More rain this morning and very heavy at that, which made the job of packing up the car particularly un-enjoyable for M. The breakfast was pretty spectacular to eat up all the remaining food: cereal, fruit, pancakes, french toast, raisins, cheese! But by 10:30 we were away. It was a long and rainy drive. We eventually stopped at a service station and got a burger king. I was very disappointed that they were out of toys for the kids meals but the girls were delighted with the soft play house right by the tables and it was a great opportunity for them to let off some steam.
We arrived at about 3:30 pm to the hotel in Dublin. The event this weekend is a 40th wedding anniversary of M’s aunt and uncle Una and Sean. It is this year’s must-attend event for Granny’s family and was the event this holiday was planned around. There is a party tomorrow night at the hotel and most of the family (who aren’t from Dublin) are staying at the hotel.
Granny and Grandpa were travelling over with Aunty M, Uncle A and the twins to help out on the flight. They arrived not long after us. Then there was a period of lots of random meeting ups of family in corridors and tea taken in different rooms.
At about 6pm we went down to the bar to get some food with the girls and most of the other family who were arriving. We decided to let them stay up. They had a great time running round with their cousins.
It is now 8pm and I am now sat in the room right by the door of the loo, with the bathroom light on, the rest of the room is pitch black though I can hear the chiccas wriggling about and squeaking every now and then. We had brought our walkie talkies which can act as longer range room monitors, but they are not charged so M is downstairs mingling. We are spoilt after our 2 weeks of staying in lovely cottages which were like home from home. Hopefully at some point soon the perpetual motion machine which is Squidge will give up for the night…oh well.
Saturday 13th August
The girls woke up at about 7.15 this morning, we got dressed and went down for our massive hotel breakfast.
We joined Aunty M, Uncle A, C, J and Cousin A on a walk out to the shops perhaps stupidly leaving the pram behind so that I had to carry Squidge on my shoulders much of the way, though after this holiday I am certainly used to that task.
We got back and there was a general massing in Granny and Grandpa’s room for a while…
before we all set off to walk to Una and Sean’s house. We stayed there for much of the day and Fidget and Squidge had a great time playing with their cousins.
Fidget and I got a lift back as Fidget was big enough for the booster seat in Great Aunty M’s car, but M and Squidge had to walk (though at least we had brought the pram this time!).
Then it was time to get ready, the girls looked beautiful in their dresses and finery and received many compliments.
The first stop was a party to celebrate one of M’s cousin’s getting a very good job, so it was champagne and strawberries in one of the rooms…
Our super range monitor works down to the bar on the ground floor but not down to the basement where the party is, so it is 10:30 and I am sat by the loo door again, while Fidget is flat out asleep and Squidge is messing about in her big bed. To be honest I think I may be asleep before Squidge at this rate!
Sunday 14th August
Squidge kept going until gone 11pm, mercifully they both slept in until 9am. We got our breakfast, then went back to the room to pack. Fidget was being super helpful by adding a half drunk bottle of orange juice to M’s suitcase which I did fortunately spot before his wardrobe became truly zesty!
While M took the bags down to the car we went across to see Granny and Grandpa before they had to leave to catch their flight. There were more goodbyes in the lobby, we then followed Great Aunty and Uncle M & S over to G.A. Una and G.U. Sean’s for a cup of tea and directions to the port before we had to leave.
We found the port with no trouble and were soon on the boat with a good table by the window. We had some lunch, the girls each went on deck with Daddy, then Fidget and Daddy watched a film that was being shown while Squidge and I did some sticker books. In no time we were back at Holyhead.
We arrived in at 4:30pm and drove on to Chester services to have some tea and get the girls changed into their pyjamas. Then drove back home. Fidget as usual was quite happy and fell asleep without much trouble while Squidge complained until 9:30 when we were only 30 minutes from home and she finally fell asleep.
After staying in the hotel for the weekend and a tiring journey home, I was certainly happy to be back at our lovely home. I can’t wait until we go back again to the Burren and Connemara and I’m sure we will have plenty of good reasons to take us back.
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