Cakes and boys and other ramblings of an Irish Mammy: So. Back from Kerry. Twas fun, wet and mental!

14 July, 2010

So. Back from Kerry. Twas fun, wet and mental!

Back from Kerry since Saturday. We stayed at the wonderful Ballybunion Golf Homes and would recommend them to everyone. You take your chances with the weather and whilst last year we had glorious sunshine 6 days out of 7 this year was a bit of a washout. Saturday, when we got there, the wind literally took the breath from me as we stepped out of the car which was really annoying as it was sun, sun, sun right through every other county we passed on our way to our home for the week.

Stopped in Adare (Limerick I believe) as I've always wanted to only to discover it's bloody expensive. Like, REALLY, expensive. It's a beautiful village and the people are really friendly but bloody hell. €28.45 for 3 sausage rolls, 3 juices and a mocha?? Yer grand! Next time we'll stop in Nenagh.

Sunday was glorious if blustery and we took to the beach. No handsome behinds to admire this year (all the lifeguards were in their little cabin thing) but I got to get to admire the front of them when Arthur stepped on something and cut his foot. Awww, yay for Arthur. You know what? There is nothing as sexy as a Kerry man. Sorry, can't help myself, PHOAAAR!.

Kids, all six of them, had a great time. No set times for anything. Heaven. Then I went and scuppered it all. I trapped a nerve in my back. Or there was a nerve being pinched in my back. Either way, I was in agony and everything was left up to Carol. May have mentioned her before. She is one of my absolute-est best mates. The kind of mate you'd help dispose of bodies etc. for. Anyway, she with the 10 month old godson of mine took over everything. Which is a good thing as the lovely Dr. J. Sullivan prescribed me all sorts of mad drugs incl Diazapan!!!!!! Wowsers, isn't that the stuff women took in the 70's to get through the day or was that valium? Not that it matters I had that too. It was also the lovely doc. who worked out how I had trapped said nerve that was being pinched/upset/ruining my holiday. The ern, rather energetic goodbye I gave Darren was responsible. Must remember am not 21 anymore!

She took the kids to Toby World in Trallee where they all had a blast and I lay flat on my back and looked at the sunshine trying so hard to break through the clouds. Then, the next day she took them to the new Seal Sanctuary. Kids had a blast there BUT ONLY because Carol made it so. The place was being advertised as being open with seals, cafe, outdoor playground and go-karts. She went on a Wednesday with the six mentioned, paid €28 euro in and . . . no playground and no go-carts. She drove 40km to see a few seal cubs. I know it's a charity thing ultimately but c'mon. The girl whom Carol complained to simply said 'you can come back on Friday for free'. Fine if you live locally but a bit pants if you don't. As I said, thanks to Carol, the kids had a fantastic time but ONLY because she is the fantastic person she is.

After two days in bed I decided boredom was worse than a sore leg so got up and we went to Crag Cave which is well worth the trip. Was funny, the girls overcharged me and undercharged Carol so we split the difference and had a couple of coffees. Well worth the visit. Lots to do and see and do etc.

Friday. Day before going home. Always pants. Made more pants cos it's pissing down. Went into Listowel with kids and bought a shite load of comics to keep them entertained for a good long while now that I think about it. Settled down in our favourite cafe, Off the Square, where they remembered us. Good thing or bad? Then Carol legged it off to airport to grab Darren who was flying down to drive me and the gang up to Dublin. Me and the kids had a great time. Because they had comics they ate everything in front of them without noticing. Got back to house. Darren arrived whereupon the kids all became whingy. Mine because their daddy was here and the others because theirs wasn't. I had my second and last big sleep with my godson whom I love to death. He is an insane little chap. Knows exactly what he wants and knows he wants her now!!!! Don't think there is anything as cool as waking up with a podgy baby. Delicious.

Finally gave the kids what they'd been waiting all night for. Earlier in the day I'd filled pretty much all our water balloons and left them in the sink. Had been putting them in a cardboad box but they kept exploding and the box melted. Put all the kids into their swimsuits, threw them out into the lashing rain and let them have it. They also let Darren and Carol have it. I was safe (tax and all that jazz) as I had a crap leg and was holding the camera. It was the bomb. That's what I reckon they'll all remember about the holiday. Waterfight in the rain. I LOVE KERRY.

Kids showered, warmed up, fed (with all sorts of stuff - you know how it is when you're trying to empty out a fridge and presses), video finished and off to bed whereupon me, Carol and Darren got our third (his first) chinese of the week. Good God but it's the best take away food I have ever eaten. I think it's called Sky High and it's definitely in Listowel and it's magic. Guy taking our order wanted to know who the extra meal was for???? Felt like I was dealing with a guard and started explaining my trapped nerve and how my husband had to fly down from Dublin and how he didn't read the conditions on his ticket before he clicked the 'I have read and understand the terms and conditions' box and . . . . . Nice guy. We'll see him next year too. Oooh, and we set our fire lanterns free. Photos aren't the best but we had a laugh. Especially the very first one we set up ( just me and Carol ) where we both needed to pee so badly before we lit it we were in a heap by the time it disappeared from view.

So, pictures: