NorthDownMuse

Dublin, London, Belfast

I took mom to Dublin Airport Oct. 25. The following week I was in London. PRI's back to office policy has different teams in the office on different days. Communications is Wednesdays. So I was in the office Tuesday afternoon and all of Wedsnesday, but flew home Thursday.

Best for last

When I have visitors, I take them up the Antrim Coast road--a gorgeous drive. I've never taken mom on it because we usually do a big trip somewhere else (Ring of Kerry, Wild Atlantic Way, Fermanagh Lakes, Powerscourt). By the time we get to Belfast for the second

Mom’s social calendar, cont'd

My friend Ann O'Dwyer was meant to come over on Thursday and take mom out for the afternoon, and then have us both for dinner. She had developed a bad cough so cancelled, allowing me to add Helen Miskelly to mom's rota. Mom went to Helen&

Mom’s social calendar

Monday night I hosted book club at my house--eight women who are in their mid 60s and upwards and all very careful about whom they hang out with. When I wasn't working Monday, I was moving furniture, hoovering, and cleaning wine glasses, platters, etc. Mom is in the

The boring part of the trip

So the fun part is over, and now we are just acting normally. I worked Thursday and Friday while mom read. We got out for a walk each afternoon, as the weather has continued to be kind. We watched Strictly Come Dancing at night and an interesting documentary about Michael

Homeward James

Aelish collected me at 7:30 a.m. and took me to Murlough Beach. I find the Slieve Donard to be very picturesque, in case that wasn't already obvious. Aelish and I watched her little dog Lily run circles on the beach as we caught up on family

The good life, part 3

I went for a longer walk this morning while mom slept. I find the morning light mesmerizing. And constantly changing. I wanted to walk to Murlough Bay but it was too far. We are on a tight schedule this morning--down for breakfast in time to get to the spa by

The good life, continued

Morning was lovely. We enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast sitting in the bay window at the front of the hotel, looking out to sea. Then we drove into town and visited a few gift shops, then walked along the promenade, which reminded mom of the boardwalk in Atlantic City (but without

The good life

The day started with laundry, ironing, cooking potatoes, cleaning pots, updating the blog, and walking Paddy along the Lagan, throwing a stick into the river over and over and over for him to fetch. The day finished in an ornate bar in a grand Victorian railway hotel, where I currently

Rowallane

Plan A was a visit to a decorator's shop on the very upscale Lisburn Road. Turns out it's open only Mon-Fri. Plan B was a tour of the Grand Opera House. Tours not being offered currently. Plan C worked out: a trip to Rowallane Garden. I

Down time

I worked Weds-Fri and mom entertained herself by finishing Toast and beginning Amy & Isabelle, the first book by Elizabeth Strout (Olive Kitteridge). She's also working her way through both seasons of Derry Girls. In the evenings we have been watching Strictly Come Dancing, which we are both

Ards Friary, Killahoey & Derry

We covered a lot of ground today. As usual, I was up early while mom slept. I had a gorgeous walk at Ards Friary. It's possible Paddy loves Ards Friary more than I do. There are two beaches for him to swim on and a beautiful forest full

Ballyliffin Day

I began the day with Paddy in Duntally Woods in Creeslough, where I went for a very wet walk with high school friend Siobhan. She has been winning her battle with cancer since 2014 and is a remarkable person. Very strong, very positive – she reminds me of her mother, whom

Dunfanaghy Day

Paddy and I were out early to the Boardwalk beach. There's a restaurant on a quiet horseshoe bay (last photo from yesterday) and a very long, snaking boardwalk that leads to Downings beach and a crashing sea. The photo below is taken from the point, where you can

Downings Day

I awake at 6:30, read until it's light out, then take Paddy to Downings beach at 7:30. The morning light is so soft, the beach feels sacred. Then home to make breakfast for mom. Slab of wholemeal toast with avocado and fried egg. We head off

Derry Day

This morning, after walking Paddy at the golf course, I loaded up the car with an unreasonable number of bags then we headed north. First stop the O'Dwyers' lovely Victorian home for tea, our hosts as gracious as ever. Then I dropped mom off for more tea

Betty @ the beach

I worked this morning while mom had a lie in. I spent an hour and a half on a zoom call with a fixed income analyst trying to explain the flaws in the logic and construction of a 20-page paper. He's the nicest guy--he agreed the paper needs

Betty Bookworm

I worked today (Weds) so mom got to spend some quality time in the upstairs sitting room. She had a good lie in--more than 12 hours. She said it took her a long time to fall asleep b/c she was so cold. Poor thing. But she's back

Betty in a buggie

Today was a long but productive day. Mom passed PCR test number two so all arrangements moved a week later. I got up at 2:30 this morning, drove to Dublin and found my poor mother waiting in the arrivals lounge, where she had been for a half hour. At

A mooo-vable feast

Moo to You is a local farm that delivers fruit, veg, baked items. And stuff I don't eat--meat, cheese, etc. I put in an order in anticipation of the Royal Visit. It arrived hours after mom was meant to be here. I may have to do some entertaining.

Best laid plans V. Covid

I spent a good part of the summer trying to get clear on travel rules, with very little assistance from a travel agent, who went quiet in August. Then my sister offered to collect mom, book her PCR test, print the result, do the locator form, buy her ticket and

The full bedroom saga

Not that kind of saga. In the beginning was a room with carpets and curtains and built in wardrobes on two walls. On the right below you can see the partial remains of one of the wardrobes, which had a vanity in front of the chimney breast. We took out

Fencing

I selected a fence paint brand that had lots of fun colour choices, and was warned off by a neighbour b/c it's water based and requires frequent repainting. At the hardware store, an employee swore by another brand--fewer colour choices but a five year guarantee on coverage.

Glad and Sad

That is a gotcha headline. Here is glad: Here is sad: Not much news to report. Three new tires on the car, 300 pounds. Rabies vaccine for Paddy and pet passport, 95 pounds. Saturday (4 Sept) I polished the brass on the front door, did laundry, ironed the top sheet

Betty > Belfast

I have been trying for a few months to figure out the rules for an American flying into Dublin and then traveling to Belfast, in the UK. The rules have changed repeatedly for England vs. Northern Ireland, vs. Ireland. Not one who deals well with complexity, I turned to a