Are we there yet?
My Mum’s over for the week and in a bid to discover more about this little island which is now our home, we decided to head off west on a little road trip.
Hubby called in a favour with a friend who has a somewhat spectacular castle on the west coast, and we packed up the car and the kids, and a somewhat too happy Hubby waved us off (he had to work) on our journey.
The following five hours went something like this (repeat as necessary):
#2: ‘are we there yet?’
#1: ‘Don’t be stupid, we only just left’
Ten minutes later…
#1: ‘Are we there yet…?’
All this was sprinkled liberally with ‘ow, get off, he’s on my foot’ and ‘I want to lie on the headrest, it’s my turn’ and ‘SHUT UP or I’ll stop this car and MAKE YOU WALK!!’, plus several stops for a wee, a drink, fresh air, another wee, etc, etc.
However, when we finally reached the west, it was all worth it. If you do one thing when you visit Ireland, head out to the magical county of Connemara. It is windswept, remote and beautiful, with shimmering lakes, mist-topped mountains, swathes of purple heather and startled-looking black sheep in the middle of the road around every bend. The castle, needless to say, was spectacular and totally out of our class. For example, we were given sorbet between every course (‘ooh, ice cream!’), which totally confused the children who kept thinking it was pudding. #1 and I opted for fresh local pan-fried Halibut, which was nothing short of spectacular, and the desserts, well, let’s just say it wasn’t a trolley, more a trailer. I listened to #1 grilling the very attentive waitress:
Waitress: ‘Can I help you, Sir?’
#1: ‘Er..what can I have?’
Waitress: ‘You can have anything you like, Sir. This is a pear and almond crumble, this is a summer berry crumble, this is lemon meringue pie, this is chocolate mousse, these are profiteroles, these are coffee meringues and this is chocolate cake. We also have a fine selection of local speciality cheeses, a selection of home made ice cream…’
#1 (interrupting): ‘Can I have two?’
Waitress: You can have whatever you like, Sir’
#1: ‘What’s this?’
Waitress (helpful smile now drooping slightly): ‘that would be fresh pouring cream, Sir. We also have fresh whipped cream or fresh custard’.
#1: ‘Can I have two desserts, pouring cream AND whipped cream?’
Waitress (teeth now slightly gritted behind the smile): ‘Yes, Sir, you may have whatever you like’
Exit #1, plate piled worryingly high: ‘wicked!’
Needless to say, several hours later we staggered out of the restaurant doing our best ‘Mr Creosote’ impression – just one more wafer thin mint in serious danger of causing us to spontaneously explode. A refreshing waddle around the lush grounds more than perked us up and we tumbled into our ridiculously elaborate four-poster, feeling like ‘Enery the Eighth I am I am..’
The next morning, after a wallow in our own personal jacuzzi (oh yes) and having tucked away an indecently large ‘Full Irish’ (with #1 then attacking the fresh fruit, yoghurt, croissants and preserves), we reluctantly headed home, stopping on the way for a fleeting glimpse of Galway Bay looking azure and beautiful in the mist. Enchanting.
