Wednesday forgot to dawn. I know you are fed up with me saying that. But it happens way to much, this is Ireland and not Denmark or further north.
I took my mug of hot water back to bed, re closed the curtains and decided to toddle round blogland and FB ‘till the day improved. Then the phone rang…
“Do you feel like coffee?” asked an elderly friend.
With my mind moving to overdrive… I replied.
“That sounds like a nice idea”
“I know a nice Farm shop & Tearoom, in Straid. I have been there a few times and I thought we might go. Would 10:30 suit you?”
Glancing down to the clock on my laptop I see it is 9:20 – Where had the hours gone?
A fourminuteshowerandhairwash plus a banana & pills on the run, and I would just about make it.
“Great! I’ll pick you up at 10:30.” I said.
I did.
My friend was a good navigator, and we chatted our way through the gloomy countryside. Our destination was well sign posted along the way.
A warm wood fire greeted us in the Tea room quickly followed by a welcome from the staff and service at our table. All food was prepared on the premises.
We each decided on a scone with our coffee. My friend opted for a fruit one and mine was pear with almond. Yummy! I so want to make these.
There was no rush, no fuss and we happily chatted the morning away.
As we headed back to the car, I took two photos, the one above and the one below. You can see from the bottom one the time I took them – still no proper sky detail. I have not altered them apart from cropping.
For more info: Ballylagan Organic Farm, shop, Tea Room and Guest House
What a lovely way to dispel the gloom. Bed curtains? How quaint. Haven’t seen those since I last visited England.
Window curtains, Dianne. Bed curtains always seemed to me as dusty and very claustrophobic.
Yes, they are dusty. Quaint is vastly overrated. I prefer clean.
Dianne, I suppose bed curtains had their place in draughty great houses & old castles of a by gone age. But this one from Chatsworth House would certainly have me suffocating: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/560768591074842345/
The constant GREEN of Ireland would do it for me since I don’t drink coffee (that bitter stuff).
BHB, not all coffee is bitter, you need to try different beans. The photo actually looks brighter than the view was in real life. Two days earlier we had a low fog that lasted all day.
Seems to me you made the best out of the day. Sounds like a neat place.
I will certainly return and soon, Al. We visited the shop and both of us bought goodies to enjoy at home.
What a wonderful way to warm up the day!!!
I had another bonus, I met another friend who was there for coffee, we had not seen each other for quite some time.
Nice outing! I love Kona blend coffee and drink 5 cups of it every morning.
Gosh, Gigi, I have not had 5 cups of coffee in one morning for many a long year. I would soon lose my taste for other foods if I tried it now.
You always make the best of a situation, GM. Glad you had a good day with your friend.
blessings and more ~ maxi
I do try, Maxi. Being miserable makes for very long days!
Embrace the gloom I say but I haven’t gone through the misery of February here yet. Always the worst month. 10cm of snow forecast for tonight but hey Ireland armed me for it, it will seem like a pleasant change.
I wish you were close enough to coffee with you. I’d love it.
XO
WWW
Coffee. One of the simple pleasures to share, and very enjoyable it is too, WWW. One day soon!
I’d never heard of the Straid Farm Shop. I must drop in and try it if I’m in the area. Sounds like their scones and coffee would dispel the winter gloom for a little while.
Nick, it would be a good spot for a meet-up, it must be my turn again.
It’s good to have friends that make your day brighter.
Gerlinde, I am indeed very fortunate with my friends. They certainly brighten my days.
Sounds like a great outing. Nothing like that around here – and nothing like a good cup of coffee.
I will really enjoy a visit on a bright sunny day, shackman.
That weather looks familiar. We get a lot of that here on The Puget Sound, in Western Washington (state). I do find the sunny days and visible sunrises and sunsets to be very uplifting perhaps because of their rarity. Your solution sounds very nice, as no one controls the weather, we can control the way we deal with it.
Frank, On a bright morning I have no bother jumping out of bed before 6 a.m. But on a dark cold winter day, I now bring breakfast back to bed and catch up on blogland.
Yesterday, the fog hung around all day, and if I were an airplane, I would have been taxiing around the field all day, without ever taking off.
26th was a better day here and I took advantage so headed out for a few hours. Today it was a day to turn inward and deal with in-house chores.
Ah for some “Irish coffee” for a cold and damp day! Now only memories.
But, you no longer drink, Ramana. Make strong coffee and top it with cream.
We often have fogs in Auckland (NZ) because we are in a narrow band of land within a hours’ drive to each side of the Indian/Pacific Ocean – I seem to remember it is a collision of “air” that causes the fog – not just in winter either…And they can last right through to mid-day sometimes!
Cathy, we can have fog of various types depending on the time of year. The type I hate most is the freezing fog where it is impossible to see beyond the end our your nose and all sound is swallowed up, so driving is almost impossible and dangerous. The recent foggy days, were filled with cold damp air that soaks into all it touches. At times like that a house needs a certain amount of heat to keep it in good condition and older people need the heat to warm the bones and stop them from stiffening.