Finally it was time to leave London and to head down to Sussex to see my grandparents (well, the ones which are left!)

Had fun playing Tangoes (from www.rexgames.com). You have a shape to make with a number of pieces, looks easier than it is.

It was lovely to see my Granny (dads side) and Grandpapa (mums side) again. It was honestly a little shocking to see my step-granny as she has become quite old in the last two years. Mind you, seeing as they’re both 92 it’s not bad going really. I think they enjoyed seeing some of the pictures from New Zealand, though grandpapa thought I was a little mad.

So, after a month or so in Ireland, it was time to start heading home (home?) to New Zealand. Flew to Heathrow and there I’m lucky enough to have a lovely cousin of mums (my 1st cousin once removed) Liz, who we stayed with while in London.

That evening Mhairi and I met up with her parents, brother and his girlfriend – and we went out for a very nice meal.

The next day it was off to tour the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum before getting ready for the main object of the weekend which was to see Cirque du Soleil in the Royal Albert Hall

It really was incredible. The feats of strength, flexibility (disgusting at times), and gymnastics were unbelievable. So thanks to Heather and Ian for the show!

Next day met up with some of Mhairi’s cousins who live in Dublin, and then out to dinner (totally forgot to take a picture :( of my cousin Niki and her boyfriend Steve. Really good times – been far too long since I’ve seen her.

The day after it was more touring around the city – taking in some of the Earth From Above exhibition over by London bridge

Had a quick wander by Shakespeares old Globe Theatre, St. Pauls, and I had a wander through a wildlife photography exhibition in the natural History Museum that was amazingly amazing. Makes me want to buy a digital SLR instead of the compact camera that I am going to buy!.

That evening met up with my cousin Catherine and her friend Maeve, both of whom are doing useful African related developmenty aidy work(y). Cath’s project is currently funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.

And the following evening we met up with one of Mhairis’ good friends from home, Kirsty and her partner Richard.

Richard – a friend from college (engineering and climber) came down the next morning, and together we went off to do St. Kevins Traverse. Glendalough was a monastic settlement founded by St. Kevin back aaages ago – 8th Century ish. or the 12th – anyway a good while ago.

There’s a hole carved into the cliff face on the upper lake (Glendalough means Glen of the two lakes) which is called St. Kevins Bed. There’s a fun (tricky in places) traverse you can do to get to it. It’s a good idea to be roped up for some of it (not needed, but no harm either) These next two pics are of Mhairi and I in St. Kevins Bed, and Richy at the entrance (quite the view)

Then we did a walk up and around an spinc (means pointed hill in Irish). I reckon it’s one of the nicest short walks around.

Then it was back up to Dublin to get ready for my wee party in the Russell Court. I was really impressed actually with their service – brought down a stereo I could plug my mp3 player into ‘n everyfink. It was heaps of fun seeing so many friends together again. Really does make leaving the country harder..

The next day we went for a little look around Dublin. Firstly off to my old college – Trinity – to see the book of Kells and the long room (old library upstairs). It is an interesting fact (well, to me anyway), that George Lucas used the long room as a basis for the Hall of the Jedi (or whatever it’s called) in the Star Wars films. They illegally used the picture – and I’m not sure what sort of compensation the college got from it.

Anyway, excellent exhibition (and free in – thanks to Jennifer!). A little? known perk is that students can bring in up to two guests for free, something I’ve made use of over the years! (not that I would ever use it as an aid to selling t-shirts to US tourists during freshers week.. never)

The pic on the left is called the Campanisle. There are some excellent accounts in the TCD Climbing Club history section (put together by Declan) of a bowler hat mysteriously appearing at the top of it one day. The college declined the clubs offer to take it down (not that any member had put it up of course) and had to pay a steeplejack a few pounds to get it down. I never helped Shane Glackin or Robert Cuff to climb up it when it was covered in scaffolding before the trinity ball a few years ago.

The building on the right is called the Graduates Memorial Building – whose roof went on fire while I was in college. And that really had nothing to do with me!

Then to the Guinness brewery for a tour – after the Chester Beatty Library. In the brewery I got my camera knicked. Which was a real shame – though a good excuse to buy a new one. Amazing that a tuk-tuk driver in Laos would give it back, but leaving it down for 40 secs in Dublin gets it knicked….

That evening we drove down to Glendalough and stayed the night in the Irish Mountaineering Club hut down there. A couple of pints by the fire in the hotel was a great way to round off the day.

Mhairi’s ryanair air flight was an hour delayed, but sure that’s ok. Picked her up at the airport and we drove North (thanks Matt for the loan of the car) to newgrange which is in the county of Meath. It’s an old (5000 years in fact) passage grave.

If you look closely at the entrance picture you will see that there are two entrances – one for people to go through and the other (called the roof box) allows the sun to shine into the central chamber on the winter solstice. It is one of the two UNESCO sites in the Republic of Ireland (the giants causeway is one too).

There also used to be a stone henge (enclosure) around newgrange too, and some of the large stones you see around the edge (especially at the entrance) are highly decorated. It’s a great place and I really recommend getting there if you are touring around Ireland.

After Newgrange it was off to see Melifont Abbey – a cistercian abbey close by. It was one of the first (if not the first) abbey founded in Ireland. It was attacked countless times, and even used by the English forces in the battle of the Boyne. It has since fallen into disrepair and even used for housing pigs!

Then it was onto Monasterboice – again an ancient monastic site, and home to some very ancient (10th Century) High Crosses – pictured below.

Then back to town, out to dinner with the family – and after Mhairi and I went on to have a pint at The Cobblestone pub. More excellent trad music (played every day in the pub). Just wish I’d known about the place earlier!