It's always something. I write today from southwest Kerry, Ireland, from a town called Kells — just a few hundred feet from where Fred's Lynch ancestors came. Fred, Owen, and his girlfriend Hannah, and I left Logan at 6:35 yesterday (7/3) pm and arrived at 5 am on the Fourth of July. The flight was smooth; in fact, it passed so easily I was incredulous when Fred put my tray down because it was time for breakfast. The only hitch was one kid talking in his "outdoor voice" several rows back who woke me up a few hundreds times. I said to the woman next to me, who was also annoyed, "I heard someone say 'JESUS CHRIST!' at one point." And she said, "Mighta been me." She was fun :)
The ease of picking up the car rentals was in stark contrast to the last time. Super efficient. (We switched companies; maybe that's why.) Alas, that's where the ease ended. The kids rented their own car, so the four of us, in two cars, agreed to meet in a town two hours away (Killorglin) where we have had a lovely Irish breakfast in the past, and where there is also an Aldi to stock up the kitchen at the AirBNB. (Driving is another story, one I really don't want to think about. The only thing more stressful than driving on the left-hand side of the road with clockwise rotaries every two miles (seemingly), is knowing your child is doing the same.... )
Upon arriving in Killorglin, parking next to each other, and getting out of the car, I realized it was quite chilly and went to grab a sweater from the back seat of the car. But I misjudged both the heft of the door (or lack there of — it was light as a feather) and the size and shape. It was oversized and very square with a sharp edge. It flung open and gouged my upper lip. I would have thought, what a freak accident, but Fred has almost done it too, every time he opens the door. I found this on line (see link below), which was validating, and have posted a complaint asking for any info on a class action suit. I've had some great luck with those in the past and have no qualms about keeping big corporations honest and responsible. This car — a Dacia Sandero — is a Renault-owned Romania car.
https://www.daciaforum.co.uk/threads/anyone-else-get-attacked-by-your-doors.4050/
The culprit. As you can see, the door is HUGE and what you might not see is that the edge of it goes up and over onto the roof, curved, and sharp. Ugh. But enough. Now for the happy stuff.
A lovely shop keeper told me to go to the pharmacy when it opens in a hour or so and see what they think. Pharmacists in Europe/UK play a much bigger role than in the US in terms of advising people medically. Anyway, she said because it's my face and I'm not a guy (in that a scar is not rugged on a woman), I should go to an urgent care and see about glue... not stitches. This is not my first lip laceration, but that's another story for another time.
The culprit. As you can see, the door is HUGE and what you might not see is that the edge of it goes up and over onto the roof, curved, and sharp. Ugh. But enough. Now for the happy stuff.
A lovely shop keeper told me to go to the pharmacy when it opens in a hour or so and see what they think. Pharmacists in Europe/UK play a much bigger role than in the US in terms of advising people medically. Anyway, she said because it's my face and I'm not a guy (in that a scar is not rugged on a woman), I should go to an urgent care and see about glue... not stitches. This is not my first lip laceration, but that's another story for another time.
The kids ended up staying in town for that great Irish breakfast while Fred and I drove to Tralee where they saw me pretty quickly, and determined there was no need for glue — or rather, it was not deep enough to pull the two sides together. She prescribed a steriod/hydrocortisone cream — which I read should be used on your face ONLY IF A DOCTOR TELLS YOU TO, and if you get it on your clothes or sheets, it can be flammable. Great... It's not terrible.. I can laugh and smile without it splitting open... but now it's becoming a black eye... I though my freckles were turning gray until I realized it was a cheek bruise. Okay, the subject is now closed.
Our place is UNBELIEVABLE! A view of Dingle Bay in front, and a mountain in the back. Lots of room. A couch for everyone. (We had anticipated more guests when we rented the place, but kept it anyway!)
Our place is UNBELIEVABLE! A view of Dingle Bay in front, and a mountain in the back. Lots of room. A couch for everyone. (We had anticipated more guests when we rented the place, but kept it anyway!)
Once we got unpacked and took a short nap, we joined Fred's brother Sean and son Eamon on a walk on the land the Lynches once lived — with permission from "Farmer Joe," who owns it now... Sean and his wife Susan, and their two sons, Eamon and Finn, are here, too, overlapping with us for a few days. They're staying right down the road where we stayed last time.
Our walk was a pretty rainy one. We saw the same horses we met last time.
Then, we went back to the house to freshen up and head down to Fertha's, a pub we recalled fondly for its seafood chowder. We tried to change the reservation from 6 to 6:30 because of how long our hike went, but were told, oh, I don't think we can because we are already staying open late for the 6:00! I guess there was no need for this sign since we had the place to ourselves!
The seafood chowder did not disappoint. Fresh scallions on top, and brown bread on the side are the cherries on top. Also I got the Guinness with Mi Wadi, a blackberry currant syrup that makes it more palatable "for the ladies." :) It's called a Guinness & Black.
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