Finally...The Journey!

My First Sight of Irish Soil...and Yes I was pulled over by Mr Neon Jacket.

30th August 2009
I was promised some lone time with the dog, 1300km to be precise...but with the medical emergency and some sleight of hand I ended up with the kids for 15 hours driving and 20 hrs on a ferry in what the Captain euphemistically called " moderate seas".

I guess hubby felt he was a better bet for the 5 hour coast to coast dash accross the UK, caused by the need to get the dog home too. Contrary to french speed camera records I am a slow driver and I get lost easily. With the UK ferry times, there was no lee-way for getting lost, according to hubby. So I got the kids and the fancy car.

All went extremely well...until...you got it...the last minute.
As the hundreds of passengers were bailing down the Titanic-like stairs of the ferry to retrieve their cars...Sonny disappeared, completely.

I couldn't move as I wanted to stay where he had last seen me..I had lots of baggage (because it was a disorganised departure...I.AM.A.GOOD.PACKER)

I had to appeal to the other passengers...who mostly had husbands and such.
They were FANTASTIC. The whole area started a big search for a 5 year old boy with glasses. He was found in the reception area under the supervision of staff.

He reported himself missing apparently.

We disembarked the ferry, to low grey cloud and lashing rain (see photo) and were pulled over twice from the exit queue by customs and the Dept of Agriculture. DOA wanted to know where our dog was and if I had hidden her in the car because her passport was dodgy. All I could say was grrrrrrrrr.

I gave him the key to check the car and didn't move to help. I think he recognised a woman on the edge and let me go without any major search.

Then customs stopped me for a grilling about the car. You might remember I was supposed to be driving my car with dog, instead I am dishevelled wreck driving an "executive" car with 2 potentially traffiked kids. All red flags seemed to go up for me and Mr white tracksuit-white baseball cap in the BMW in front. Mr. Customs was more concerned about hubby's car than any kiddie traffiking, I was prepared to surrender them there and then...no quibble.

Anyhoo got to Dublin that lunch-time to a fab meal laid on by the out-laws.
Returned to the old Homestead...which is looking a bit grimy. Funny how other people grime looks alot worse than your own.



Because of the forced separation of the two cars..we didn't have a complete set of "stuff". So kids and I had to sleep on the beds with no sheets or pillow cases.
Kids insisted on sleeping with me..ds in a sleeping bag on the floor, despite 3 other empty bedrooms.

Got a late-night call from somewhere in the English countryside from hubby to say he was lost. He had passed signposts for Havant and Waterlooville (oh noooo), it was dark and no one about. I had no map or internet access so had to pass him on to his Dad and brother...who talked him back on the right road and onto the right ferry ...on time.

So lunch-time on Tuesday morning, 3 days after I left Bellentre, we are all finally home together.

WHAT A YEAR!