Day 1
It seems a long time since we last headed off on a break and therefore, a long time since my last blog. We have been away for a couple of weekends, but work and family have kept us busy until now.
Apparently, the crossing from the UK to southern Ireland is one of the most expensive and to reduce the cost, we decided to take the crossing which left Fishguard at 1.30am. This meant we didn’t have to leave until midday which seemed more civilised that our normal leave times.
All was going well until workman appeared and gaily put-up traffic lights in the parking bay. For those who don’t know, parking is a nightmare at our house and when going away, I try to get Ethel when I know I will be able to park – normally during the day when other residents are at work.
Mel bravely heads off to speak to them and upon return, she informs me that all is ok, there will be room for Ethel if I am quick. I immediately head off and return a couple of hours later and the ‘Cath can’t park’ exercise begins.
I don’t know what has happened but since I last regained my licence, I have lost the ability to park in any semblance of straightness. Ask me to park on an angle, or 2 feet away from the kerb and all is good, but any kind of parallel parking is beyond me now. Therefore, I must call Mel as I hurtle up the village and she kindly puts on her best parking marshal head and helps me reverse into a space which you could honestly park a 737 in.
Regardless of all this, we load up and head off before time and for once, don’t need to turn around as we haven’t forgotten anything.
The journey is good although it is mainly motorway and therefore, boring and we arrive about half an hour away from Fishguard well before time. We park up in a type of ‘Aire’ and have a snooze before heading for the ferry terminal where we sit in a queue for the best part of 2 hours.
We watch stressed travellers and tired children, and the time passes quickly. Soon vehicles are trying to be the first to get on the ferry. As normal, it doesn’t matter what lane we are in – we are always in the slowest one.
By now it is 1am and we are exhausted. We join another queue – this time for our cabin key and soon we are tucked up in bed and Mel is snoring.
2LadiesTravelling 