Yarn purchases

I popped over to Farnborough this morning - not our usual shopping place as it is about 20 miles away, but it is where I bought the greeny colour yarn for edging the granny squares on my blanket.   As I am almost out of my original purchase I needed more.  Lucky the store still had some of this colour left and I bought just two 100 g balls which I am sure will be plenty.

My other purchase was this yarn I found in a Charity Shop for 50p.  It is quite a thick yarn and I am not sure what I will do with it yet - maybe a hat or scarf for one of my granddaughters.  I think it will crochet up quite well.

A trip to Coventry

I had a meeting to attend near Coventry on Saturday, so Brian kindly suggested we drive up on the Friday and stay overnight so I would not have a long drive before my meeting.  The original idea was that we would visit Waddesdon Manor on the way up.  However, halfway there Brian remembered that he had left his National Trust card at home, so we had to change plans.

As I had never been into Coventry City we decided that was where we would go before arriving at our hotel.

Reconciliation by Josefina de Vasconcellos

I found the contrast between the old bombed cathedral and the new modern one quite moving.  I had not realised before that they are attached.  We wandered around the bombed ruins for quite some time reading inscriptions and marvelling at how sympathetically the 'repairs' and strengthening have been done.  There are a few modern statues inside and I was particularly struck by this one called 'Reconciliation' which had been presented to the Cathedral in 1995, 50 years after the war ended.  The sculpture, by Josefina de Vasconcellos was presented by Richard Branson as a token of reconciliation.  An idential scupture is in the Peace Garden at Hiroshima, Jampa, and was given by the people of Coventry.  The insction reads: "Both scupltures remind us that in the face of destructive forces, human dignity and love will triumph over disaster, bringing nationals together in respect and peace."

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Back home

I had a fabulous week in Ireland.  It was my first visit, and I do hope it will not be my last.  We were so lucky with the weather - I know Ireland can be very wet, but we only had a couple of very light showers.  It was wonderful to catch up with my sister Pauline again.   Our hosts who owned the cottage we stayed in could not have been kinder and were so generous to us.   The cottage was really nice - all upside down.  The bedrooms and bathroom were downstairs and the living area upstairs.

The cottage

We visited Blarney Castle, but we did not venture up into the tower to kiss the Blarney Stone.  Partly because of the very long queue and it would have been an hour's wait, and also because both Pauline and I have a fear of heights.  We did look up at it and blew a kiss -I wonder if that counts?   Probably not!

Blarney Castle

Looking up at the Blarney Stone -right at the top of the tower!

We also visited Blarney Woollen Mills and various purchases of expensive woollen jackets, etc. were made by us all.

We took a two day trip to County Kerry and stayed overnight in a B and B. in the town of Killarney. The countryside we drove through was spectacular.   We drove part of the "ring of Kerry" up to Ladies View before driving back to the cottage.

I loved the murals on these walls

Beautiful wrought iron window guard

Rose detail of the wrought iron window guard.

Jaunting Car

Ross Castle

Ladies Ring

We didn't see any Leprechaun's

Another day we went to the Waterford Crystal Factory.   Pauline and I walked along by the harbour and into the town whilst her friends visited the factory and made their purchases.

A memorable visit on our last day was made to Cobh where the Titanic sailed from.   Again, Pauline and I walked along the front and visited the shops whilst the others went into the Titanic exhibition.

All in all it was a wonderful week. It was so nice to see my sister again and spend time with her, and to meet her friends and our hosts in Ireland.