From hangover to happiness !

I will bring my blog up to date tomorrow - promise...
Photos and lots of summing up of 2 months and 2 weeks.
xx

Back to UK ----- My head hurts.

Flew back on Ryan Air (say no more ) to UK... I felt so sick. Truly disgusting hangover.

Wednesday 19th May....

Jo Jo picked me up and I took the opportunity to tap in to her expertise. A new business card logo and a powerpoint backdrop!! Thanks Joanne, everyone loves it.
Started on the vino colapso with Val sitting in the garden. The off to the Queens for a glass or two. We met her pal Roger. A fascinating guy who officiated at the first ever SA elections in 1994.
Had a great supper of crab claws... no complaints there...
Then Emer and Frank popped in and Maro from next door.... more drink and great Craic!!
xx

Sunday, Monday and the sun

We lazed around (I think). Went to lie on the beach for a little while. It was breezy and so quiet compared to when we were here in August.
It was lovely though.
Sunday was very stressful for me and Eileen. The ash cloud caused Eileens Monday flight to be cancelled completely and I was stressing as the cloud was terrible and Marge and I didn't know if we would get back on Tuesday.
Rouen is coming on Friday and I have shows booked and all that so I was quite tense.
All was well though and Eileen got on to our flight.
We had a great night on Monday as we went to the harbour. Kylie and Ciwi will remember the resturant we went to on the last night of my 50th.
Then we had a great time at the black stove. I asked for Human / Dancer to be sung and Keith took the p... out of my accent "Human or Daaaaaaanca" mmmm I do sound a bit posh at times... a good laugh.
Arrived back. An early night and now I have not got off the email/blog for hours.
Alan made us a wonderful roast pork supper and an early night.
Joanne is fetching me shortly and I'm off to Val and Paddy's for tonight then back to the UK tomorrow for a weekend of being a tourist.
xx

Loule and the market

We had hangovers galore but had booked to go to the Market in Loule. So, up at sparrows...Not sure why we didn't take the car, but anyway, we got a coach which stopped at every fecking hotel and more. It took us 2 hours there and 2 hours back. The market wasn't really worth it, but we did it and learned from it !! Eileen got a great dress and we ate yummy donuts... so that in itself was worth it hahahahaha
So many lovely places to eat that I actually can't remember where we went. I think it was for a lovely pasta and pizza at Lusitania.
Having such good laughs with Eileen and Marje. Marje can talk her head off and is the only person I know that can make a short story long (yes Marge, that is you!! hahahahahha). Eileen has the weirdest Irish sayings that I had totally forgotten but are now back in my vocab) e.g. Very Gnick (means it is fab).
If someone is UGLY, then the comment is " I would not ride him in to battle!"... say no more.
Or.. if he is very ugly, the comment would be " I wouldn't sleep with him with Your fanny, let alone my own"..... It could have been worse I suppose!

Friday in Alvor

aaaaah... Memories memories of my 50th birthday.
Marge's apartment is lovely and has a great garden.
It wasn't to warm, so off we went in to Alvor.
A few wines/vodka's latter and the various subjects/comments flowed.... Vagina's, orgasms and the female anatomy... Lets just say I will leave it at that shall I?
We had a lovely supper (monk fish kebab??) at a resturant in Alvor and ended up at an Irish pub called The Black Stove. Keith is the regular singer there and I think Marge had heard him sing a thousand times before, be we had a great night.. dancing away!!

Alvor - Thursday

Eileen, Marge and I arrived in Alvor at about 10.30pm and more than a bit knackered.
Poor Marge had to drive the car (wrong side of the road), with Eileen being the navigator! I clung on for dear life in the back.
When we finally got to Alvor (after a few precarious U turns), we decided to head for bed. I had an earache and decided to hit the sack!! Girls on tour??? 3 exhausted "oul ones" as they say in Ireland.

Alvor and back again!!

Hi everyone
I have not had access to email since Thursday.
Arrived back and not covered in an Ash Cloud.
I will blog tomorrow!!
xx

Ash cloud update......

It's looking possible for tomorrow! Just been on to Ryan air website and flights are going today to Faro.
Our flight is 15.10 tomorrow, so all being well I will have 5 days in Alvor and then back to Ireland or UK. Then my special person arrives from SA to be a tourist.
xx

Lazy day .....

If I hear the words Ryan air I swear...... !! Marge and I spent the whole day calling to see what we could or should do..

Anyway, we are re booked for Thursday and if we do not get going that day we will just can it. It really is chaotic isn't it?

We did have a lovely lazy day with Alan cooking a lamb casserole (I want a home!!).
Marge and I went for a lovely walk (more talking)....

At least I managed to get up to date with emails, blog etc.


9pm... supper was divine. I think Alan missed his calling.

Pretty much decided to rejoin Atlantic Beach.. I had been so unsure, but for some reason it is all falling in to place.

xx

Portugal - or NOT

We got a text late last night to say that our flight to Faro is cancelled.
Ash cloud/Volcano again.
We have rebooked for Thursday, but I won't be holding my breath.
So, not sure what will happen next. Hoping to see my friends Val and Paddy tomorrow now that I am still in Dublin. I was seeing them next week, but I am going to try to get back to the UK from Portugal now rather than coming back to Dublin.... so, fingers crossed on all accounts.

So... what else? My baby Ciwi (Ciara)entered a dancing Eistedford and her group won the final! Her solo was Highly Commended, so she was chuffed all round and its wonderful that she is back to her dancing. Her mid year exams start today at Stellenbosch.. good luck my baby girl... mama loves you.

Kylie and Ed are off to Croatia for a well deserved break. They work so hard it is crazy. However, they are also reaping the rewards with a fabulous home and the odd holiday or two (or 3,...) - Notice they didn't invite me!

Missing my dogs terribly (not picking up the poop) I never thought I would say it, but I am looking forward to having a home of my own (oh gosh, does that mean I need to get a job???). All ears to the ground please.

Lots happening at home on the Atlantic Beach front with the owners/members buying the club. Don't really know what is happening next.

Keep reading, keep commenting.
xxxxxx


I am happy in every way... so glad I made this journey.

Shopping - Monday in Dublin

Had zero intention of spending even one cent when we went shopping.
Big mistake.... I had forgotten how wonderful the Irish shops are. I did get a lovely posh frock for Henley...... cheap as chips. hahhaa
My feet were killing me by the end of the day. Marje and I did not stop talking all day. We managed to stop for a minute while eating a yummy bagel. God the Irish know food.
xx

Home Sweet Home.... Ireland

Last day or two at sea were thankfully uneventful (for me anyway).
Have to admit I did get a bit wary of touching hand rails or visiting loos etc.
Managed to get to the train with all my luggage.... cruises have no limit, so you can imagine.
Said my goodbyes, with much sharing of emails and numbers etc. I must say that one lady Christine is already keeping in touch.
Chose the slowest train to Clapham Junction, but I was just happy to be on land and not in a hospital! Kylie and Ed met me at the station and we dumped my bags and went for a lovely pub lunch and a great natter.
They are adorable together and Ed is the son I never had.... boo hoo.
I have to say my daughters have wonderful taste in men. They didn't get that from me..... hahahahahahaha
I will say however, I have remedied that haven't I............
After frantic repacking, I headed to my HOME town of Dublin in Ireland. It was cathartic (yes, I do know big words). Last time here was when my ex husband read my private diaries and made my life miserable (but thats behind me now). So, it was good to arrive to the beaming face of my friend of 30 years - Marje.
After the hellos and hugs, her daughter Vicky popped out from behind a pole!! More hugs. Then a minute later our friend Eileen popped out from behind another pillar! It was really wonderful.
So much talking, interrupting and shouting for interrupting going on during the drive to Marje's house.
Sat in the garden drinking wine while Alan (Marje's hubby) made us a wonderful roast dinner.... bliss

Gibralter and the On Board Norovirus

A virus has broken out on board called the Norovirus.
An announcement was made directly in to our cabins from the Captain that minimum movement around the ship was advised. Washing of hands, don't touch hand rails etc.
Very frightening I have to tell you. At the moment my hands don't know what's hit them and I am in my cabin.
Gibralter is an odd place British fish n chips and lots of Spanish being spoken.
I spent a few hours wandering (duty free!).
Lay in the sun with few passengers on board (or maybe they are all in the Medical Centre or heads down loos!!). Fingers crossed the next 2 Sea Days are uneventful.
xx

At Sea - En route to Gibralter

Every time I try to rotate this picture it swings back when I upload it... self portrait testing my camera - again.

Barcelona - Spain (Barthalonah!)

Raining cats and dogs.... A real wash out. This picture of this couple trying to be tourists tell's my story.
What a pity. Any photos I add will be through a rainy window on the Hop on Hop back on as I am drenched tour!
The only thing I bought was an Umbrella... hee hee
Welcome Brian Wilkinson to my blog!... Saw you sneak in for a peak yesterday.
You were SO right about Florence.
Managed the blue and red routes but that's about it.
Won't moan, as it's the first yukky day I have had.

Cannes - South of France

Cannes is Delightful!!
Will get to my blog asap - promise.
Feel a bit wrecked. Think I'm coming down with something so in my cabin for this evening.

Tuscany - Florence & Pisa

I am in love!!!

Michelangelo's DAVID !
Saw the original today. You cannot take photo's of the original. I have never thought of myself as a sculpture person, but I was totally in awe. He is beautiful. This one is in the main square and is a copy of the original.
Could things have got better than Roma?? Not better as such, but so different. Florence is beautiful and PISA is........... crooked!
A lovely day. I met some very nice people, Yvonne, Steve and Ziggy.

xx

All roads lead to ROMA - Civitavecchia 30th April

I think of myself as a Spiritual person, a Buddhist even, no guilt these days.....
I cannot even begin to tell you how I felt when I arrived at Vatican City. It is truly breathtaking. I could feel my mother right next to me for the whole day.
St.Peters Square, The Basillica ! I loved every moment of it and could easily have stayed for a week or more.
My Catholic roots are still there... I cannot deny it. You can see and feel the power, the wealth on the one hand and an immense amount of love and respect on the other.