The Irish Homecoming - settling into new jobs and a lot of unpacking

Arrival of crate symbolized end of family's life in New York

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Colum and Sadie Mooney wearing their 4th July gear

Photo by April Drew

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And off the driver went on his way with an empty container ready to be shipped back to New York for the next person to pack their lives into. Another teary moment as he pulled out of the driveway.

So now I’m left with a big house and an even bigger mess. I’m beginning to think it will take the full year to unpack everything neatly, find somewhere to house the bits and keep it all clean at the same time.

LAST week was a bit up in the air.  We had spent a great weekend in Lahinch, Co. Clare. It’s a fantastic, scenic, lively seaside town.

John’s sister and her husband kindly offered us the use of their mobile home for a few days and we had a mighty weekend. Although it rained non-stop, we made the most of the time away.

We got use out of our New York purchased raincoats, had some nice take-aways (and home cooked meals courtesy of Ken and Fiona), watched dozens of young people and not so young people learn to surf, strolled the promenade many times, ate ice cream and sweets at Mauds, had morning coffee and scones overlooking the sea, and most of all had some great laughs with John’s family at the mobile home park.

After returning from the weekend it was time for Colum and Sadie to start day care (or crèche as they call it here) full time.

Colum is not very happy to be leaving his mommy and daddy every morning. He clings on for dear life to our necks when we drop him off. They tell me he is fine a while after, but it’s hard for any mother to leave her child in such a state.

Sadie on the other hand doesn’t miss us one bit and just smiles all day.

Then there was the matter of getting into the house, getting it cleaned before the arrival of all our furniture and getting a new car we bought taxed, insured and serviced.

Also making sense of the refuse collection services here, discovering which satellite television company is the best, buying a kettle, toaster and microwave, switching over the electric bill to our name … the list goes on. It’s all part and parcel of moving into a new home, and with all that comes a lot of grey hairs.

Unfortunately with the arrival of our furniture we missed the Fourth of July celebrations. I had grand plans to take the family to New Ross in Co. Wexford where there was an Irish American day being held.

Instead I threw clothing that marked the occasion on the kids, shipped them off to day care and spent the day knee deep in moving boxes, cleaning products and headache tablets.

I may be occupied now getting things into a place in the house where I can find them again, but I’ve already begun planning all the parties I’m going to throw now that we have our own place in Ireland.

An 1980s fancy dress for John’s birthday in August, a girly night with my friends from Tralee, a Halloween and Christmas party, and of course Colum’s second birthday party in November -- and that’s all this side of Christmas.

In order for all that to happen, however, I need to get my skates on and continue the unpacking.  

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