Familytime

If there’s one thing to take seriously in life, it’s mini golf, or, as they call it in The Netherlands, “midget golf”. Maaike and I ended up having a game with her parents. Maaike’s mum crushed us all completely. Hopefully we’ll have time for a rematch before flying back to NZ. I have no idea what the pool-like game is, but it looks interesting.

Then it was time for Maaike and I to part ways for a month. I headed to Ireland to spend time with my family, friends, and computer that had been missing me very very much, and Maaike off to bike to Norway.

It has been a lovely time in Ireland. I’ve tried to earn my keep a little bit. One job was helping Dad (76 odd) lining the ditch. Getting a ditch lined is quite expensive, however, a family friend suggested going up to the local quarry and getting some of their leftover conveyor belt rubber. So, armed with a saw, a stanley knife, and a few other things we went to work. It’s heavy stuff, but perfect really. Anyway, job done.

I had a little time to spend with Liz before she headed back to Minneapolis, and we did get one photo of my siblings and me, which was great.

Nice catch up with my friend Myra, and a most excellent sunset. I had no idea such things existed in Dublin ;) hehehe, ehem.

I’ve gone for a few walks too along the beach. It’s funny how one changes, perhaps New Zealand, perhaps not – but I walked down to the beach, and then decided to just walk up to Killiney hill and back home (8 or 9 km round trip). I’d ever have even thought of doing that when I was living in Dublin, but it was actually a really nice walk.

More catch up with friends, lovely evenings all. Oh, and I learned how to make mint-jelly too… those lambs won’t have a chance when I’m back in New Zealand ;)

Oh, and went out to see an opera about Nelson Mandela. It was good, though I would have preferred a little more story and a little less opera. Nice theatre though. Funny to walk past the Google offices in Dublin, quite the little tech-hub scene here it seems.