99% CHANCE OF RAIN

I stayed home for a day or so as it was overcast with a steady, cold, drizzly rain- essentially miserable to get out. I read that Ireland has an average of over 225 days of rain per year. The flip side of all this rain is that it makes for the beautiful green fields. Those green fields feed the ubiquitous sheep that are on every hill side. And those sheep make Ireland one of the top exporters of lamb, wool and lanolin. I believe there is always a flip side to any down side in all areas of life.

On these dreary days I stay in and turn to a Netflix series called Derry Girls . It is about a group of high school girls at a Catholic school on the other side of Belfast. If you can tolerate or perhaps ignore some of the foul language and the off color topics now and then it is fun to watch. Mostly because of the Irish accents.

I also tapped into an amusing series of books written by Jean Grainger who was born in Cork, Ireland. She has been a tour guide in her beloved Ireland, a teacher, a university lecturer and a playwright. She began writing at the suggestion of her clients on tours, many of whom were sure all the stories she told them would make for a great book. The Tour, has become a Number One bestseller on Amazon. It tells the story of a diverse group of American tourist to Ireland, who, along with their Irish tour guide have a life changing experience in the magical Emerald Isle. Really a fun read on a dreary, rainy Irish day. I understand why Ireland is a country of so many great writers. Johanthan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, James Joyce to name a few. And of course all the newer authors as well. They were all stuck inside for days on end due to grim weather and wrote!

When the sun finally does come out I decide to head out to one of the sea side coastal towns which are known for their quant colorful homes, restaurants and shops. I have to take the train to Dublin and walk to another train station going east.

I board the train for Dublin and sit across from a young girl who I discover is on her way to class at the University.  She is in her 4^th year and is studying biometrics. She plans to continue with a masters in bio-agriculture.  We have a fascinating discussion about the genetic alteration of rice – no really it was really fascinating because she knew about night blindness in Africa due to lack of Vitamin A.

She told me all about golden rice and how through genetic engineering they were able to biosynthesize beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible parts of the rice. It was altered to help with the shortage of Vitamin A, which causes night blindness in developing countries.

She was amazed that I even knew about night blindness and its connection to Vitamin A deficiency. But then I was an ophthalmic nurse for many years, and so we had an instant connection.

When she told me she had to board a double decker bus at the train station to get to the university I was all in and asked if I could go  with her and offered to buy her and her lab partner coffee and breakfast. I tossed my plans for the sea side away.

Finally, I got to ride the double decker bus I saw on my first days and I can tell you it was not even close to the excitement I had anticipated. It was actually down right boring.  But meeting her classmates, touring the campus and seeing the biochemistry lab was great. I enjoyed being around so many young people and engaging in their world. They are full of hope and plans for the future. At my age I welcome a little injection of hope and plans for the future.

I spend a few hours with them and then I say my good byes. They walk me to the bus stop and make me repeat the bus number I am to get on several times. I suspect they think I am “old” and might forget! I ride the double decker bus back to my train station in Dublin and meet up with another friend/acquaintance and tell him about my exciting- not– trip on the big bus.  

His name is Anthony – again my sons name – and he is a security guard in the train station. I initially saw him at the train station when I first arrived chasing a young man. He is big, muscular and filled head to toe with tattoos. A large tattoo of Jesus on his neck! Complete with details of the crown of thorns!

He looked a bit scary and I told him so! I walked right up to him after his chase and said “You look so big and scary .” Then I told him that I felt completely safe in the train station knowing he was there. He laughed and we became good friends. Every time I get on or off the train in Dublin I go over and say hello and buy him a coffee.

My days in Ireland are numbered now and I decide against going to Scottland.  I realize the cold, drizzly weather will most likely follow me there in early October.  In the mist of deciding my next adventure I receive a call from an old friend in NYC and I will repeat a quote from a previous blog “Well, that did not go as planned”.

But then that is the adventure- no plans. Stay tuned.

My young friend at the University!

Sheep on the hill side – painted with an orange spot to identify them.

Some have a blue or red spot.

Anthony and I at the train station

All new drivers have to tag their cars front and back with a big N – for new -for 2 whole years!

Great idea!

There are sooo many thrift stores in Ireland. I visit most of them.

I found this recipe in an old Irish cook book/magazine for nachos- boy did they get it wrong!!

But they did get the fish-n-chips and mushy peas right! It is on every menu!