Once and Dublin

Landing at Dublin airport was a bit like being on a luna park ride. We bounced up and down to shrieks from the children aboard the flight. On landing we could see the wind blowing the grass and realised it was blowing a gale outside. it was bleak, wet and cold and I realised I had told Ed the wrong time for our flight arrival. We were two hours earlier than anticipated. Why am I so good at making these mistakes?

Fortunately, Ed checked on our flight and realised he had been given the wrong time, so we didn't have to wait two hours. After a wonderful warm welcome, and a delicious soup for lunch we set out on a walk in the drizzle through a magnificent autumnal forest. It reminded me of the forest of Fontainbleau in France. We don't have anything like it in Australia.





I just love these autumnal colours - they are simply spectacular.

It has been wonderful catching up with such dear friends who we have known for ever. Keith and Jane went to uni together and spent hours talking together. Keith and Ed were at college together. Since arriving here we have talked and talked and talked. I am surprised we still have voices.

Last night we watched a wonderful movie together with Ed and Jane's two gorgeous girls called Once. A low budget film set in Dublin about a man and woman who enjoy making music together. Both have left relationships with scars. However, the film is mostly about the music they make together and the chemistry of their relationship. The music from the film won the Oscar for the best sound and deservedly. This is not a chick flick and has a refreshingly moral end. There is no "hanky panky" using the words of one of the main characters. It was a great introduction to Dublin which we visited today.

We started the day in glorious sunshine, so much so, that it never occurred to Keith or I to pack raincoats - not a good idea in Ireland! We caught the Dart into Dublin. The line follows the coast right up the coast - we had the most spectacular views north and south and the sky was blue and without clouds and the sea sparkled. On arrival to Dublin, the weather had changed and a cold wind blew, the sky turned black and it began to rain. And it was cold. The sort of day that I would snuggle up inside and sew or read a book - not explore a new city and sit on the top of a bus with an open top. However, the weather doesn't stop the Irish from doing anything.

We retreated to a cafe and waited for the weather to change. Jane assured us it would and sure enough it did. The rain vanished and the sun came out. But the cold remained. We did a tour on an open topped bus of Dublin and turned into iceblocks. Dublin is a delightful city - Georgian in style - most of the buildings are built of grey stone, and it is also the city of the doors. Each door is painted a different colour. It reminded me of the amish quilts that are bright vibrant in colour but the women all wear black. Dublin is a city of grey with splashes of vibrant colour. The result is quaint and unique.

We did some shopping in the afternoon and ran out of time to be tourists properly. We later found out it was a mere 4 degrees - perhaps explaining our reluctance to spend much time outside. We searched the shops for a woollen hat to keep my head warm.

We are about to watch the movie called Michael Collins who was a revolutionary in Ireland. We saw much today about this man and I am keen to learn more.

Tomorrow we are driving to the west coast of Ireland - Clare for a couple of nights. I am now prepared - with a new woolly cap and will wear all my winter woollies.