Friday 2/1/09

Stayed up just long enough to see the new year's celebrations on sky news. Had an amazing four days in Sligo and Donegal, and it didn't break the bank. Am not going crazy with boredom given that we are waiting on the auto glass people to come out and repair the shattered back panel glass on my van (courtesy of the short dark days and a driveway). So, I am temporarily immobilised, but am catching up on some reading, organising DVD's etc. My mother was hospitalised for a week on the Monday of Christmas week, with a combination of exhaustion and low sodium, giving me a horrible taste of what "life" would be like without her, and added sympathy for people who are unfortunate enough, not to have anybody other than strangers at most, around them at this time of year!

It was my four day trip, which I've been planning since October, which kept me going during that mixed up and boring Christmas week. The scenery around Sligo is stunning. I had my laptop with me, and was able to research where to go. We stayed in the Sligo southern hotel, which was an unfortunate choice They put us on the third floor, which was ludicrous, given the tiny lift which I could just about squeeze into, once the leg rests on the chair were taken off. The "accessible" room was badly arranged, with the wardrobe blocking the front door from opening. Is it the recession, or have all hotel's stopped supplying basic toiletries? Although nice as it looked as a possible alternative, the Jacuzzi didn't work. There was no shower chair, and they finally improvised with a garden chair. There's no point giving out to the polish receptionist, so I will just vent here, and hope that my experience will dissuade anyone in a similar situation from squandering €120. Its a lovely looking hotel though only six miles from Drumcliffe, burial site of W.B Yeats. From there we went to Lissadell house, and then a lovely coastal drive to Killybegs.

We had a great four course meal here (this was my Christmas present to myself, so I wasn't gonna settle for fish and chips!). From there on to Letterkenny and the great clanree hotel, which turned out to be the best value for money hotel of the trip. Its a great looking hotel, with a staircase at reception to rival "Gone with the wind". The rooms are huge, with a lovely bath, but reception would have changed my room, if I needed a shower The price for B&B here was €109. Due to the short winter days, I tended to research what to see and do during the day the night before. The Christmas decorations in Donegal towns were superb. I really loved seeing the majesty of Glenveagh national park once again. Thankfully the roads were quiet and frost free. I really wanted to buy Aran at the factory outlet shop in Ardara, but the damn place was closed, even though the lights were on, and we were outside perched like lemons, on this hillside town.

We had a sat nav in the van, which proved indispensible but certainly not infallible, as sometimes it was urging us to go to farm lanes and take phantom right turns We tried to find Kincasslough, home of wee Daniel O'Donnell, but by the time we found the sign, we would have had to turn around. We couldn't be arsed, so on we went to Donegal town, home to the nicest decorated Christmas square I've seen. We had the best meal in the harbour inn there, originally finding the hotel in Rossnowlagh closed. We booked into the mill park hotel, which was €130 for B&B. It was nice, even though the shower didn't work. I never got to see Donegal manor, as on Tuesday morning we came back to Dublin via Strabane, allowing us the opportunity to drop in on my cousin's wedding in swords.

So holidays are over. Thanks to AAA Mobile Windscreens in naas, who have me back on the road, thanks to heavy duty tape while they await the right glass for the panel next week. I hope there is no problem with Axa. I simply couldn't wait for next week, and their nearest branch is in Tallaght, so that alone rules them out. I just emailed AAA the photo's of the shattered panel, and they were very quick and accommodating. So I am back on the road.......