My Wicklow Day
The sun was shining last Sunday as I drove to Roundwood, County Wicklow, one of the highest villages in Ireland. It was an easy drive with Motorway for over half my journey. Gloria was sitting on the dashboard, talking non stop. On the seat beside me I had my trusty section of map. You can have Gloria all you want I prefer the ‘old-fashioned’ method. Gloria in case you are wondering was a GPS that Elly insisted I borrow, since I had not travelled this road before. She seems to have forgotten that I drove the two of us from home right across England to Co Durham without even looking at a map, in the days when GPS was science fiction.
Pity I didn’t have time to explore The Indian Sculpture Park, it will have to wait for another day.
As I arrived at my destination for the day, I was welcomed by a handsome Toyboy even before I had parked my car. Anne my friend was waiting at the door. It was time to meet the man of the moment who had no idea that I was invited.
His face was a picture and our greetings quite emotional. The extended family were already gathered with friends from all arts and parts. This would indeed be a very special birthday.
Large tables were placed in the garden and another one indoors for those shy of the strong sunshine. It was a real pet day. I recharged the batteries of old friendships and made new friends. Conversation was easy and interesting. The younger generation flitted from group to group making sure that glasses were refilled and everyone was comfortable.
In the kitchen there was an air of confident quiet activity as Amos the caterer added final flourishes to the buffet. It was a mouth drooling display, a work of art to tempt the eyes and the taste buds all at once. All dietary needs were catered for. The food lived up to all expectations. I described the desserts as sin on a plate, alas I had to avoid most of them but made up for it with birthday cake.
The banter and chat continued and the hours passed in minutes but since I was driving alone, on roads I was not familiar with, I reluctantly took my leave as the sun began to sink and headed back to Elly’s. I later heard the singing went on into the early hours.
A couple of hundred yards out the road I passed a stationary pick-up truck with lights flashing. The driver was returning to the vehicle having off loaded a car. It was not very long before he was on my tail. I pulled close to the verge to let him pass. He did and acknowledged me with a flash of his lights and continued on ahead of me. Almost immediately he slowed, tapping his breaks several times and very soon I discovered why. In the gloom of a winding country single carriage road three horses had jumped a fence. The third and largest animal was struggling to release his back leg from the fence. As he did so he jumped further into the road. Thanks to the driver in the high recovery truck I had plenty of warning and time to take evasive action.
The remainder of the journey was uneventful and I arrived at Elly’s in one contented piece. It had been a great day.
Rummuser said,
August 22, 2010 at 8:11 am
What a pity that you missed out on the Indian Sculpture Park. The creator is not the first to get the Indian bug to bite him. There are scores of others with collections of Indian statues and artwork, all over the world.
Elly, being a woman should not forget that it is the man who will not ask for directions. Good that you do not have a left front seat driver! Would be very unsettling I should imagine.
belfasttaxidriver said,
August 22, 2010 at 8:52 am
Having Gloria with you when your traveling somewhere for the first time is a good idea the good lord knows GPS has saved my bacon once or twice..
Lorna said,
August 22, 2010 at 9:36 am
I have to admit that I find the sat nav a bit irritating when she doesn’t recognise the existence of the new motorway and keeps thinking I am driving in the middle of a field but I love the way she doesn’t get irritated if I take the wrong turn and simply says, very calmy, that she will recalculate!
We were in Roundwood on Thursday - had 2 lovely days over in Wicklow - the children loved Glendalough, Mount Usher Gardens and Brittas Bay.
steph said,
August 22, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Sounds like a lovely day-out.
I also have an aversion to using a SAT NAV.
In our case, it’s Nicole who accompanies us on all long journeys but I refuse to have anything to do with her other than to gag her when I’ve had enough of listening to her!
Grannymar said,
August 22, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Ramana - Now that I know my way (minus maps and Gloria) I will return one day to explore the Indian Sculpture Park.
BTD - I completely foxed Gloria last week. There were two roads that I could choose from to begin my journey. Gloria wanted me to take the first, but I chose the second. In a total tizzy when I ignored her suggestion to turn around, she kept giving me the directions for BOTH routes! It was so funny. She never once told me she was recalculating.
Lorna - I had not been in that area of Wicklow for about 35 years. Now I want to go back there and rediscover it once more.
Steph - If someone else is using a ‘Gloria’, I just switch off and ignore her. Once out of the driving seat I concentrate on the scenery.
wisewebwoman said,
August 22, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Was it your birthday GM?
Belated good wishes if so and many many more.
XO
WWW
Grannymar said,
August 22, 2010 at 3:26 pm
WWW - One birthday is enough for me in a year and mine was many months ago.
kenju said,
August 22, 2010 at 4:32 pm
It is good to know that you had a nice time on your trip and THANK HEAVEN that truck driver was in front of you!!
Grannymar said,
August 22, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Judy - I have the greatest respect for truck drivers, they are courteous and mindful of other drivers. They use their lights to great effect for signalling of any dangers, the cabs being so high above the hedgerows gives them a good view of the land about.
BelfastTaxiDriver said,
August 22, 2010 at 6:19 pm
I must admit i have turned the volume right off on my gps, can you imagine 12 hours of “at the next junction turn right” enough to drive you round the bend! Oh yeah my gps has yoda’s voice which doesn’t sound very professional!!
Grannymar said,
August 22, 2010 at 6:33 pm
The instruction that annoyed me most was while on the M50, constantly being told “In 300 meters/yards (I don’t remember which it was) follow the contour of the road”! I wouldn’t mind but I was going all the way from the N4 right to the end of the M50.
Baino said,
August 22, 2010 at 8:57 pm
Sounds like a lovely al fresco lunch, my favourite! I don’t have a SATNAV. Adam uses the one on his iPhone occasionally but it’s often off the mark.
Grannymar said,
August 22, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Baino - It was a great day. It will take some time to convert me to the Gloria’s of the GPS world.
bikehikebabe said,
August 23, 2010 at 12:43 am
That was delightful.
But what about the poor horse with his leg stuck in the fence? Did he need help? Did he get out? Nobody asked that.
Grannymar said,
August 23, 2010 at 8:47 am
BHB - The horse was fine, he pulled his leg free and jumped further into the road. Thanks to the truck driver I did not collide with the animal or he with me.
Kate said,
August 23, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Oh my word - that was one of the places we used to visit in my childhood when my Dad took us ‘home’ every year for our summer holidays - he was from Bray and every year we would visit all the beautiful places that county Wicklow has to offer - i have it all faithfully recorded by my Dad and currently being moved from slides to CD so that i can choose some for my memoirs - if i ever get the chance to write them….. Glad you got back okay!
Grannymar said,
August 23, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Kate - I am glad to jog your memory about Wicklow and your holidays of old.
Blackwatertown said,
August 23, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Oh no - those devices take you down skinny wee lanes into fields. Stick to the old-fashioned methods. Also known as common sense.
Grannymar said,
August 23, 2010 at 9:19 pm
BWT - A man after my own heart. I like to read a map and follow my nose!