for anyone who can't make it on the night to be arranged, I am sure we will organise extra sessions.
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