The Weekend

I did not have time to keep up with my blog. Roberta kept me very busy for the last few days. I will try to catch you up and then in my next post try to bring you up to date on the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland.

Friday Malcolm and Irene Hewitt, who are very active in the Ulster Project, took me to a very nice restaurant for lunch. I was involved with the Ulster Project since it's inception in Memphis in 2001. I also served on the board for several years. So, through the years, I have developed a relationship with some of the leaders in Derry. At this time we do not have an Ulster Project in Memphis due to lack of funding and difficulty getting host families. Malcolm and I discussed the possibility of renewing the project in Memphis. Roberta and I spent Friday afternoon visiting her relatives.

Roberta called me several months before the trip and was very excited that a group, called the Indians, would be playing at a club the Saturday night I would be there. Her mother, aunts, and cousin all came up for the event. The Indians dress up in full costume with one of them wearing the long headdress. They played polka, country/western, and Irish songs. Needless to say, it was a little bizarre. I thought there is no way I can dance to that, but I tried. It was a long night - I finally got to bed around 3:30. The house was full of a lot (7 people spent the night) "happy" people.

Sunday, Roberta and I got up early and went to a car boot sale. Instead of garage sales, they drive their cars into a big lot and sell things from their boot (trunk). It was quite interesting. We got take out Sunday lunch with cabbage, ham, turkey, peas, carrots, and two kinds of potatoes. That afternoon, I went to the Ness which is a very cute tea/garden shop with Melanie, her sister, and her mother.

My flight left from Belfast, so Monday morning we drove there. The weather has been unbelievable. The only time I really got wet was walking into the airport at Belfast. I had already packed my raincoat so I just got wet. I have actually come back from Ireland with a suntan. The highs were consistently in the low 70's.

I am having a little culture shock coming home. Needless to say the laundry has built up and my house seems quiet. I have been accustomed to a lot of people around and laughing a lot. One thing no one has said to me since I got home was, "I love you accent." I have not had to say, "Could you say that again? I didn't understand you.