Mommy Diaries evolves into The Irish Homecoming -- It’s Great to Be Back Home

In the space of a week we have attended two barbeques, eaten ice cream every day, been to the beach twice, driven around the countryside of Limerick looking for a house to rent, spent a weekend in Kerry, eaten four Chinese dinners (yes four) and spent endless hours catching up with some friends and family – with loads more to see soon.

I also did my first sign language interpreting job since my return.  It was a fun one. 

The Sinn Fein Ard Fheis (annual party conference) was held in Killarney last weekend. Each year they provide a sign language interpreter for the party leader’s address to the nation. It was televised.

So I spent 30-minutes sharing a stage with Gerry Adams where I translated his speech into sign. It was good to be back at work.

It’s proving more difficult than we thought to find an unfurnished home to rent. Our furniture is due to arrive in the next few weeks so we are under pressure. But not to worry, we have a few viewings today and tomorrow so it will all work out -- it always does.

The only hiccup I’ve had to date was the car. It’s always cars with me.

The night before arriving in Tralee our car ran out of gas (our gas gauge is broken). The problem was quickly solved as there was a gas station down the road from where we were, but it was a different story on Friday.

I just got into Tralee (after a two hour drive from Limerick) and as I was pulling into my friend Doireann’s housing estate the car began to jerk. I called my friends James and Veronica and they were on hand within a few minutes with more gas (or petrol as they kept reminding me); another temporary solution.

It was only the next day when I was driving the car to a local shopping center that the car began to jerk again. It was then I realized the car didn’t run out of gas the day before; it was actually my bad driving that was causing the jerking.

I was driving a little too fast in second gear and should have changed up to third. That’s what happens when you drive automatic cars for nine years.
And living in Limerick has its advantages. The local Tesco (supermarket) is open 24-hours a day.

So one of the nights I couldn’t sleep with the excitement of being home I got dressed and drove over to Tesco’s to purchase a few bits.

I even got a decent suit for the Sinn Fein job. The only downside to shopping that late at night was coming across some unruly characters (mainly in pj’s) pottering around the store, and there were padlocks on the dressingroom doors. But overall if I’m going to do my grocery shopping in Tesco it will be after midnight. No queues.

So that’s it for now. I must run out the door to see some other potential rentals. As we drive the countryside it’s sad to see so many beautiful homes with for sale signs parked outside. And none of them are selling due to the current market.

I’ll let ye know how we get on. Enjoy the fine weather in New York. We miss ye all.

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Nster.com