and would you be wantin’ rain with that

OK lets get on with the story of the Ireland Trip. Leaving Heathrow was great as it was a rathole with scabs but it felt like we were driving to Ireland the amount of taxiing we did. Typical Irish, $10 million plane that they drive every where. We did however take off and we no sooner got up then it came down. What a blessing. Aer Lingus deposited safely in the middle Dublin Airport with it’s beautiful green lawns. Hang all the grass is like this! Off through what we can loosely call a passport check and down to get the mode of Transport. We got a Mitsubishi Spacia. Small 4 cylinder rice burner that could not even get the indicator on the right side of the steering wheel. Kept turning the windscreen wipers off or on. And the POWER, whoah, I just hope I don’t have a head on with anything with larger than a stoat or I might not actually kill it.

And it is pouring with rain, not like an English shower more your north Queensland downpour and wind like Cyclone Wilma but straight out of the Arctic. I found myself changing lanes several times without actually indicating, looking or wanting too. Luckily everyone else changed lanes at the same time. Pity about the guy on the outside lane. The Motorways are great, 120km/h. Quick honey start rowing we will get her up to speed. 5th gear is great for downhill runs.

The directions were fantastically Irish, all in miles, and told us to turn at Doolan’s farm and left at the “Green” house. Green is in quotes as the house is actually Peach. Found the house finally despite this and got setup. The wind is still making stiff trees and large house tilt to the west. The owner is a lovely woman, Gertrude (yes her real name) who’s family has been know as The Magners of the Inches since the early 1900s and the ‘dairy’ farm has produced mostly potatoes and turnips or grass and silage bales. Gertrude had made us a plate of fantastic cream cakes for our arrival and brought down a jug of fresh milk topped with two inches of cream. If we keep up this eating we will come back looking like cream cakes ourselves.

The kids are still getting over the whole body clock thing, with both them up at 3am wanting to talk and play. Only threats of Physical violence worked and the promise that Barbie would not see another day unless they went back to bed. I woke up again in the dark and started to think that my clock was out to. Looked at the watch but I can’t see it as it is dark, idiot. Get torch and check watch again. 6:30??!!?? Must not have set it right in London, so I get up to confirm my stupidity. No it is actually 6:30 and the sun is still hours away from rising. I have heard of daylight saving but first you some daylight to save.

The old folks have arrived to day with stories of their trip and prezzies for the kids. KLOGS!! Advice:- give no child klogs if you have hollow wooden floors. I think the same decibel rating would be seen at a Metallica concert. Apparently it was not only our flight that blew chunks.
Lets play tourist Tomorrow.

Well off we go

Well the trip starts. We left Brisbane on what can be called a typical hot humid day to arrive in Singapore on a typical hot, humid night. The girls were painful on the plane but that is to be expected. Carmody could not sit still with a gun to head and super glue on her butt but conversely the flight started a little rough and Taylor was a bit air sick, not bad though enough to put her off her dinner. Carmody informed us around a mouth full of nuggets that she too was feeling a bit sick. Ha.

Singapore is some place. 3000% humidity according to Peta and she would know. We basically walked out of the airport without hurdle we just walked towards the nothing to declare sign and presto we were outside. We then caught a Taxi. One guy hailed it, one guy opened a door and another shoved the bags in the boot, Another took the trolley away and finally the guy that did not speak english was ellected taxi driver. Lines on the road must mark graves because they aren't for driving inside. Also looked a bit like he lived in here. "Off to the Royal Plaza hotel on Scott Rd Please" Quizical look? "R-o-y-a-l P-l-a-z-a! S-c-o-t-t R-o-a-d" Can't believe I just said it that slow, oh my God I am a stereo type. No worries we are off. I have visions of a Chimpanzee and a bottle of Pepsi Max, "Don't worry no sugar!" Carmody Says "Dad is very queit in the front!" No I am not I have to keep body count and at speed that is hard.

Jokes aside Singapore is lovely, clean, hot and humid and the hotel is nice. Better enjoy life now as thed next flight is 13 hours followed by 4 of driving. Do I hear Justifiable Homicide anyone.

Two days to go

Well the last couple of days may have been a holiday for me but I have been very busy ensuring that all the stuff around the house is nailed down. Storms every day remind me what the place is in for while we are off. Peta is doing her usual trick of staying up till the middle of the night making things and general contributing to the excitment level of the house. Alsorts of people wishing us a great trip and far to many saying stay safe. I am a magnet for danger or is there something I should know.

The kids are packed and I have a lot of crap spread out around the place and one small bag to do a Mary Popins on. The laptop is going with us and I have just about completed a mamoth dial up to get it updated and hardened, if you could say that the custard that microsoft calls security is hard.

Must remember to get a UK adapter for the power!

Two more sleeps to go.

Sweeney's Blog

Sweeney's Blog

Only 8 days to go and I am palming off work like a teenage boy locked in the bathroom. Everyone is excited. The last weekend has been good training for the climate it was cold and rainy here in Brisbane.

Sweeney's Blog

Only 24 days to go we have all the Passports ready just the wife has to find her's. She will have put in a good secure spot that only terrorist's can find no doubt.