Finally, we found travel insurance…

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This photo is similar to a photo we posted a few days ago, but we couldn’t resist posting this alternate view.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland 

“Contrary to popular belief, and despite being the
Patron Saint of Ireland,
St. Patrick was not actually from Ireland. Born in Wales around 386 AD, he was
in fact captured by the Irish and sold into slavery, working as a shepherd in
the West of Ireland. Later in life, he returned to Ireland as a missionary,
helping to spread Christianity in Ireland.”
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It’s been difficult finding health insurance for me based on two factors; my age, 71, and my preexisting condition after cardiac bypass surgery.  The new policy requires 180 days to have passed since any surgery or medical treatment.  


This 180 day period will have transpired once the insurance goes into effect on August 11,  2019, the day we board the ship.  At that point, the waiting period is off by one day but, they have a two-day grace period which confirmation I received in an email from the company.

Lovely scenery even on a cloudy day.

These two risk factors made us fearful that we’d never find insurance for me.  We’d done hours of research and finally found a company and policy that works for us.  The company, UnitedHealthcare Global may be found at this link.


Today, after posting here, we’ll sign up and pay for the policy which will run from August 11th to November 8th, the day we arrive in the US where we’ll stay for a total of 83 days in three states.  


The coverage doesn’t cover stays in the US and thus we’ve decided to pay for the period ending November 8th when we arrive in the US.  Subsequently, we’ll purchase a one-year policy beginning on January 30th, when we fly to India.  This is an ideal plan for us.  Each year we’ll renew for appropriate periods excluding the US visits.

Across an inlet.

This gives me great peace of mind.  I was losing sleep over this, worrying we’d be traveling without insurance.  If you’re interested in pricing for this type of policy there is an app at their site which calculates many factors to determine your rate.  


We do not have to pay an “upcharge” for my preexisting conditions
The policy includes evacuation insurance.  The prices are lower than most and the benefits are many.

View of mountains and sea.  Such lush greenery which Ireland is known for, The Emerald Isle.

Soon, we’ll cancel our existing policy which does us little good at this point, especially as we continue to deal with their non-payment of my claims.  More on that later, when we know what’s going to transpire.


It’s another windy, rainy and overcast day.  Since the grounds around us are covered in vegetation and weeds, the pollen in the air is intense.  Both Tom and I are sneezing a lot.  


With only 15 days until we leave Connemara to head back to Dublin, we’ll be ready to be on the move.  We’ll spend one night in Dublin and two nights in Amsterdam and then…the Baltic cruise will begin.  

More cattle along the driveway from our house to the road could be mom, dad and, calves.

Both of us are excited about this upcoming change, looking forward to the cruise and the two months we’ll spend in four locations in England, living in the countryside, fulfilling one more of our travel dreams.


Happy day!

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Photo from one year ago today, July 23, 2018:

A wildlife wonderland as seen from Marloth Park.  For more similar photos, please click here.

Dealing with a lack of motivation…

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A sailing regatta near Roundstone at dusk.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland 

“One of the most well-known facts about Ireland is that Dublin is home to
the world-famous Guinness Brewery. In 1759, Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year
lease for the land.”
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From time to time we all feel unmotivated to tackle tasks that must be completed, whether or not we have a timeline.  Lately, these past five months, I’ve been seriously lacking in motivation to do paperwork that is piling up.


Throughout our years of world travel, I’ve never failed to scan receipts and log expenses into our spreadsheet.  When we left South Africa almost three months ago, I had logged everything from our time there but I’d failed to mention the total numbers in a post.


At this point in time, I doubt I’ll ever get to that.  For those of you anxious to see what we spent during our 15 months in South Africa, I can say it averaged about Euro 4457, US $5000 a month, including rent, rental car, fuel, groceries, dining out, tours and safaris, travel and miscellaneous.  

There was no less than a dozen sailboats we could see.


These figures exclude massive medical expenses and lost deposits and payments for future travel we had to cancel.  However, the totals include the two trips we made to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana to safari and tour, in order to renew our visas and, have more fantastic experiences.  


When 2018 tax filing was due on April 15th, I’d only been out of the hospital for a short time and literally could not even conceive of gathering the information for the tax prep necessary to send to our accountant in Nevada.  He filed an extension for us, good until October 15th, 2019.


I’d promised myself I’d tackle this big task before we left Ireland but I think I will hold off until we get to the UK in August.  Hopefully, by then I’ll feel up to tackling this daunting task.  Most likely I can complete this task in two days.

Most of the sails were dark red.


This week I’ve promised myself to scan the receipts we’ve accumulated for Ireland and enter them into the spreadsheets.  Our scanner died but the camera takes decent photos of receipts.  


What makes this task more time consuming is converting from Euros to US dollars.  Of course, we have an app for that on my laptop but it still takes time to do each one. I do all of the currency conversion first, writing the US dollars on the receipt, separate the receipts by category and then enter them.  I will do this task in the next few days.


Why am I so lacking in motivation?  For those readers following our posts on a consistent basis, the answer is clear.  For new readers, the reasons are easily found here beginning on our posts from the later part of February.  This post explains it all along with all the posts that follow to present day.


What do I do all day?  I spend the better part of each day walking in the house.  It requires an enormous effort to walk 5,000 to 10,000 inside on the main floor.
Recently, I added climbing the steps as many times a day as possible, not necessarily consecutively.  It’s getting a little easier each day.

The wind speed seemed suitable for the race.


Spending all morning researching and preparing the daily post, dealing with photos, cooking dinner and taking care of laundry every other day takes up the better portion of the day.  Incorporating the walking and step climbing into the daily routine also monopolizes a good portion of each day.


By the end of the day, I’m done.  After dinner, all I can do is sit in my comfy chair and watch a few shows on my laptop, sent to the flat screen TV via our HDMI cable.  It’s my favorite time of the day when I allow myself to totally relax and unwind.  


Every so often we sign up for various streaming services for a period of time.  Right now we have CBS All Access through Amazon Prime for Euro 2.63, US $2.95 a month, other free shows available through Amazon Prime and Graboid, a for-pay streaming/downloading service we’ve used for years.


Some nights it takes everything I have to stay awake.  But, Tom is good at saying, “Are you awake?” He’s well aware that sleeping in front of the TV can seriously impede a good night’s sleep.  With daylight lasting so long in Ireland, we often don’t head upstairs until after 2300 hours, 11:00 pm.

A nicely horned sheep with a dark face with a white body.


And you may ask, what does Tom do?  He cooks breakfast each day, helps with dinner, does all the dishes and kitchen clean up, all the heavy lifting, vacuuming floors, booking travel-related venues, and checking daily to see if any our booked cruises have had a price reduction.  


A few days ago, he saved us Euro 401, US $450 the day before the final payment was due on the upcoming cruise from the UK to the US at the end of October.  Once final payment is paid on a specific cruise, the cruise lines won’t honor the benefit of a price reduction. Tom is able to get these reductions on many of our booked cruises by watching daily pricing and informing Vacations to Go to lower our price for the same cabin cate.


In addition, he literally waits on me without an attitude or complaint.  If he sees my glass of water or ice tea is low, he’ll refill it for me.  If I didn’t do all the exercise and other tasks, it would be wise for me to turn down his help to force myself to perform more tasks.  At this point, I’m doing all I can.  His help is greatly appreciated and I’ve had to learn to graciously accept it.


Most people have ultra-busy days and nights in this world we live in.  Whoever thought retirement would be relaxing was kidding themselves.  As we’ve heard endless retirees say, they are busier now than when they worked.  How did this happen?


Hope you find time to relax, get in a little exercise, enjoy a great meal, good companionship and appreciate every day of life.  Join me in this, dear readers.

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Photo from one year ago today, July 22, 2018:

Male bushbuck can be dangerous with their sharp horns.  See this article where a farmer was gored to death by a male bushbuck. We loved for them to visit but we kept a sensible distance. For more photos, please click here.

Will I be ready in 18 days?…Clothes and shoes…

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Clouds reflecting on a body of water.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland” 

“In 2017, Leo Varadkar became
Ireland’s prime minister. Born in 1979, he is Ireland’s youngest prime
minister, the country’s first openly gay leader and the first of Indian
heritage.”

The last few mornings I’ve gone back to sleep after Tom gets up, usually at 6:00 am.  On both days, I didn’t awaken until after 9:00 am which is unusual.  The only justification I can provide in this regard is entirely about an escalation in the healing process.

Fishing for income isn’t uncommon in Ireland even by these smaller boats.

Since the plasters (bandages) came off my legs a few weeks ago, the wound on my left leg has quickly begun to fully heal.  It still looks scary to someone who may not know about my situation.


To draw less attention to myself on the upcoming cruise I’ll only be wearing long pants.  Once the wound is less obvious and just a scar, I’ll be willing to wear Capri length pants.  The former hematoma on my right thigh continues to be painful but also appears to be improving but, it will leave a nasty scar from the top of my thigh to my ankle.

Partial view of Twelve Bens (mountains).

I’m doing well, although it’s painful to climb the stairs to the second level of the house several times a day to build stamina.  The walking up the steep hills continues when it’s not pouring rain and, I make a concerted effort to log as many steps as possible on my fitness watch, never missing a day.


Walking around the house over and over is boring.  Often, Tom listens to his favorite radio stations and podcasts, which help distract me while walking.  With his poor hearing after years of working on the railroad, he makes it loud enough that I can hear it as I wander through the main floor. 

We see mountains wherever we travel.

Storage on my South Africa-purchased smartphone is eaten up and I can’t download any podcast apps to listen to shows, although I’ve uninstalled all the apps I don’t often use. 


We’ll be getting new phones when we go to the US in a little over three months.  I can’t wait to have enough storage to download any apps I’d like.  But, as we’ve said over and over again, adaptation is the key to managing with less available options of products and services.

From our window, fiery looking sunset overlooking Bertraghboy Bay.

There are numerous products I use which I’d always purchased from CVS pharmacies and other stores in the US.  Most of those products do not even exist in this or many other countries.  


As a result, I’m using unfamiliar brands that don’t quite fulfill my expectations.  I’m looking forward to shopping in the US to stock up enough items to last until we return again.  This time, as we had while in the US in 2017, we’ll purchase supplies and new clothing.  Those we purchased at that time are showing signs of wear and tear after so many washings.  


And the shoe situation?  For me, at present it’s awful.  I have boots for the bush, running shoes for working out, water shoes, and two pairs of worn-out sandals.  At this point, I don’t have a single pair of appropriate shoes to wear to dinner on the upcoming cruise.

Kylemore Lough (Irish: Loch na Coille Móire)is a freshwater lake in the west of Ireland. It is located in the Connemara area of County Galway.

I checked out the shoe departments in a few stores in Clifden (there’s no specific shoe store).  I’m hoping, once we’re in Amsterdam for two days, I may be able to find a few options.  Tom seems to have enough shoes to last a few years.  Deciding on how long items will last is entirely unpredictable.  Of course, quality is a factor but we have tee shirts from Old Navy priced at Euro 8.90, US $10, that have held up as well as more expensive items.  Go figure.


Today is another dark, windy and rainy day.  We’re making low carb Italian meatballs with homemade low carb pasta sauce topped with grated mozzarella cheese.  Each meatball is stuffed with a chunk of fresh mozzarella cheese with one extra chunk on the top. I only eat a small amount of this dish adding many veggies on the side.


Hope you have an opportunity to enjoy a delicious Sunday dinner.

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Photo from one year ago today, July 21, 2018:

It’s always thrilling to see elephants along the road.  For more Kruger photos, please click here.

Cow day!…The simple pleasures of barnyard animals…

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Note the different sizes of her horns.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland” 

“While Guinness
will always be Ireland’s most famous drink, more of the black stuff is consumed
each year in Nigeria than it is back home in Ireland. In fact, the Brits are
the largest consumers of Guinness, followed by Nigerians, leaving Ireland in
third place!”


From this site with Ireland’s livestock stats.

Livestock Survey 
December 2018 

Add 000’s to the following totals (for millions):

 
   Cattle  Pigs Sheep
 
2017 6,673.6 1,616.4 3,981.8
2018 6,593.5 1,572.2 3,743.5
% change -1.2 -2.7 -6.0

Many females of certain breeds have horns.

Without a doubt, our readers are well aware we have an infinity toward wildlife and domesticated animals.  In our “old” lives we had plenty of daily interactions not only with our own dogs but also the neighborhood dogs.  On a private road, there was no enforcement of leash laws and our dogs roamed freely visiting neighbors along the road.


Living on a lake in Minnesota also provided us with frequent wildlife sightings including heron, geese, eagles, wood ducks, loons and many other varieties of birds.  It was truly a bird watcher’s paradise.  

This short rock wall borders the holiday home’s garden.  We saw something move to realized several cattle were very close to us.

In addition, we could count on seeing coyotes and foxes, mostly in the winter when they could walk across the frozen lake looking for “little dog lunch.” Also, in the spring, on occasion, we’d see a moose swimming across the lake.  


The photo ops were outstanding.  At the time, neither of us could take a decent photo, although we had a digital camera.  At the time, neither of us would know that we’d have loved to look back at photos of wildlife, let alone the photos of those we love.  

I was a little too far for using flash when it was almost dark as I took this photo from the living room window.

When a family event was underway someone always yelled out, “take a photo” and we’d all turn and look at one another trying to see if anyone “bit” on the concept.  Seldom was the case.  If only we had photos of those events.  Sure we have a few hundred photos stored on a cloud, but nothing like we have now, thousands of photos each year from our everyday lives of world travel.


We didn’t start taking photos of our travels until we were a few months into it, realizing using our smartphones wouldn’t be satisfactory for our posts.  Over the past almost seven years, we learned a little but never enough. 

This cow was busy grazing in the side yard but picked up her head when we drove toward the main road from the driveway.

From time to time when the lighting isn’t ideal, we struggle to get good shots.  It could be us, it could be our cameras…most likely it’s us.  Thus, we apologize for the lack of clarity in some of today’s photos taken when it was almost dark.  The photo opp happened so quickly we had no time to change the settings on the camera.


Now, in the lush green of Ireland’s summer, we’re thrilled to be able to see barnyard animals and livestock.  After all, 15 months in Marloth Park is hard to beat when at any given moment we had amazing animals standing at the edge of the veranda.

Mom and baby.

A few nights ago we were reminded of Marloth Park when we saw movement outside our living room window.  We jumped up simultaneously, each grabbing a camera, hoping for some good shots.


Alas, as late as it was, close to 2200 hours, 10:00 pm, we were pushing our luck.  As the days are getting shorter since the summer solstice on June 21st, it’s still light here, at least to some degree, between the hours of 5:00 am and 2230 hours, 10:30 pm.  


This morning I awoke at 4:30 am, still needing more sleep, realizing our sleeping problems most likely are a result of too much light in the bedroom with the thin draperies.  Luckily by 6:00 am, I fell back to sleep for a few more hours.

This photo was taken in the evening before the sun fully set.

Thus, when the cows were near the house, although it was still light, our photo taking was marginal at best.  The remainder of the photos were taken during daylight hours albeit with a heavy cloud cover.  Today, it started out sunny but now the dark clouds are rolling in from the sea.  This is common for Ireland.  


Regardless of the weather, we’ve thoroughly enjoyed the cattle, sheep, donkeys, horses and occasional pigs we’ve seen while driving on the narrow winding roads.  It seems the cattle and the sheep are most prevalent which, as you can see above, the numbers are obvious.


Soon, when we depart for Amsterdam, it’s unlikely we’ll have many opportunities to take wildlife photos.  We’ll be staying in the city for two nights, taking photos of a different kind of wildlife!  It should be fun.


May your weekend be filled with many wonderful surprises!

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Photo from one year ago today, July 20, 2018:

Hippos resting on a sandbar on the Sabie River.  Note the number of oxpeckers on the hippos hides!  For more Kruger photos please click here.

Switching from red wine to what???…

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A white house on the road to Roundstone with two historic buildings on the grounds.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”  
“Ireland has been used as a location for several famous films including Star Wars, The Princess Bride, Braveheart, and Harry Potter.”

We’re back from Clifden and grocery shopping. Everything has been packed away into the two tiny refrigerators and vegetable drawers. We have to be especially careful not to purchase food that must be frozen.
Ruins of the shore of a bygone era.
The tiny freezer in the small refrigerator in the laundry room barely has room for a thing. Our ice cubes and trays occupy 40% of the total space, the remaining left for what is hopefully enough to get us through one week until we shop again.
 
With over 90 minutes of driving time to head to Clifden and back, the closest supermarket, we don’t care to make the trip more than once a week. We’ve already scoured the village for sightseeing opportunities and have exhausted our options. 
 
Once we were settled here and I was off all pain medications, once again, we put our usual “happy hour” on the agenda. My goal has been to consume no more than 177 ml, equivalent to two 3 oz. Glasses of red wine on the days we imbibe. Its been a relatively easy goal to achieve and maintain.
These dilapidated farm buildings represent a period of strife in Ireland when many left the country due to the potato famine.
We prepare dinner and don’t drink alcohol for the remainder of the evening. We spend one-hour chatting and sipping our chosen adult beverage, and afterward, I switch to Pellegrino Sparkling Springwater (no alcohol) while Tom returns to his usual iced tea. This works for us.  
 
We don’t imbibe so much that it impacts our health, well-being, and quality of sleep. Once we’re on the cruise, with drinks included based on our priority in the Crown & Anchor Society, I will continue this regiment while Tom may have a final drink with or after dinner.
 
Here in Ireland, it’s been difficult for me to find a red wine that I not only like but is also affordable at a price I’m willing to pay. To my taste, the average cost of a moderately good red wine, preferably a cabernet sauvignon or merlot, is at least Euro 12, US $13.50 plus tax.
A pair of Connemara ponies are not only white but also varying colors.
This same quality of wine in South Africa, the home of many great vineyards, was at Euro 2.67, US $3.00. Even the finest imported wines in South Africa were rarely over Euro 8.89, US $10.
 
Several weeks ago, there was a sale on six bottles of wines at the SuperValu market. (There isn’t an actual liquor store within a half-day drive). It was priced at Euro 30, US $33.75 for the half dozen bottles.  
 
I’d seen these same wines from Chile at SuperValu priced at Euro 12, US $13.50 each but hadn’t purchased any. But, for the excellent price and few other affordable options, we bought six bottles of red.  
 
It’s not as if I’m a wine connoisseur. I’m not. I hadn’t had any alcoholic drinks or wine for over 20 years and only started drinking wine a few years ago on cruise ships, finding my taste buds weren’t as picky or refined as they’d been in the 80s.  
Another photo of the village of Roundstone, population 214.
Still, four bottles of the red wines sit on the counter in the laundry room. I can’t get it down, and nor am I going to force myself to drink something I don’t like.  After doing a little research, I decided that I needed to find something more suitable for me while we were here in Ireland.
 
I prefer a lower alcohol beverage since my tolerance is relatively low. I found a couple of low alcohol options online…Ketel One Botanicals and Smirnoff Vodka Infusions, each with 25% less alcohol and infused with flavorful botanicals.
 
SuperValu doesn’t carry the Ketel One brand, but they easily had the Smirnoff brands and flavors. We purchased two of the smaller than usual bottles in two flavors. It is suggested that sparkling water or other clear non-sugary mixers be added with ice. 
Black and white cow.
The low alcohol content appeals to me because no sugar is added, and the carb count is zero. Each bottle was priced at Euro 13.60, US $15.30. Each serving is equivalent to a shot glass, and each bottle should last me for quite some time. Each bottle contains 750 ml, 25 ounces, the same amount in a bottle of wine.  
 
This beverage will last me twice as long as a bottle of wine, and if the taste is good, making the change while here will be worthwhile. Traveling the world doesn’t mean we’ll always be able to get familiar products at prices we’ve become accustomed to. But, it certainly inspires us to try something new and different.
 
Tonight we’ll toast to all of you!  Have a fantastic Friday!
Photo from one year ago today, July 12, 2018:
We laughed so hard when we saw this baby baboon grabbing its mom’s hair to hold on while sitting in this unlikely pose. For more details, please click here.

Cleaning…It’s a beastly thing to do!…

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Beautiful horse…

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”

“The potato famine was exacerbated by the actions (and inactions) of the British government at the time, leading some to suggest that the famine was essentially
a form of genocide exacted on the Irish.”

We were spoiled during our 15 months in Africa. Whether we were traveling to Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, or living in Marloth Park, we didn’t have much to do when it came to cleaning.  

Our entire cleaning consisted of Tom’s doing dishes while I washed the countertops and stovetop after preparing a meal. I don’t recall ever making the bed in those 15 months. Of course, during the last three months in Marloth Park, I didn’t do a thing.

We were lucky to have two of the finest and most reliable cleaners in Marloth Park, Zef and Vusi, under the management of our dear friends and property managers, Louise and Danie.  

A boggy area at low tide.

Most weeks, Zef and Vusi worked for seven days and were off only on weekends during a holiday. We still took care of the above cooking-related clean-up when they were off on a Saturday and Sunday, knowing they’d be there on Monday.  

During those days, admittedly, we didn’t bother to make the bed other than to pull up the fluffy duvet and fluff the pillows. If we made a mess or spilled something, of course, we cleaned it up. 

Tom and I are very tidy in our day-to-day lives. We neither leave clothes or bath towels on the floor, papers collecting throughout the house, or glasses and dishes sitting on tabletops.  

We don’t leave dishes in the kitchen sink. They’re either washed or, if available (as it is here), placed into the dishwasher. In Marloth, many renters left their dirty dishes for the cleaners.  

We distracted the white calf along the road to our driveway.

We didn’t leave dishes for them other than after an occasional dinner party when we needed the help.  Here in Connemara, when the lovely cleaner Ann arrives once a week, it’s about changing the bedding, dusting, vacuuming, and washing floors and cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms.

When Ann became ill a few weeks ago and could not clean, we were on our own.  She’d offered to send someone she knew, but we decided to wait until she felt well and could return. As it’s turned out, we’ll have been without her help for a total of three weeks.  

It appears she won’t be returning until July 25th, after which we’ll only have one more week we’ll need her. We leave on August 8th to head to Dublin to spend one night in a hotel before flying to Amsterdam the following day. As of today, that’s four weeks away.

As we approach the small village of Roundstone…

We won’t have her clean on Thursday, our normal cleaning day, since the property owner was responsible for the cleaning last week. We’ve been paying Euro 60, US $68 for the four hours of work each week.

Very seldom does a property owner provide a cleaning service unless the cost is low for the country, and the tradition is that holiday rentals include a cleaning staff, daily or weekly.

While in Belize; Kenya; South Africa; Morocco; Trinity Beach, Australia; Fiji;

Bali; countless hotels and cruises; cleaning staff was included. All the remaining locations required we pay for a cleaner, ranging from a low of Euro 27, US $30 to a high of Euro 60, US $68, here in Ireland.

Subsequently, today, without Ann able to clean, once again, we’re on our own.  This morning for the first time in so long, I can’t remember, I changed the linen on the beds in the master bedroom. 

Roundstone, Ireland.

We’ve slept in separate beds during our time here in Ireland to avoid any possible injury to my healing legs. This has been the only time we’ve slept in separate beds, but since they were right next to one another, it didn’t seem that odd. We wouldn’t have slept in different rooms if there weren’t the two beds in the master bedroom.

Tom had offered to make the beds, but I took on the challenge myself. Certainly, enough time has passed I wouldn’t cause myself any injury in taking on the task.

It was undoubtedly challenging, mainly since I had trouble bending over, especially with the two beds low to the floor. But, I got through it and felt a degree of satisfaction in accomplishing this otherwise simple task.

Today is laundry day which is usually every two or three days. With our limited wardrobes and wearing the same warmer clothes in the chilly weather, we can’t avoid doing laundry frequently.

Ruins are left in place with respect for ancestors and history.

After breakfast of bacon and eggs (my three doctors said I could continue with my low-carb way of eating), I cleaned the entire kitchen and dusted tables in the living room. Soon, Tom will vacuum the whole house while I clean the bathrooms. At that point, well, be good for another week except for daily tidying and cleaning.

Tomorrow, we’ll go sightseeing and grocery shopping. For now, I’ve decided only to cook easy meals; some form of protein, a few cooked vegetables, and a salad. This week I prepared a complicated and time-consuming low-carb chicken casserole requiring standing on my feet for a few hours. I’m not ready for that yet.

Now, I must get back to the laundry and hang the clothes on the indoor clothes-drying rack. As cool as it is, it may take two days for the heavier items to dry.  (There isn’t a dryer or outdoor clothesline here).  By the end of the day, everything in the house will be clean, and we can settle back into our comfortable ordinary lives.

Be well!

Photo from one year ago today, July 11, 2018:
This female kudu has a heart-shaped marking on her neck. When she became a regular, we named her “Cupid.”  For more photos, please click here.

A visit to Roundstone, Ireland…

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As we drove into the small town of Roundstone, with a population of 214, we were impressed by the design of the colorful properties on the main road.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
“Ireland and the UK share a chequered history. In 1801, Great Britain
annexed the Kingdom of Ireland under the Act of Union; in 1921, the Anglo-Irish
Treaty established the Irish Free State, an independent dominion of the British
crown partitioned from Northern Ireland; and in 1949, the Republic of Ireland
became fully independent from the UK.”

We’ve concluded that I can’t sit in the car for long periods. There’s rarely a location where we can pull over with the narrow winding roads, enabling me to get out and walk. It was easier on an airplane when I could walk up and down the aisles every hour or so.

On days like today, misty and cloudy, when we’re staying in, I get up and walk every 30 minutes rather than remain stuck in a chair for extended periods. The walking adds to my daily goals and, without a doubt, helps me feel much better.

This bay is Roundstone, referred to as Round-stone Haven as early as 1684.

Yesterday, after spending an hour in the car, I could barely walk to and then up the few steps to the little market. And yet, hours later, I felt chipper and walked usually.  

It’s the “nature of the beast.” In only six weeks, healing from four surgical procedures has taken its toll on me, the first of which was five months ago, the last only three months ago.  It could take a year before I’m entirely myself.

An old door as an entrance to a stone storage area serving the above house.

After yesterday’s walking fiasco, we started rethinking the upcoming two-day tour, August 16 and 17, 2019, from the ship to St. Petersburg, Russia. Each night, we’ll sleep on the ship, meeting up with our group of 12 or so for the next’s day’s outing.

After considerable research, we discovered the tour will require a tremendous amount of walking, often up and down steps and steep hills, often over uneven pavement. We’re scheduled to pay the deposit by tomorrow, the balance soon after that for a total cost of Euro 472, US $530 (for two).

Roundstone Harbour, mainly used for fishing.
Visiting Russia won’t require a separate visa if we’re signed up with a certified tour company and spend the night on the ship. Otherwise, we’d have to get a complicated visa which we’d prefer not to do. Here are the rules for entering Russia from this site:
  • “72-hour visa-free for international cruise ship/ferry passengers only if traveling with an organized tour and accompanied at all times by a tour operator.
  • Registration is required after seven business days.
  • American citizens may receive multiple-entry visas valid for three years.”

With these considerations, we contemplated a private tour for just the two of us.  But the cost for one day was more than for the two-day time. There are few accommodations on tours (from what we’d read from other passengers) for any disabilities.

Thus, we decided to go ahead with the two-day tour, sleeping on the ship each night as required, and I’ll do what I can. If I have to miss a few challenging venues, Tom will take photos while I’ll leisurely walk around the area checking out the shops, providing the driver states it’s safe to do so.  

We’ll figure it out. In the interim, I’ll continue to walk thousands of steps per day and climb the steep hill in front of the house, at least five times a week, a little further each day, to build my strength and stamina.

Anyway, back to Roundstone, which we visited yesterday morning, taking today’s photos and many more, which we’ll share over the next few days.
Sailboat cruising in the Roundstone Bay on a lightly windy day.
Here is information on Roundstone from this site:

“Roundstone (Irish: Cloch na Rón, meaning “seal’s rock”) is a village on the west coast of Ireland, in the Connemara region of County Galway. The town of Clifden is nearby to the north. 

The anglicized name is usually considered an error on the part of the British colonial Ordnance Survey, which translated the village name; while Cloch certainly means “stone” or “rock,” Rón means “seal,” not “round.” Still, the names Cloch na Rón and Roundstone may be independent. The bay is referred to as Round-stone Haven as early as 1684 (Roderick O’Flaherty), and the rock after which it is named stands like a marker at the entrance and is strikingly round.

Roundstone is known as a home for creativity and the arts. Some of the most influential figures in Irish Art have been painted there, including Paul Henry, Jack B. Yeats, Gerard Dillon, and Nano Reid. The Roundstone Arts Week celebrates youth and the environment on an annual basis.

Church tower on the way to Roundstone.
The local Summerfest is held in July. Traditional Irish Nights are held weekly throughout July and August and offer music, song, and dance from the Connemara area. In 1998 Sean Gorham of Inishnee, Roundstone, County Galway, was engaged in turf-cutting in Roundstone Bog “when he noticed what appeared to be a series of flat stones laid at regular intervals. Believing them to be the remains of an ancient trackway, Mr. Gorham left the stones undisturbed. Through the good offices of Martin O’Malley, Roundstone, and Michael Gibbons, Clifden, his discovery was brought to the attention of the National Museum of Ireland.”

Gorham’s find was located in the townland of Derrycunlagh. Investigation revealed that earlier turf-cutters had removed part of the trackway, but its two extant stretches determined its route. The trackway appeared to date from the Early Bronze Age, while the field wall may have been earlier.

This handsome boy approached the fence for some attention, which we gladly provided.

In an article of 2002, it was stated that “Thanks are due to the late Sean Gorham, whose keen eye and interest save the trackway from destruction and brought it to scientific attention.”

That’s it for today, folks. We’ll be back again with more photos, more stories, more planning, and more considerations for the future.

Be well.
                 
Photo from one year ago today, July 10, 2018:
A mom waterbuck and her calf.  For more photos, please click here.

What’s missing?…How can we stay entertained and engaged?…

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Ruins of a castle on the drive to Balleyconneely.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”
“Ireland is home to what could be the oldest pub in the world. It was opened in
900 AD.”

It would be unrealistic to say we find a level of contentment in every country we visit. It seems the determining factor is how well we can entertain ourselves when we feel like being considered.

Unfortunately, here in Ireland, we’re stuck indoors most days with the cool, windy, and rainy weather. Each sunny day, we can’t get out the door quickly enough to explore, take photos and reach a destination we’re curiously seeking.

Seagulls on the craggy rocks in Balleyconneely.

We’ve made a list of places we’d like to visit while here, but with only 55 days remaining until we depart for Amsterdam, time is quickly closing in, and we wonder if we’ll be able to see these points of interest while here.

I’ve been nudging Tom for us to get out and research his ancestry but with the distances to the locations in which to explore, we hesitate to go. Also, as he’s continued research on Ancestry.com, he doubts he’d be able to find anything when records weren’t diligently kept for citizens in Ireland during that era, the early 1800s, and further back.

A dad and son are looking for seashells on the beach.

Instead, he fills his days with mindless drivel while I prepare the posts, prep the meals, and do the laundry. I spend a certain part of each day dealing with the insurance issues resulting from my four surgeries between January and April. The “paperwork” never seems to end.

Don’t get me wrong…we aren’t bored. We’re rarely, if ever, bored. In the quietest of times, we can always plug in the HDMI cord to my computer and the TV and watch a movie, although we rarely do so during daylight hours.

A few years ago, we both used to read a lot of books on our phones. But, for some reason, we’ve lost interest in reading books and instead read news and general information online.  

In Ireland, many cliffs and rocky walls line the shoreline. It was great to see a few beaches, but none attracted sunbathers and swimmers in the cool weather.

Isn’t it amazing that if we so much as conceive of an idea or have a question, we can go to the Internet for an answer? Tom seems to enjoy this type of research more than I do since I try to avoid using my laptop unless I have an important reason after I’ve uploaded the day’s post.

Is something missing right now? For Tom, not much. He’s always able to entertain himself. But, for me…I have to work a little harder to find ways to entertain myself.  

With the limitations of the past almost five months since the diagnosis of heart disease at the end of January 2019 and subsequent multiple surgeries, I’ve felt a little trapped at times.

We no more tire of seeing sheep than we did warthogs and kudus.

In Marloth Park, once I was able to wander out to the veranda at the end of the bed rest period, seeing the wildlife entertained me and kept me busy most days. This was only for about a month but it made me realize how much I was dependent upon the wildlife visits to keep me engaged and excited each day.

I suppose, for me, that’s what’s missing. But, soon enough we’ll be moving along, cruising, spending shorter periods in various country locations in the UK and eventually visiting the US when our days and nights will be complete.

There are no regrets. There is no sorrow over what has transpired since the end of January. There is no grieving over the loss of seeing the animals every day and its excitement.  

Instead, there’s a powerful sense of gratefulness that supersedes all else.  Regardless of the challenges presented along the way, they are softened by taking the time to appreciate what we do have instead of what we don’t. We continue on this path.

Have a peaceful day filled with gratitude.

Photo from one year ago today, June 17, 2018:
We haven’t seen Scar Face in weeks and look forward to his return. Now, we have a particular affinity for Tusker, who’s very shy but practically swoons when I talk to him in a goofy high pitched voice…you know, the voice some of us use when talking to pets and babies. For more photos, please click here.

Whoa!…2500 posts as of today…Food photo…Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!

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Tom’s breakfast plate included scrambled eggs with red onion and cheese with thin slices of smoked salmon and tuna pate on the side. I had the same meal but a smaller portion, all befitting my way of eating.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”

“The Titanic was built in Belfast, Northern Island.”

 When recently I happened to notice the number of posts we’d uploaded since our first post on March 14, 2012 (click here to read the first post), I was stunned. It’s hard for us to believe we’ve actually done 2500 posts, including today, and how hard we’ve been striving to be consistent during this past almost seven years. We’ve made every effort to post each day, other than a few times due to travel days, illness, and power and WiFi outages.

In 2013, we began posting almost daily as indicated in our archives, showing how many posts we uploaded each month, including a total for each year. We’ve often mentioned how quickly time has flown, but it becomes all the more relevant when we see this 2500 number.

Is this comparable to 2500 chapters in a book? Not entirely, since our posts are shorter than one would find in a book. However, as posted, it’s a continuing story progressing similarly to a book.

Beautiful scenery on the way to the SmokeHouse located in The Pier, Ballyconneely, Co. Galway.

We’ve contemplated writing a book, particularly when we’ve been offered a few opportunities to do so over the years. However, as we’ve always stated, we didn’t do this blog to make money and become commercialized, going to book signings and even appearing on TV shows, none of which appeals to either of us.

We write this ongoing series for love, and we continue to do so for love; love of the world, its people, its wildlife, its places, and the many who so kindly visit us time and time again to see what’s transpiring in our daily lives.

At times our stories and photos are exciting and filled with world adventures. At other times, of which we are well aware, our posts are mundane and of little consequence.  

The SmokeHouse‘s interior was somewhat surprising when we expected glass counters contain rows of fish.  Everything is frozen for safety and lasting quality. More on this in yesterday’s post.

And yet, our readers continue to return for more, pass our web address on to others for their viewing and stand along with us in support of this highly vulnerable and revealing expose of our daily lives.  

At times, I equate it to the content of the TV show Seinfeld, when for us, it can feel like a “story about nothing.” Perhaps readers find some sense of comparison and comfort from the mundane aspects of our lives during those times when “nothing” is going on.

But, “nothing” may frequently be. Isn’t that what life is like for most of us, especially those who are retired? Some days, we’re busy and engaged in our daily activities. At other times, we find a certain level of contentment from doing very little; a load of laundry, making a meal, and watching a favorite TV show in the evening.

Visitor’s vehicles were parked around the SmokeHouse’s building on the pier.

Do those quiet days make us feel any less alive? For us, those days connect us to reality, provide us time to reflect, plan for the future and look inside ourselves for ways in which we can grow.

When I think back to our 15 months in Marloth Park, South Africa, it was the quiet times we recall the most, the wildlife coming to call, a day’s drive into Kruger National Park, an evening at Jabula with friends, not necessarily indicative of a busy, fast-paced life.

And here in quiet, remote Connemara, unable to drive on long road trips due to my legs, we’re perfectly content. As I write this now, Tom is taking a nap. I am sitting alone in the lounge, munching on a raw carrot. How much more simple can that be?
This horse was fed by passersby when she got as close as she could when we stopped for a photo.

And yet, in a mere 54 days, we’ll be in Amsterdam for two nights awaiting a cruise in the Baltic Sea, which will take us to Copenhagen and Skagen, Denmark; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; and Stockholm, Sweden. 

Certainly, this type of trip isn’t mundane and laidback. Once the cruise ends, we’ll live in the countryside in England in four different locations, here again, hardly an everyday experience.

At this point, we’re contemplating staying shorter periods in most countries to expand our horizons vastly, but we’ll never tire of the quiet days, like today; a delicious dinner already prepped and ready; a glass of wine savored, along with a favorite cocktail for Tom, as we lounge in two stuffed comfy chairs overlooking Bertraghboy Bay in Connemara, Ireland.
For us, this is hardly mundane, but at times, in this unusual life we live, it may be routine and predictable.

Friends…thank you for sharing 2500 posts with us…thank you for staying with us during mundane and quiet times, and thank you for either writing, commenting, or quietly lurking in the background.

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out! May this be a pleasing day for you, even if it’s quiet and relatively uneventful.

Photo from one year ago today, June 16, 2018:

And, here are the girls!  Not much is “girlish” about female rhinos! For more rhino photos, please click here.

On the road again…A gorgeous drive to a smoky place…What is food costing us in Ireland?…

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It was thrilling to see white sandy beaches with little to no debris and few people.

“Fascinating Fact of the Day About Ireland”

“The Celtic cross and shamrock are
both associated with Ireland, but the national symbol is the harp.”

We’d come to a point where it was time to get out when finally there was an isolated sunny day. It’s tricky driving on the winding, hilly roads and the thought of driving more than three hours in a single day is daunting.

With the necessity of keeping my legs up when I am not walking in order to keep the swelling under control (swelling impeded healing), the idea of driving for more than a few hours doesn’t make sense at this juncture.

Could this be a mating pair of sheep?

The healing of my legs is going well, but visible only in tiny increments when we clean the wound, add the cream cream, add a new moistened gauze ending with bandages and clean compression socks every two days.

When we did this last night, I decided to wash and shave my legs in the tub in the upstairs bath with a sprayer. Being cautious with the open wound, I was able to shave around it.  

This has been the most extended period of my adult life when I hadn’t shaved my legs in over four months. In the past, I shaved each day. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.  As soon as my legs dried, we began the usual bandaging process. This could continue for a few more months, based on how it’s looking now.

Sheep lined the road’s edges.  Tom drives extra carefully when there’s no fence protecting the animals.

Anyway, early yesterday afternoon, we decided to get out to a location that wouldn’t cause considerable swelling to my legs while sitting stationary in the car. 

The Connemara Smokehouse was the perfect selection. Not only would we enjoy a scenic drive along the open ocean, but we’d also have the opportunity to purchase smoked fish from this fine establishment, raved about by locals.

Once we entered the shop, we were surprised to see there was no official “fish case,” with a variety of freshly smoked fish on ice on display. There were several freezers filled with several types of fish, all frozen and professionally packaged.

Most roads are not tree-lined when the majority of the terrain is green rolling hills and mountains.

(Speaking of professionally, the SmokeHouse’s website is impressive, as shown here at this link).

Why was all the fish frozen? We all have a perception that the best fish is caught in the morning and sold unfrozen a few hours later. When we asked if they had any fresh, not frozen, smoked fish, their answer made all the sense in the world.

Particular with freshness and food safety, the smoking process proceeds as they’ve stated here on their site:

A short time into our drive, we encountered the open sea.

“The Smoking Process Smokehouse Ireland
The raw materials used to make Connemara Smokehouse Smoked Seafoods are subjected to meticulous scrutiny, where every step is of the utmost importance in producing a perfect end result. When the fish has reached the ideal weight for smoking, it is harvested from the sea, rapidly cooled, gutted, cleaned, hand filleted and boned.

To add to this assurance of quality, Graham fillets the fish by hand, which allows him to monitor every single fish that passes through our Smokehouse. The whole process is conducted quickly, hygienically, and under strict control to retain the fish’s fine taste, freshness, and natural color.

It is smoked in aromatic smoke from a slow-burning fire of beech wood shavings. Then salt is sprinkled by hand over the fillets. After 8 to 10 hours, it is rinsed off with fresh water and placed to smoke and dry for a further 16 to 20 hours.

For the first time since we arrived on May 12, we encountered sandy beaches.  However, the cool weather in Ireland is most likely to keep beachgoers and tourists away.

This adds an exquisite taste, gives a delicate color, and results in a mouth-watering experience. The recipe used and the timing of the process vary according to the size, desired taste, and fat content of the fish. The Connemara Smokehouse obtains its wild Salmon locally. All the fish used in our products are harvested from the pure, rugged Atlantic waters.” Packing:

Storing Your Products: all products are vacuum-packed and shipped by courier. Whatever the packaging or specification, The Connemara Smokehouse always guarantees the tastiest, best quality Irish Seafood.

Smoked Salmon will be kept in your fridge for two weeks in the unopened vacuum pack and up to 8 months in your freezer, also unopened. However, we recommend consumption within seven days or freeze for up to 8 months, as this is better for the quality. See more about storing your products here.”

The pristine beaches were unoccupied other than by a few bundled-up walkers with their children or dogs.

This made a lot of sense to us. Fish spoils quickly. This particular company refuses to run the risk of their carefully prepared products spoiling and possibly causing illness to less-than-careful purchasers. The smoked fish is vacuum-sealed and tastes best, as explained to us if eaten within three days of, defrosting (in the fridge) and opening the package, although it may keep as long as seven days in a very cold refrigerator.

Upon entering the shop, we were warmly greeted by the owner. There were several other shoppers in the store with us. We only waited for a minute for one of their friendly, knowledgeable staff to assist us with our order.

There were plastic laminated menus of products offered in English, French, and German. After perusing the menu and getting a few tastes from our rep, we decided on organic smoked Salmon, mackerel, tuna, and a tub of tuna pate.

Prices were comparable to smoked fish in the US, if not a little more. For all the fish, we spent Euro 76.59, US $86.07, enough fish to last us for several breakfasts when we’ll enjoy it the most.  

Also, lately we’ve been spending approximately Euro 40, US $44.95 a week for fresh-caught, unsmoked fish and seafood, plus all of our general groceries at SuperValu in Clifden.  

After arriving in Ireland one month ago, we’ve spent a total (including all fish) of Euro 1210.17, US $1359.93, which also includes wine and Tom’s Courvoisier.  Dining out, we’ve spent Euro 247.61 US $278.25.  Our grand total to eat in and dine out is Euro 1461.71, US $1628.17 averaging at Euro 48.59 US, $54.60 per day.  

Based on past records we’ve diligently maintained over this past many years, the cost to eat in and out is higher in Ireland than any other country we’ve visited. There’s no doubt that we purchase many organic vegetables and high-quality foods, but we only have a maximum of two meals a day and few, if any, snacks.

It’s the way it is.  As we all know, part of the fun of traveling is dining, whether cooking at a holiday home or dining out.  We admit we haven’t missed out on a morsel of fine food, most of which we’ve made at “home.”

In any case, we had a great time yesterday, driving for a little less than two hours with many stops along the way to take photos. Over the next several days, we’ll continue to share more new photos from our outing. Before we know it, we’ll head out on another sightseeing tour.

Be well. Be happy.

Photo from one year ago today, June 15, 2018:

      This is a “train” of the African Silk Worm grouping, which returned to our veranda after we moved them away. For more photos, please click here.