Wednesday 6th September 2023
And so ends our blurry trip to Ireland both Eire and Northern. I say blurry because of the dratted flu bug that sucked all my energy. The weather was magnificent albeit strange that it wasn't the soggy Ireland that I imagined. The accommodation was fabulous, the locals super friendly and I absolutely love their accents even if I don't have a clue what they say. The food was great in spite of a loss of appetite, the scenery spectacular, and the mission of family tree following, was successful. I don't mind not having found lots of links because it just all felt so... familiar.
We drove up from Dundalk this morning on the motorway and I watched the green scenery with Heather coloured hills whizz by. Our accommodation was an apartment near the Belfast city centre so we parked up and headed through the centre to the Crumlin Gaol. I spotted more street art up alleyways and above buildings and loved seeing all the different styles of buildings. The last time I was in Belfast must've been around 1995 or so, I can't remember the date because I was concerned about getting to my sister in Scotland and couldn't stop to smell the roses like I do now.
When I think back to that young girl, it feels like she's a different human being and not me. I was so filled with anxiety about everything I don't know how I ever coped. She was petrified about everything, strangers talking to her; getting lost.... oh my word that was a biggie. I truly lived in fear. At the time there were rail strikes, (yes, nothing has changed) but it meant all sorts of detours and delays and chaos and uncertainty. A life without a smart phone was a very anxious place for me. I do recall that someone got on the train with a goat, now that might be my imagination and I didn't have a digital phone to take my usual thousands of photos. My thin lips of anxiety were a constant on my face and I hope that I didn't do any long term damage with my racing heart.
Who I am now is vastly different and I relish the adventure and change. This time on the Celtic patch of land of my ancestors, has been an intriguing one and as always, I will let all my lessons simmer in my body and no doubt my imagination will do something with it all. Having my siblings here has been fabulous too and the short trip feels like it's been much longer.
I can't believe I'm going to write this but I'm going to take a cool shower now... at night... in Ireland, hahaha. Who am I again?
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