Final Summary of Ireland GR3

Hi to all

Although time seemed to be standing still, at times, it's hard to believe that our stay in Ireland was one week short of six months. We grew accustomed to dark, grey and wet days, with a few days of blue skies and sunshine….far too few, for all of us. Ireland was great though and what was to be a place to rest and re-coup, as well as a place to rake in some more funds, our time here has taught us much.

The kids enjoyed their 'Montessori Schooling', Vanita enjoyed being out of the van and I enjoyed the Barrowview Medical Practice, with John, Denise and Susan. Locumotion, the agency that we used to source our work appointments were fantastic and always very accommodating and a really great bunch of people to work with. Working with Caredoc, also provided me the opportunity of visiting towns like Tipperary, Cashel, Enniscothy, Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford and Clonmel and meeting great drivers like Phillip and Frank. These sessions provided great opportunities to see the country sides and witness fantastic sunsets and sunrises.

While in Ireland we also got to understand terms like the 'Celtic Tiger', 'Fair Play to you mate' and got to learn why the roads are as curved as they are and why traffic is always just so busy.

There are those people though that made Ireland just that little more special.

There was our neighbour, Rudi (a fellow SA), Cindy our landlady, with their dog Pal. Lance from Advance Pitstop, was a great mechanic to have and really proved to be very accommodating and helpful, but our 2 nd Lance from Bridge Motorhomes, eventually became a co-sponsor for our 'Journey of a Lifetime' and the DICAG centre. He fitted our vehicle with a second battery, stabilized our table, sealed all water leaks and cleaned our gas burners.

Then, there was Tommy (a SA doctor from Arklow), working in Carlow. We spent a weekend with his family and friends and we then realized that no matter how long you are away from SA, there will always be a part of you that will miss 'Home'. Our weekend seemed to fly by, but then again, so did our stay in Ireland.

Over the Christmas and New Year celebrations, we were blessed to have Dougie, Patty and Enid visit us for one month. The kids and adults alike were spoilt and thoroughly enjoyed the visit, but like all good things, this too grew to a close rather suddenly. We managed to visit Dublin, with Father Tucker and also the Kilkenny Castle, in Kilkenny. Much time was spent indoors though, enjoying each others company and the warmth of the fireplace .It was over this time that we realized that 'Tis the season' to be at home, in SA.

Three weeks prior to our departure, we moved into the Forest Campsite, just outside Athy and finalized all arrangements…organized the Schengen Visums, last minute banking, Vehicle and Health Insurances, finishing off with Caredoc and obtaining our gas.

On the 21 April 2008, we headed for Rosslare and spent our last night at the St. Margaret's Campsite, where we met up with GR1. Our last supper was 'Fish and Chips' and we enjoyed the movie 'I am Legend'. Our time in Ireland was over, we were off to England , Europe and well on our way into the second leg of this 'Journey of a Lifetime'. What did these next few months have in store for us all?