1st October
Left our B&B in Bray after a pleasant night with internet access provided and all email etc. was up to date by the time we had gone to bed last night. Arrived in Roscrea and continued down the N62 but nothing looked familiar from 5 years back – road was too wide and well kept. Eventually we found a farmer and asked for Jean Talbot’s location. After a blank look I asked for Anthony Whitten. “Is he Frank Whitten’s brother?”, Yes – oh, that’s easy so we went back in to town and turned left at the lights and out the Limmerick Road, finding the turnoff to ‘Fancroft’ at the 3Km mark. We continued on for another 2Km and turned left at the pub then recognised Jean’s house and driveway from a photo supplied by Mary & Wes Whitten some 3 years ago.
We knocked on the door, and there was Jean with her brother Joe behind her (I had met Joe 3 years ago in Dublin). We had a nice cuppa and chatted for a while before being shown our room and getting our luggage in from the car. Sat down to a beautiful home cooked farm dinner before retiring to the loungeroom and Jean’s son David came in for a late lunch. Daughter Heather and her boy David came in for high tea which was served about 6pm but proceeded by a walk with David around the local streets looking at the cows etc.

2nd October
On Saturday evening we had Ned, Florrie and son Lester , along with Frank’s wife and son, Evelyn and William and we all chatted along with Anthony

3rd October
On Sunday after we had been to the Aghancon Irish Church and seen the most haunted house in Ireland we returned with Henry because Joe needed a quick lunch to catch the 2:30 bus back to Dublin. Went of to the Dungar Cemetary at Roscrea and returned via Billy’s where we spent a pleasant hour before returnng for tea with Henry, Heather and her David. Ned and Betty also joined us for supper.

4th October
Left jeans about 10am bound for Newbridge Silverware Factory & Dublin to see the Book of Kells in Dublin. Spent extra time at Newbridge because it was so fascinating what can be made using silver and then we enjoyed lunch using their silverware. Headed off to the Book of Kells and landed in the middle of Dublin before reslising that we just did not have enough time available to do the visit justice. Decided to head for the airport by fllowing the aeroplane signs and I think we went down every street and over many bridges because they all seemed to have one. We eventually succeeded but had to go right round the airport to fill up with fuel and then return the vehicle.
Caught the plane to Paris CDG where Julien & Mathilde collected us as promised. They had been driving for 7-8 hours to be able to get to Paris from Grenoble. Went home and finally met Syvlie and Pierre after numerous meetings via Skype over the last few months. Had a lovely dinner of Soup Feuilleteé (which was made up of Lotte fish – , wild duck with a follow up of a cheese board and some nice wine. We realised that it was 01:15 and very quickly had showers (Jen used the broken toilet which I guess is better than me breaking beds) and headed off to bed. Tomorrow looks like it will be a big and exciting day.