Day 3 Problem Solving 101
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| If you ever come to Ireland you need to know about switches! |
Whenever you travel into different countries there are always things that trick you and the last 24 hours has proved this theory again!!!
Last night was a bit late for me after writing my blog (!!) and generally trying to find my bearings, so all I could think about eventually was having a nice hot shower and getting to bed! But alas and alack it was not to be, because I didn't know about switches!!!! You see in Australia, it's a simple thing to have a shower where you turn the taps on and water come out... but in Ireland first you have to turn on the switch!!! Which is all very well if you know about switches. But 11.30pm at night is not a great time to try and become acquainted with one. So here I was - ready for my shower - pushed the power button on the little shower machine, but nothing happened... pushed again a few times but nothing happened.... so I just had to resort to what my Mum called and "up and downer" in the bath.
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| Electric Hot water system |
But during the night I remembered when I stayed with Mary Byrne in Dublin (she's the sister of my friend Bernadette) that I had to put a little red switch on... light bulb moment!!! See the pic above!! Once I found the right red switch, I was away! Problem was there were 3 switches in the unit!!!! But I'm sure everyone will be pleased to know, I eventually found the right one and had a lovely shower!!!
The next problem solving moment was the taps in my sink... hot water was not happening!!! And dripping taps big time was happening!! So my new hero Paul - who came to fix the TV which also wasn't working - sorted out my hot water with recognizing the right switch and also changing the washer on the tap that was continually dripping!!!
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| My new 2nd best friend Paul :) |
The Church bells started ringing at 9.45am, calling people to the 10am Mass. Thought I might as well take a look and see what Church was like for a weekday Mass in Lahinch! I started off thinking about it through theological eyes, but soon came to look at it through cultural eyes....
It's quite a big Church, allowing for the holiday crowds.. but everyone was back in the last one third of the Church. In fact the heaters were on there and not up the front! I remember whilst living in Newman, that the Irish contingent could always be found in the back few rows of the church!!!
Mass was pretty standard, except every now and then the priest said the response in Gaelic language and everyone joined in. The people of the West Coast of Ireland are known for their ability to speak Irish...
The other unique thing was the prayers of the faithful...
I think they went for longer than the rest of the Mass combined!!! And everyone got a mention by name - so it went so and so who've been married 8 years today, and poor old Father somebody who was buried in the Ennistymon parish... and all these people were rattled off one by one! Then when it came to the Eucharistic prayer, they were all mentioned again!!!! Nothing like a personal connection with the Parish!
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| Lahinch Catholic Church |
I thought I would give you a quick little movie showing you where my house is, in relationship to the town...
As you can see I am really close to the main street, the Church and the sea.... beautiful position!
After my hero Paul had departed from my house, I decided to go down the street for a walk... lovely day today - bit overcast but not too cold...
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| These surfers were all school kids! Way to go!!! |
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| Beach was lovely this arvo! |
Didn't do much this afternoon, as I had the boys back still trying to sort out my TV! Nice to just stay home actually!
Tonight I went down to my favourite haunt - The Atlantic Hotel - to have my half pint of Smithwicks and I stayed for tea again. Their roasts are lovely and their vegies are just what I'm after... why bother cooking!!!
Walked home along the beach and it was a bit more rugged this evening...
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| Lahinch beach after tea... |
I think the weather is going to break a bit soon, with some rain expected. Will be good to see Lahinch in a slightly more wild mood!
Hope these posts aren't getting too long... sometimes I think I don't have much to say, then all this stuff happens.
C'est la vie!!!
