You will be forgiven for thinking that I am now fluent in Irish Gaelic, but I simply googled a translation. This heading means ” Blessings until we meet again!”. This will be my last post from this trip so an early warning that it is going to be lengthy, I have much catching up to do.

New insert – I have just realised that I have not blogged anything about Belfast. It was super interesting, but such a fast trip. Boarded the bus in Dublin at about 9.30am and our first stop on the way was Monasterboice, another ancient manastic area. Then onto Belfast, the plan was for a one hour Black cab tour to the IRA and UDM sections of Belfast. It was so interesting, we had two cab drivers…one a Protestant and one was a Catholic. So we were taken to each area and given commentary by the relevant guide regading the Troubles from their perspective. There clearly is still a lot of tension, but it was very calm. We were driven right close to the Peace Wall erected to keep the Catholics and Protestants apart. There is a section for graffitti – had fun writing on walls legally.

Belfast is remarkably clean and organised and the homes are neatly tended and in good condition. Unfortunately our time in the cabs ran way behind due to traffic – so the hour and a half we were supposed to have in Belfast to wander around, was reduced to 30 minutes. Bit disappointing. From there we headed off to the Titanic Museum at the dockyards. This is where the Titanic was actually built. It was really interesting, all the facts and figures around the design and construction. And that was basically the whole trip. I would definitely like to spend a day wandering around Belfast looking at the buldings and getting a feel for the place. But one lesson I did learn – if you dont know where to go and dont understand the history- you can get into a spot of bother! We got back to Dublin just after 8pm, so it was a pizza for me – eaten at home while I packed.

Wednesday morning was another really early start. Up and at ’em by 6.00am which was tough because I only got to sleep after 2am,and I called my Uber cab at 6.45am. As mentioned I changed my travel plans for two reasons. Mainly,I received an email advising that my flight from Glasgow to Dublin on Friday, had been made 15 minutes later. This coupled with the fact that I was going to store my luggage at Terminal 1, meant that my time between flights was really tight….I hate having to run … ANYWHERE …but most especially at airports. Secondly, to store my luggage would cost €48, to check it in and take with me would cost €50. To change my flight  – or rather buy a new discount ticket cost me only £19. So as I write I am on the flight from Glasgow back to Dublin, its 9pm. I sleep at the Radisson at the airport, they agreed to store my luggage for no charge as well, because I am staying there. Quick and easy access, so win win all around.

I caught the airport shuttle to the central bus station in Glasgow and walked to the hotel, which was not too far. I got to the hotel, the CitizenM hotel at 11.30am and was really lucky to get an early check in. What a unique hotel. When you arrive check in it is self service (in fact bookings can only be made online). When I got to my room I was initally a bit surprised- not anything I have ever encountered before. A narrow room, almost like a pod. The most bizarre shower/toilet area. But OMG it works. Truly, this is the best bed I have ever slept in anywhere at any time- including my own. Firstly it is enoooooormous! Way bigger than any king size! It is also pod like (so has only one open end), you look and think aarrrgh, gonna be claustrophobic, but its not. Has a flatscreen huge tv on the end wall, with multiple tv channels and free movies on demand. Everything in the room is controlled by an ipad mini. Lights- 4 settings, including colour hues, temperature, the curtain blind, the blackout blind, alarm clock. (But dont panic non hitec people, there arenormal  buttons too!). Despite my initial surprise, I can’t help but think that every hotel room should be like this. The facilites at CitizenM are fantastic. Great lounge and computer areas. Superb wifi connection. Hell – who raves about a hotel like this?????

I confess,  I had a bit of a nap- arrived with a supersonic headache. So I took a green pill and it did its trick. Then off to Hampden Park for the main attraction. I caught a train from the central station to Mount Florida and then walked about 1 mile to the stadium. This stadium had a completely different layout to the other venues, so it was wider, which meant that my seats were closer to the stage. In fact, probably the best seat of my little tour. But the people were not as awesome as I experienced in Dublin. No problems, but nothing interesting. Again, I was astounded at how much people drank, how many people were falling down and hooching everywhere- and not just youngsters. I swear if I was a first aider or a cleaner, I would rub the idiots faces in their vomit, and then flog them publically, leaving them in a stockade for the rest of the weekend. They are so irritating and spoil it for others around them. I am not opposed to alcohol but I am opposed to public consumption that leads to drunkeness and bad behaviour. I would far rather be in a haze of smoke than surrounded by loud and obnoxious drunkards.

But I digress, another supersonic performance from The Boss with a mammoth 34 songs played. Of the 3 concerts, Patti Scialfa played in only one!  It was estimated that there were 50 000 people at the concert. Very empty really…..guffaw…one gets blase very quickly!!! I have to give credit to the Glasgow police, the organisation was phenomenal. I think 48 900 of the concert goers arrived by train….and had to leave by train. Right from the exit, police on horseback (the most impressive huge horses) shepherded us into one line that snacked up hill back to the station for more than a mile. This in itself was an incredible experience. The drunken clever ones tried to cut in and do their own thing, but the crowd and the police just shepherded them back to the end of the queue. I walked back from the station to my hotel – have I mentioned how awesome it was?????-  and got back to my room at about 11.55pm. Not bad at all considering the concert ended at 10.15pm.

My favourite concert – the second one at Croke Park Dublin. Not the bestest setlist, but the appearance of Bono, and my new best friends for the night, made it very memorable. Also riding that human wave back into the city centre was a great experience.

This morning, needless to say, I was not up too terribly early. I woke up at about 7.45am and I lay in bed and FB’ed and watched tv until about 9.30…bliss. I packed up and left my luggage in storage and headed out into the city. Believe it or not, my first to do item, was buy a new pair of sneakers. Yep I walked my other pair to death! Found a Skecher shop and they were having a sale, so I only paid a gazzilion rand instead of a trillion rand. My second order of the day was a trip to Marks and Spensers for a pair of jeans. I forgot to mention this story previously. Dawn, you will know well the old pair of jeans that I always travel with, so that I can leave them behind if my case is full and then never do? Well they also went to clothing heaven on this trip. My fatass wore a hole right through the seat…. so they have NOW been left behind. But, I needed an extra pair…so in Dublin I popped into M&S to grab a pair, and they had a huge sale on and the pale blue colour that I love. Unfortunately, they only had one pair. So I wanted to pick up another pair- which I found in Glasgow- and at only R345… an absolute bargain.

Inspector John Rebus will be pleased to know that I had my first Scottish bacon butty and it was deelish. I was in a litle cafe, sitting next to some people from Newcastle, who had also been at the concert and also stayed at same hotel. Yes – eye contact was made- its hard not to, when you sit virtually shoulder to shoulder. Anyhoo- a great chinwag about the show and the hotel. Then I eventually jumped onto a Hop On Hop off bus and did a tour of Glasgow. I was pleasantly surprised. I have repeatedly been told not to expect much, and granted there are not a lot of historical attractions, but there are some stunning buildings and the areas that I saw were quite clean and organised. Unfortunately, I did not have the time or energy to explore in detail. But I guess when I come back I know what I want to see.

I have now been away for a month and I have decided it is just too long. I think the perfect time is 25 days. Gives you three full weeks of holiday and 2 days travel either side. I will also in future, where possible spend more time in one place and commute further during the days. I am truly exhausted now. But I have had an awesome adventure and I have seen some spectacular sights. I have met some interesting people, eaten great food and learned so much about the Irish culture and history. I have had some great surprises and a few disappointments. For me major scenic highlights have been Connemara in general, Cong, Blarney, Ashford Castle, Giants Causeway Glendalough and Kenmore.

For me personally I had a chance to review the unemployed person I am and focus on what I want to do for the next 10 years.  At this stage a formal venture is needed with commitment and responsibility. So either back to corporate emvironment or me, or I must  buy a decent businesss that I can manage and grow. I will have to tap into Mr Bean’s thought processes too.

It has been reinforced at how important friends and family are to me, especially when I am alone far from home. I have missed you all and being the outsider ends up making you wonder if life just moves on regardless. I can’t begin to thank you enough  for taking the time to read my blogs and for the daily comments and interactions. Made rare homesick moments easy to deal with. It is so heartwarming when you have counted your blessings and that you realise why home is the best place to be and who you are coming home to!

I am going to post lots of pics, including some fun random ones.

Thanks for rambling through Ireland with me.
THAT’S A WRAP

Monasterboice monastery

Monasterboice

The UDA in the Protestant section of Belfast Shankill

Wall murals in Protestant Belfast

Very aggressive pics

Legally graffiti-ing the wall in Catholic Belfast

My graffiti in the wall of peace

Catholic wall murals

Catholic war murals

The beautiful Belfasr City Hall

The leaning clock tower in Belfast

A clocking machine at Belfast dockyars

Glasgow Boss

Last concert

The Boss and Jake

In Glasgow

Bacon butty

Beautiful buildings

Yep…thats about it

George Squaew

‘Squinty Bridge’ accross the Clyde

The Rotunda

A concert arena

Yep tanning at the bustop

Art gallery

Killed these sneakers

Citizen M lounge

Time waits for now one

Mullet alive and well