Thursday, 1st. October, '98.
Heathrow - Cork.

Flying out over Wales until we reach the coast at Waterford. Such cliffs ! For miles and miles, clusters of animals, stripes of mown fields with little blocks of hay.

Owens mother met me and we were off to their home in nearby Beaumont. Once Owen arrived home we headed down to Monkstown, to see if I could locate the B&B Charlene and I had stayed in last time - and there it was ! Right on the waterfront with a trim hedge, a few doors down from the 'Bosun' where we had enjoyed such a wonderful dinner.

Yes, Breda remembered me, and we could have chatted for hours. The children have all grown, the amenities are still first class, the views just as impressive, and the warm, sincere 'Cead Mile Failte' is the same.

Friday, 2nd. October, '98.
Cork.

A beautiful day - so up for a walk around the sleeping estate to return for breakfast. A warm sun and pleasant breeze and we walk to St. Michael to collect the train ticket and change some money. I almost faint at the exchange rate, convinced there must be a mistake.

Went for a drive around the small castle and the village before heading to the station where Owen even arrived to wave me off, threatening to visit Australia 'sometime' in the future. Caught the 3.45pm train to Dublin which was packed - busy with students and couples off to spend the weekend taking in theatre and special events.

Had sandwiches, fresh coffee. The scenery flashed past - black faced sheep, red berries on the hedgerows, bailed meadow hay, the townships. Herds of milking cows in lush fields. I had no idea it would look so different in another season - with the undergrowth, trees, pockets of woodland and fields, green and growing.

Merrion Hall,
Dublin, Ireland.

Arrived into Dublin and caught a taxi to Merrion Hall, where I was shown to a neat little room. Merrion Hall, Ballsbridge, is opposite the RDS, near Sandymount DART station, and with bus stop outside.

Meeting Lynn and his wife and Stormsend at long last was great - and as I had promised to ring Patrick the minute I arrived, a brief chat with Kirkdale had to suffice.

We all headed off to nearby Roly's Bistro for a delightful dinner - Dublin prawns for me, followed by ginger chocolate cake. Jonathan, Bigwigxxx and Sierra also joined us there - and later, Seaswan. It was such a nice evening, with such pleasant company in such a nice setting, it seemed like we had always known one another, and there was nothing out of the ordinary about it.

Saturday, 3rd. October, '98.

BillD and his family arrived while we were having breakfast, and amid plenty of talking, swapping travel notes and news, we were all looking forward to later that evening, and meeting one another.

Problems accessing my laptop while being unable to recharge the battery, so mail will go unanswered until something is sorted out. Pity, with so many people in and around Dublin right now.

Oliver St. John Gogarty's in Temple Bar had been chosen as a meeting-point with live music, plenty of Guinness and central enough for everyone. As warned by Seaswan, upstairs it was packed - and even arriving at 6pm really made it no easier to find a seat. Name tags with our handles were how we would recognise one another unless, as Liam suggested, we preferred 'selective interaction'.

How nice to meet so many from Paddynet - many I have chatted with for years ! Patrick is actually the first person I ever e-mailed, three years earlier, and the person who invited me over from VIP to Virtual Blarney in the beginning.

As I was hard pushed finding 'pressies' from Croydon for everyone, I had contacted Maroondah City Council and Cadbury's before leaving home. Their main plant is in Maroondah, and as a "Yowie" already had a 'Paddyet connection' so to speak, it was Australian, and something different, I happily handed out the boxful of Yowies I brought with me.

Altargirl, Bandersnatch, Barfly, Bigwigxxx, BillD, Cavedog, Cleo, Dee, Fionnuaghuala, GeneralMunroe, HarleyDude, Jonathan, Kirkdale, LadyFingers, Loney, LovinGuinness, Lynn, Mouse, Nadir, Oliver, Patrick, Redhead1, Seaswan, Sierra, SpandexMan, Spitfire, Stormsend, Topgun, TheManWithAllTheAnswers, Typan.
Cynthia, Lynne, Sue, Heather and friends. (Porter was not present, so the barman had his.)

Despite the crowds, noise, smoke and other guests, I'm sure everyone enjoyed themselves, and were glad they had made the journey.

Sunday, 4th. October, '98.

Awake early, off for a longer walk around Sandymount, and breakfast with Walt, Lynn and SheLynne - Patricia, Bill and family.

"Meet for an easy-going brunch, served from noon to 4pm, at Cafe en Seine, 40 Dawson Street. This is around the corner from St. Stephen's Green, opposite the Mansion House. Don't be mislead by the name.. it is actually a full bar. Decor is stylish, and there should be a jazz session. If you feel extra hungry, you could try the nearby new "Pasta Cafe" on Stephens Green between the top of Dawson Street and the top of Grafton Street, and still join the gang for a drink in Cafe en Seine. If the weather is good a stroll through St. Stephen's Green later would work off the calories, or the after-effects of a night at Gogarty's... or shoppers will find some of the shops on Grafton Street - such as Marks and Spencers - are now open on Sundays." Is how Seaswan wrote her suggestions for visitors to the BBB, yet due to ill health was unable to circulate them as she'd intended.

Headed off catching a bus with Heather, Bill and Sue on an overcast, mild drizzly day. Those who gathered here said goodbye to Topgun - back to Denmark, and Cynthia - back to London. There was live jazz, too, and a rather relaxed brunch, chat, photos, and laughter.

Kitty O'Shaes

Monday, 5th. October, '98.

Not such an early start today, feeling very, very tired. Breakfast with Bill, Heather and Sue before they headed off to organise a Newgrange tour. Walt had left on an early flight, and was now on his way home.

I have the laptop recharged !

Lynn, Kirkdale and I caught the bus to visit Ronan at Webfactory to say hello. Apart from the fact we were feeling distinctly nervous as the exact location became more difficult to find - it was a delightful meeting. Bonus laminated 'Paddynet' posters, which would have been wonderful at Gogarty's, and hearing the tape of the RTE1 radio interview broadcast earlier that morning - now in the Webcasts Archives !

We were brought up to date on current events, and Ronan proudly showed us the 'Golden Spider' award the Webfactory team had won last week for Web Design Agency of the Year.

Meeting Eamon across at the nearby pub, we sat and talked - pleased to know that the mission statement of Paddynet - 'A global community united in Cyber-space' will be expanded, adhered to, and re-inforced in the future.

Off to Global the cybercafe in O'Conell Street, where Pauline, Whelan, Keira and Blathnaid welcomed me like a regular while I uploaded pages, and of course, chatted at Paddynet. Wonderful to meet up again with Spitfire, Typan, Cavedog and Porter there - and that left me rushing for a bus to return in time to head out again.

Missed Lynn by a few minutes, so between spending time on the phone and fiddling with my laptop, I ended up catching the DART with Bill & Co. for Howth.

Strong, cold wind, yet the isle was still visible. What a delightful little place ! The masts of all the yachts in the harbour sihouetted against the grey sky, the hotels and restaurants preparing for patrons looked warm and inviting. We walked up a narrow roadway protected from the wind, and when we looked down over the old Howth Abbey ruins and graveyard to the windswept shore - we could hear a piper. Around and down a twisted set of steps - and there was the Abbey Tavern with the lone piper outside.

Stone walls, open fires, a warm and cosy atmosphere. Dating back to the eleventh century, with parts from when it was a monks seminary in the 1600's. Wonderful menu and attentive staff. I chose mussells in white wine and garlic, then pan fried oyster mushrooms atop steak in a lightly creamed Guinness sauce with potatoes, carrots and cauliflower. Fionnuala and Pat had gone to a lot of trouble booking us all in, as not only was the restaurant booked well in advance, the traditional Irish music and singing was very popular with downstairs packed as well. Said goodbye to our 'Carribean contingent' Jonathan, here.

Tuesday, 6th. October '98.

Breakfast meant saying more goodbyes as Lynn was off home, and Bill and family were heading off with Kirkdale. Bill would be arriving in Scotland the day I planned to leave there, so the next get-together in Montreal next year, seems the plan.

Spent time on the phone and rang Eddy Ferry, up in Ramelton, to say hello. So nice talking to him after all this time, and discover James has a new baby daughter, and he will be going on the internet next week so will be able to look up my Austin pages at long last. Eddy also tells me Cirian Cavanagh, the fella I first rang from the Royal Dublin Hotel way back in April '95, is in Dublin, so why not ring and say hello as well ?

I do - and Cirian not only remembers me, but my address, my car, and the parts I was looking for ! He's not on the net so has never seen my mention of meeting his friend Eddy, and would love to meet me. He's president of the Classic Austin Car Club in Ireland, which covers Austins from January 1st, 1931 through to December 31st, 1958.

Last year, to celebrate fifty years of Austin in Ireland, the club undertook a five-day tour around Ireland raising funds for the Cancer Society. The County Car Club in the UK were also represented with members coming over to participate. He'll pick me up, and take me for a drive Thursday !

Wednesday, 7th. October, '98.

Lunch with Eamon.

After spending an hour at Global I head back to Merrion Hall, and turning the corner at O'Connell Street - recognise Liam pushing his bike - and it's rather exciting and nice, to be in a large city and actually run into someone you know.

Later a walk down the street, visit to the shop, postcards to post, and I drop into Paddy Cullen's for dinner before it's too late. Not many other diners around, so I sit by myself in a little alcove under sporting photos, pennants, memorabilia. Order the seafood platter which is hot, creamy, full of prawns and chunks of fish, with a nice crusty bread.

(The next morning I noticed the number of empty kegs outside Paddy Cullen's - so I wonder what I missed)

Merrion Hall are fully booked tomorrow night, and Paul will book me 'next door' overnight, and I'll leave all my luggage.

Thursday, 8th. October, '98.

At breakfast I start chatting with Trevor, an 'exhibitionalist', he tells me, as he works at conveying, assembling, and maintaining an exhibition stand - currently at the joint Orthoepedic surgeons exhibition at the RDS across the road. The rest of his crew are arriving Friday for dismantling and packing the stand prior to his return. Fascinating !

Checking during the day where I've been booked in, I find it hasn't been done, so I walk a few doors down to Lansa House where I'm given a very warm welcome by Maryanne. The hallway is filled with sunlight, and my room is on the first floor overlooking the construction of the new Four Seasons Hotel.

Returning to Merrion Hall, I'm waiting out the front not sure which direction they would arrive from, phone calls giving me updated ETA's, and I see the car ! Such a nice feeling - like recognising someone I know, and am pleased to see. Cirian's little car shone in the sunlight - head and shoulders above the others.

We drove down wide avenues lined with stately homes to, and around Portobello - and after discussion between Cirian and his son Paul, parked outside the 'Lower Deck' - an Irish pub painted cream and black, the perfect backdrop for the car. Sitting inside, looking through photo albums, hearing all about the history of Cirian's car, his involvement with other car clubs, meeting and speaking with those inside the pub who had their own stories to tell, a few drinks - what a wonderful afternoon ! I so rarely have the chance to be driven in my own car, and the smooth gliding ride, the height above the other drivers, the smiles, interest evoked and friendly comments with waves from other drivers and pedestrians alike was very, very familiar.

Jonathan - eat your heart out !

Driving back along the canal, now too dark for really good photos, they dropped me off with a copy of the video from the Austin tour last year to be watched at my leisure, and shown to others.

This was such a nice afternoon, unrelated to Paddynet, yet reminded me people with a common interest, whatever it is, wherever they are, benefit with the Internet. The club will have it's own web-page before too long, and once scanned, these pictures will be available to one and all. I know from the mail requests I receive, the places I send postcards to, there are many, many people 'out there' who share similar experiences.

Friday, 9th. October, '98.

Lunch with Fred from Internet Business Ireland at Clontarf Castle.

Dropping in to check mail at the Global Cafe, I find to my dismay I've missed Greg at the bookstore and have probably even walked past it while meandering along windowshopping.

Saturday, 10th. October, '98.

I'm actually so nervous about this flight I'm awake at 5.30am, and have everything packed and ready to go by the time the 'taxi' arrives at 7am. Except it's not a taxi with a meter, nor does it take credit cards so I request another one. Same thing ! So I end up flagging a taxi cab down, and whizzing off through that sleepy old town witness to a spectacular pink sunrise in clear skies. I am so nervous, in fact, that I've not only misread my flight, I'm there almost four hours before my departure time !

The lady at Aer Lingus suggests I catch the early flight instead and that won't leave me enough time to be nervous. Just as well - it has propellors, and Anne knows how I hate small planes.

Next stop - Edinburgh.

How far is it ? - 213 miles (343 km)