13-14 November: The first two days in Ireland

Thursday, 13 November 2003

I got a plane to Dublin, where my mother met me at the airport. She seemed inordinately pleased to see me; pregnancy is a great way of becoming instantly popular with your relatives (note: she's always pleased to see me, but this was extreme). We got a bus to the city centre, including a brief argument about who got to sit down she hurt her ankle not four weeks ago, and is considerably older than I am, but after all, I'm pregnant. We exasperated one woman so much she stood up and told us both to sit down. This was embarrassing.

We had a quick wander around the city centre, especially the north side I hadn't seen much of O'Connell St for years, and we looked at Roches Stores and Arnotts and a few other places. I think we had tea in Clery's. Dublin has gone sort of upmarket there's a lot of high fashion around, and not much in the way of ordinary good-quality stuff such as I might want to buy. It was all very like a UK high street. Arnott's bargain basement was ok, though; lots of bedding and towels and things.

We got a bus home, and Mum cooked lamb for dinner.

Friday, 14 November 2003

Mum insisted on accompanying me to the Busáras (lit.: residence / hall of the buses). We tried to look for fabric before going in but Rainbow Fabrics bridal dept was closed. So I bought a couple of seabands (acupressure anti-travel-sickness things) and we had a cup of tea before I got on the bus.

( Travelsickness )

I staggered off the bus, put my bag in a bin, and my phone started to ring. It was Gráinne, who thought I sounded dreadful, and left work immediately to come and get me. I only had five minutes to wait, and I managed to use the time to brush my teeth and drink some tea.

We went back to her house, which is gorgeous white paint and golden wood and then bought groceries and ate nice, easy food. I think we went to bed early.