#21 - Wednesday 25/7 at Druids Resort (south of Dublin)

This morning I thought - "bugger it, I'm staying here today". That off course means no Guinness factory tour, but I don't care. I had a very very relaxing day and even got a bit of work done. Breaky was probably the first I've had that didn't leave me feeling any sense of regret for eating it since I've been on tour! It was just perfect (or maybe I finally got the portion size correct!). My golf lesson and massage were planned and I thought I'd do some exploring as well. Dinner at the ritzy restaurant is also locked in. Aaahhhh... Just nice! So I thought I'd go for a wander around, try to find the driving range and I ended up walking around the entire estate - too far really but that's what happens I guess. It was very scenic. Very peaceful. A few birds flying around, but no other wildlife besides a massively fat bubble bee. Never seen one like it! I was quite nervous about the massage I booked in for, but I was talked through it by an expert - she started off with the oil  (almost burnies hot, I might add) and then slammed into some deep tissue manevours that caused a certain level of uncomfortablness... Is this actually supposed to make me feel relaxed?! She seemed to calm down, albeit she was persistent in getting out those last muscle knots, and then started on my legs. OMG - highly recommended. Feels great! After I had endured my massage (!) I decided to settle into a but of work - just setting the scene for when I go back on Monday. I know - it's kind of the wrong way around! Before long - time to get the clubs out for a golf lesson. How good is it to try something new. After the lesson I felt super great and ultra positive to give it crack more often than I have done in the past. However, I am missing out on one classic story - I should have seen it coming a mile away... I walked out of the reception after being prompted in the general direction of the driving range. Looking up I see a guy carrying three clubs, and instantly thought, that must be Patrick, ex-PGA pro, who's taking me for my lesson. He was carryingt here clubs, which made sense as I asked to borrow some, not having my own. It all fitted nicely, so I tried to catch up. I did feel some resistance whilst looking at him - for an ex-PGA golfer he had really let himself go! I still brisk walked to catch up and see anyway. Once we were walking side-by-side-ish, I say "Hi. Patrick?" (insert Irish accent now): "Oh hello there, how are ya?" Whew, I thought - it was him, "Yeah, good, you?" "Oh I'm alright, just going down to have a few swings". Well that's good, I thought, 'cause I've booked you for half an hour and if there were no swings involved, I might want my money back, ya goose! I kind of followed him and he didn't say too much, which scared me. Looking back on it, it would have scared me too. He looked at the shed with the padlock on it and asked "Do you know how we can open this?" Again, alarm bells were sounding... We walked on to the driving range where some nice chap was helping another bloke with his golf swing. "Great!" I thought, another guy helping my Patrick out! Uh-oh. That guy who was helping waved and shouted "Heath, is it? I'll be right wit ya!" oh no. I had the wrong guy. When they real Patrick came over and shook my hand, he helped fake Patrick with opening the shed. I prayed - don't say anything fake Patrick... "This guy thought I was you! He followed me down the hill think I was gonna help him with his golf game." Bugger. I had to laugh - "Sorry mate, I thought you were the pro!" "err... No, no, no. I'm no pro my friend!" we had a laugh and I got down to business of 'Adam-Scott-ifying' my golf swing. Real Patrick asked me to practice a few shots - they went everywhere. Filled with embarrassment I slowed down my swings. When he came over he said... "Ok swing through a few and let's see how we go." next three swings - perfect. What the hell? He reckons it was cause I relaxed etc. etc. but I still felt like a bit of a tool... Anyway, after the lesson I had quite a good understanding of what to do and look forward to playing a few holes with a little. Ore consistency in future! Right now I'm having pre-dinner drinks before ordering whatever the hell I want from the menu in the 5star restaurant. Nice! Glad I've done it this way - the trip is coming to an end in a very classy way! I am really keen to get back home, and know it will take about 35hrs of flying or waiting in airports, but that's what it takes. Just hoping I get through customs etc... Bit scared about that...

#20 - Tuesday 24/7 - Final stop Dublin

I woke and had breaky, which was very uneventful... Again. Which is probably good I spose! A quick pack up and check out, and I was on my way - 3 hours to Dublin town. The last stop on my trip! Before I left, I decided to cruise into Galway city, to check it out. Again, it was very much like freo - heaps of people and confusing road layout for a visitor. I found the Post Office, by accident (a trait of my trip!) and posted some stuff that I knew would send my over the baggage allowance. It was only 4.5kgs which I thought would be more, but at least it's gone now and I can get it later! It cost €60 to post, but it would have cost more than that if I got to the airport and they charged me for it. Least it's done now! Seamus asked if I wants to go through Toll roads. I said no. So he directed me on the parts of the motorway that were toll free and then through some country towns to avoid the tolls good man. A nice way to see the countryside too. One thing I couldn't get eas Irish use of hazard lights.i rarely see them in Australia, but this is prob the correct way to use them - a car stopped suddenly waiting for a car turning right, so he put his hazard lights on. Good idea in theory, however if I had to find my hazard lights quickly,I would most certainly cause an accident anyway! I think I have finally mastered the indicator knob being on the other side of the steering wheel too... Just in time to get back to my SS with it on the other side... I'm certain I have caused much laughter and amusement for locals as I travel round a roundabout, suddenly having my windscreen wipers waving at waiting cars! Lunch was good too - another freshly made sandwich - cant underestimate the simplicity of a chicken and salad on fresh white bread. And tin foil as well - seems to be an Irish thing. I like it. I arrive at Druids at it is simply stunning. Very much like The Vones in Perth, perhaps with more steroids.  Awesome! I decided to have a few drinks in the bar. Worked my way through Smithwicks (yuck), Budweiser (what's the hype about?) and Heineken (in fairness nothing would taste right after these two). I ordered dinner - Irish loin steak with stuffed tomatoes, hand cut chips (yeah, right) and something something cheek. It was amazing! Especially the something something cheek. I'm not sure whether I should have liked it, but I did! The Irish coffee after dinner went down a treat too! Yummo... And of future reference, they're coffee beans floating in there - not chocolate, not floaties, not anything else. They don't taste incredibly good (although that makes it sounds like I was prepared to eat floaties, which I wasn't). Tomorrow i am taking it easy. I was going to go into dublin, and i probably should since im here, but really i think it will do wonders to just chill out - go for a walk, run, golf lesson, swedish body massage etc. I really need to write up notes from the ADE conference and get a few ideas for work on paper. Might be a good day for that. But for now... I'm off to one of my two double beds - which one to sleep in? Both?

#19 - Monday 23/7 in Galway but Ring of Kerry 10.5hr drive

I woke at 7am and thought another 15-30mins would be ok, however when I next looked at the clock it was 9am... Darn. My plan was to be up at 8am for breaky and a few phone calls then on the road by 9am: 3hrs drive down to Kilarney to start the Ring of Kerry, 12-3pm on that, then back at the hotel by 6pm. Ambitious somewhat... that proved correct. I rang Hertz after getting organised and realised I had booked the return of my Audi to Dublin city, not that airport. Fixed that up and booked it for an extra day as the place I am staying at is 45min south of Dublin. Incidentally I got the 5 star hotel 'Druids' (very Harry Potter) €40 cheaper through the hotel website than the same room on Expedia.com. Glad I worked out that trick four days before the end of my month long trip! I filled up with petrol (not diesel, as the fuel cap instructs...) with the bowser on the right of the vehicle (dont ask) and found out that there is no lever for the fuel hatch - you have to press the cap in for it to be released (much like mine, you'd think it would not be a problem). After realizing my travel MasterCard was still in my jeans pocket from last night, I was relieved to see enough cash in my wallet - I was off! 11:45am. Great. I prob wouldn't be backup till sundown. Even though the sun goes down at around 9:30-10pm. Lunch in Killarney was Yummo - a hot. Hickey sandwich with salad, but I couldn't resist the apple and blueberry muffin on the counter, which is unlike me. It was brilliant! I sat on some moldy/licheny brick wall circa 1650 and consumed by the flowing river on the edge of theKillarney National Park. Incidentally a herd of deer still live there, trapped from the last ice ago or something. I know - who would have though?! On my travels I jagged seeing a few signs for the Ring of Kerry - After research last night I knew you had to go anti-clockwise, but I was guessing the direction from Killarney! One way to find out! By one of the signs was a MASSIVE cathedral -Ireland and England have heaps of these old cathedrals, either beautiful kept or falling apart. This one was the former! Long story short, I travelled the Ring of Kerry the correct way, but the signs seemed to diminish somewhat at the tip of the point and I needed Seamus on my NavMan to help out a little. That leprechaun knows his streets. The Ring of Kerry is unbelievable. I only wish I booked a night half way around as it would have been an awesome setting for a meal or to wake up to. I will have to let the photos and video and panoramas speak for themselves. Words can't describe. The scenery is amazing everywhere you look. From the waterfalls roadside, to the massive mountains surging from relatively flat earth. The tight roads which scare you into belief that you will lose your €1600 deposit on the hire car, and the clouds dancing on the road surface. Wow! Just when you think it's coming to an end as you reach back to Killarney, the lake and rocky mountains make you think again. I'm not one for pulling over etc. (that's why it was good for me to do this in one day) but I had to pull over, and at one stage turned around and went back. The Germans arriving at one of the stopovers were friendly too - not unbelievable as the scenery but somewhat pleasing as they took my photo. Thanks Hans and Fredrina. Glad to see stereotypes still exist in the hire car industry too as the got out of the VolksWagon. Having said that I was booked in for a Nissan Micra originally so not sure what that makes me...! The drive back was boring! Satnav has the speed limit on it which was handy. Occasionally Seamus the voiceover guy didn't know so it was good to have a second opinion! As well as an ETA. Ireland radio drove me to play my iPhone playlist. The Gaelic channel was probably the most interesting thing of all! After arriving back t 9pm exactly, I was straight in the shower and down for dinner - a beautiful Chicken Stir fry. It was also the third night on Bulmers cider (called Magners back home). Makes a pleasant change from using a knife and fork to eat a Guinness! Urgh... So thick and filling. Staff are a bit grumpier than last night/arvo's crew. I assume it's because they expected me earlier...

#18 - Sunday 22/7- from Kilkenny to Galway

You would think that my time in the Hotel Kilkenny could not get any closer to that of a horror movie... But it did. I decided to order room service breaky so left the sign out on the door. 8am came and a knock on the door. I couldn't be bothered and thought they would just leave it outside the door. They knocked again, and thought I better get up and check. No sign of the breaky by the door (they must know the unhygienic state of the carpet - fair point butler), soi left a shoe inside the door to show I was awake when they returned. They didn't. 40mins  later and no breaky, I decided to ring reception. You'd think it would be easy. No dial tone. What the hell is going on.? I removed the side table from the wall and find pencil,dust, and a flossing apparatus... Used. Aaarrrggghhhh... How are these guys in business? The cord, I find out, is unplugged - figures. However the cord doesn't fit in the damn telephone wall socket! Hahahaha! Oh my goodness, I don't even know where to start.... I find out that it does actually fit but it has a little door on it that needs tone lifted up. Right, now to ring room service - can you guess what happens? They do not pick up!why would they? Anyway - reception finally did and they assure me it will be delivered. 5 minutes later it is, and looks great- coffee, great. Food, great. Two lots of toast - nice (not that I will eat it,but nice nevertheless). Ok - where to start? Actually, seriously where to start - there is no damn cutlery!!!! Seriously,where are the cameras? Am I on "Hotels - Worst Nightmares" reality TV show? Eventually another call and I get nt breaky. Done. After breaky I had to leave. Now. Reception didn't ask how my stay was, which was just as well.im normally not a violent person, but I could have gone to town. I think they knew. Grrrr. Bring on Galway. I set off and am happy just to be on the road again. I left at 10:30am and arrived in downtown Galway at 1pm- far too early for check-in, so I dropped my bag and went adventuring. Here are some facts of what I found about Galway: It is super busy; it's very much like Fremantle (port, one way streets, although it had parking which gave it away as a Freo impersonator and not the real deal); if you go down the wrong street, it's very difficult to get back on the right road! I went back to hotel as it was fartoo packed in town, and I couldnt stand any  more shops at this stage of my trip. I watched another Gaelic footy game between Donegal and Down. It finals times (or fourth round) so theres much excitement around. After this game Dublin beat Meath in another Gaelic match. It's a great game - I enjoyed the Bulmers and chicken burger whilst watching. Although I am in the hotel, this is relaxing and what a holiday should be all about! Unfortunately after the Gaelic games, Adam Scott lost the golf. But it is only golf after all, so something to watch but certainly not to get upset about! Unless you're Scotty. Bad luck mate. Moved back upstairs and decided to do a big clean out - I charged ipad, iPhone, laptop, camera while I totally unpacked my bag and sorted it. I tried to do a little bit of washing to get my throu and started with my socks. In he bathroom basin. The damn plugs are different over here, and after the washing cycle of my sock-cleaning effort, I managed to not be able to get the plug up.the was a lever at the back of the tap but it did little. After a quick google I had to call reception. They promptly sent someone up who tried lifting it with his bare hands. Oh my goodness. One thing going through my mind was "I'm glad it's just socks I was washing. It could have been so much worse!" he fixed it and I resumed the 'rinse cycle' after remember cycles of the washing machine. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to replicate the 'spin cycle', but I'm sure it could be skipped with adequate sock freshness under foot. I went downstairs for Dinner, I had planned to venture out but the whether was terrible. Not just raining but windy too. Me and granny and grandpa were the only ones inthe restaurant. I had a salmon and seafood cake, and then trout which had a few bones and not terribly tasty, but filled a gap. I started to plan my adventures of tomorrow - maybe the Ring of Kerry, but it is 3hrs to get down there, 170 odd kilometers to do it, and then 3hrs back again. Mind you, what else would I do???

#17 - Saturday 21/7 - In Kilkenny

After a 3am explosion - remember all the Guinness I drank... urge, not pretty, wheelchair bathroom or not - I woke ready to stab the person in the share room next door for their snoring. Arrrrggghhhh! After getting organised, I decided to just drive. I went this way and that until I saw a sign to Callan, Edmund Rice's home town.Could be cool I thought, so in that direction I went. I walked p and down the main street and it really had a country feel. Even tractors  and down the main street. An Edmund rice statue was also in the main street, as well as a Christian Brothers School plaque near where I parked the car. I said the plaque was the foundation stone of the first ChristianBrothers school, but it didn't really fit inmwith things, so not sure what it was dong! I had the nicest lunch with the freshest bread ever. Yummo! Along with a nice coffee, I set off determined to find a nice spot to eat lunch. I found a moulds concrete block seat by the river in amongst long grass. Perfect. Very Callan! It was very reflective, and the big run of a building (a church, I assumed) gave it a very peaceful, yet eerie feel. After lunch and peaceful contemplation (I know, there surrounds ,use have been good!) I walked over the see a running water well and the building ruin. It was an old friary for the 14 hundreds. Amazing - no buildings like that back home! It had no roof and grass/moss was growing on top of the walls. Stones had gave way and had fallen to the floor which again added to the eeriness of the location. After Callan, I journeyed a bit farther out of town, and (again) jagged seeing a sign to Westcourt, the birthplace of Edmund Rice. I went out there and saw the house I had seen in photos etc. which finished off the Edmund Rice experience, that wasn't really even planned! There was a chapel and museum place/thing and maybe even residences for brothers... I only took a few photos and took off! On my travels back in the Kilkenny direction, I saw a massive Hurling/Gaelic stadium and thought it would be great to see a game. Little did I know I would! On my travels I have seen so many kids roaming the streets with hurling sticks. More than Aussie kids walking with footballs. It's really cool to see them play their national sport wherever they can. I stopped outside St Kierans College and thought I'd wonder in as some cars/people had done. Kids outside the ages had hurling sticks and bags. A game was about to start. They were only hi school kids, which kind of scared me at first that kids could play this dangerous sport, but it all seemed to work out. Whacking the ball with wooden sticks on lush green grass was amazing - very skilled. The ball hardly went out! I was right in line with one shot - a pick up on the run, turn and whack over the bar and through the goal posts. Impressive. Upon my return to hell, I could not face my roomso sat in the bar, had a beer and slurped down some surprisingly good vegetable soup. My stomach thanked me. After blogging, I went back to Satan's lair and turned the Telly on - live Gaelic. Wow! What a sport day! Kenny ended up beating their oppo in a close game. I whacked on some shoes after dozing off during the game, and went back down to the bar (less friendly this time) and then into two to an awesome little Italian/mexican (I can't work out the link either but it seemed to work). The seafood meal was good, but I had to cruise for one more beer t a pub that lured me I with televising the Liverpool game. They didn't, so I left! Back to the hotel and off to sleep - snoring and all. Shut up dude! (During the night I got up and booked a five star hotel in Dublin. I had endured enough).

#16 - Friday 20/7 - From Cork to Kilkenny

Waking up was pretty hard after a 3am finish to the ADE celebrations last night. It really was an awesome conference. I suppose it was bound to be when you get 213 educators from around the world who are all on the same page with technology, and education. Doug the room mate had to leave for his plane so I decided to remind him many times that I could sleep in, which was a fun game to play for 15mins or so. When I eventually did have to get up and pack, it took a little longer than it probably should have and it was also a bit sad. Each time a bus Run would arrive I would look down and see more faces who I left at the party - they were probably boarding the bus with no sleep or one or two hours... Hard core. Unfortunately I picked the wrong time to go down to see if there was a spare seat on the busses. The last one had left 5-10mins before and the next one was to leave in over an hour. I got a taxi, and a chick from Apple UK shared it with me. She slept through her bus call, so was hurrying along the driver. I was talked into an upgrade for my hire car at the Hertz place. Probably a good idea in hindsight given the traveling I would do. An Audi 1... Nice, except my case didn't fit in the boot. Back seat for it! I also picked up a satnav which I'm sure they charged extra extra for (instead of the 'good price' promised). He was most distressed when I declined lowering the insurance rate. No three strikes here buddy! It's covered on my travel insurance pal. Twit. Once I found out how to go forward (long story) I ventured out there out of Cork airport and onto my road - Seamus my Irisih voice over on the SatNav helping me with directions. Unfortunately it took me 3 goes to find the right exit of the round about outside the airport, and of course, at least a km down the road before I could chuck a U-ie... Great. After using my kilometer allowance on the exit from the airport road, I ventured toward Kilkenny. I decided to stop off in Waterford, and jagged seeing a piddle sign directing toward the Edmund Rice Historical Centre and Museum. Wow! I wasn't sure if it would be obvious or if I would see anything, but was happy with the old 'I was in Waterford, where Edmund Rice formed the Christian Brothers'. This was even better. I found the place after a long walk, and although concerned I'd get a parking ticket the centre was excellent. So much detail and history. I am so glad I went. The chapel at the end of the tour was awesome. So much stained glass and beautiful architecture. Unbeknownst to me, Edmund's final resting place is the chapel - a tomb near the altar. Wow! I continued on to Kilkenny, and although i arrived there, wasn't sure I was there for most of the journey from its outskirts to its centre! I passed St Kierans college, a massive, old school on the same street as my hotel, and the venue for where I would later watch my very first hurling game. The hotel hard to find. Once i got to my room, i understood why. If I was charging the public to stay in that rubbish-heap, I wouldn't signpost it either. I was I the 'premier suite' (if you are in a wheelchair). Handrails everywhere in the bathroom, and a very slow closing door. Awesome. It's not a problem etc, but I certainly wasn't expecting spending €100 a night on that. Should have gone to the B &B opposite the road. I went to that pub, literally after dropping my bag, realizing the wheelchair-ness; the fact I right under the lobby (if I hear any more high heel clip-clips from the wedding party, I'll stab someone with them); the fact I was right next to the 'Kids Club' room; the fact that there was no privacy curtain (just black out curtains) on the windows; and another assortment of surprises I would find later on in the stay. The pub was traditional Irish. Seamus was the bar tender (couldn't write that into script eh?!) and the locals were talking English but I could understand a word of it! Hilarious. They were all super friendly and gave me advice about where to get a feed and pubs in town to go to etc. they assured me I would love Galway which perked me up from my hotel room experience! A short walk into town which included having a 5 year old shove a puppy dog at me (with a 'boo') and me scaring him - with my accent no less,as well as seeing teenagers play a versional of Soccer, Gaelic and Chasey in front of moving and parked cars. I walked into a restaurant who weren't keen on serving me, admittedly it was 9:20pm, so I found a restaurant who was. I even got advice from the table closest who said the lamb was good - and it was. yum. I was the only one left in the bar after I finished my meal, so apologized for keeping the bar tender, however he said they were open for another few hours! Had a big chat with him about what to do on my final 5 days in Ireland and where to hear some 'trad music'. I popped into another bar and the bar man struck up a convo about being 6 weeks into taking over the bar. A 60 year had a guitar and a harmonica behind the mike and the 5 of us in the pub were loving it, but as soon is Mick and I finished chatting and I walked out, I heard the guitar playing stop and a 'back to the CDs, Mick' comment! Must be a popular place! I walked on what I was certain was the road home. It wasn't. So I caught a cab. €5. Bargain. Now, to tackle the room with 6/7 guinesses under my belt. It seems better already!

#14 - Saturday 14/7 from Reading to Heathrow to Cork

I awoke after a great night out with Bryan and Karlos. I was very grateful for the lift in the Audi to the bus stop to get the Heathrow bus. It was luxury! Wifi,TV screen showing you a map of where we were, interesting info, approx time to arrival etc. there were even plugs to charge devices whilst on the go!It only took about 30mins from Reading to Heathrow. It all went super smooth until I got to security screening, where the screen operator gave a foul look and set the beeper/red light off while my bag was in there. My worst nightmare! Thank God the guy delivering items after screening was friendly. He took me to the side and asked me to open the bag and take out the iPad and camera etc. which meant they could be scanned properly. All good after that - mental note to take out the laptop. As well as not pack 8.2kg in your hand luggage! I got the scales out at Bryan's place to get it under the20kg limit. Thankfully it got there!

I'm now waiting for my flight to Cork. The gate is somewhere between 77-84, which is kind of in the same area which is lucky, but still not helping my nerves. It's only an our and a half flight, so I should be right. The BLT and Leffe has helped.

...and touchdown. The flight was delayed, yet short, and non-memorable. I grabbed my baggage and headed out to, hopefully, not appear on the Irish version of Border Control or Nothing To Declare or Passport or an equivalent! There were three aisles that all went the same way - not sure about that, but I headed through nervously... And arrived to see two iPad-holding people with signs for the ADE conference. Very Apple. I signed in and was directed to the coach... The holiday is now on hold - work has started!