Thoughts From A Galway Hotel Room -

Hello from Galway once again.

Yes, It's been a while.

And I'm facing a bit of a time struggle.  And also a desire thing.

Let me liken this to a UFO that gets set aside - at first for just a little while because time is short - but there is a full intention of getting back to it ASAP.

And then, life gets in the way and that UFO sits longer and longer and the desire to get back to it gets more difficult to muster.

Since I left home on May 30th to start my journey on to Cairo Egypt, and then directly to two back-to-back tours in Ireland I have been running to catch up.  Wake up alarms at dawn, go go go go through the day with approximately 40 travelers in each group to keep moving from place to place and getting back into bed only late at night to once again set that alarm for dawn.

To top things off, about half-way through the first Ireland tour of wet and rainy interspersed with fleeting sunshine, I found myself coming down with a raging head cold turned sinus infection.

Lucky for my forethought - I had picked up antibiotics in Cairo just in case. (because they are sold over the counter there.)

I've tried to post at least once a day to Facebook and Instagram since I've been on tour.  If you don't subscribe there, you've likely missed everything.  

Wifi has been intermittent (We are on a bus for hours a day) and truly, my choice is either to spend hours in my hotel room trying to shoot up a blog, or actually experiencing these tours with the folks that came with me and that is where my intent is.

Group two folks walking back to the bus after a rainy photo op today.

I have been writing this blog for 18 years.  EIGHTEEN YEARS.  I need this break.

I need to be able to enjoy every minute soaking up the last few days of Ireland with my travelers and not be feeling guilty for not updating the armchair folks out there who may be wondering where I am and what I'm doing.

It may be the antibiotics and sinus meds wreaking havoc, but there are tears streaming as I finally find a moment to sit in my room and type this out this evening - 

I am here with some amazing folks.  And my time will be spent focusing on them and making friendships and memories happen instead of feeling guilty that I haven't sent anything out to the interwebs in days.

More clouds on the mountains and sheep.  Always sheep.

I plan on filing all of these memories  close and remembering what an awesome day we had on a boat cruise down the Killary Fjord to where it meets the sea.

That's our boat out there - while we waited for it to dock so we could board.

More about the fjord - the only one in Ireland.

Coming in to dock.

And we are aboard -

We are underway!

The scenery was magnificent - peaceful.

Rugged. Majestic.

There was sunshine in between the clouds.

And rain in between the sunshine.

And so green.

Imagine living way out here?

The little town was a great place to wander.

And enjoy a panini and cider while my group was at the sheep & wool center.  I had seen the demonstration the week before with group one and needed some solo time to find my center.

I posted about the Cliffs of Moher, Try 2 last evening to Facebook and Instagram and someone commented "Nice but aren’t there any town’s buildings local events?"

And all I could think of to reply was "WTH!?" 

Because this is when it hit me - that no matter what I post, it isn't going to be what everyone wants to see. And I am not here to post what everyone else wants to see.  I am posting what I am experiencing.  The things that *I* find interesting or valuable - things I want to remember.

Another beautiful spot on our way back to Galway -

These folks, experiencing these things with me -

They will also have different thigs they gravitate toward and resonate with.

Old stone house, what is your story?

As for me - I know I'll get back to "normal" when I return home.

I'll get back to quilting content.

I'm excited about the ideas floating around in my head.

And I know you will understand and forgive me for taking the rest of this tour off while I continue to fight the sinus infection (I've turned a corner - I'm on the mend) and give my full attention the group and the activities we have yet to come.

I'm living happily in Ireland for the next few days and will fill you in when I get back.

I'll write about the experiences I've had, the things that tickled my fancy.

I'll likely mix in a bit of Egypt in there too -

But I also realize that I'm not required to share every photo, every excursion, every memory with everyone.

In the mean time, if you miss daily updates and snippets - check me out on Facebook and Instagram.

Those little dots below my signature with the icons in them?  They are linked.  Click them to get where you want to go.

Tonight we are off to see "Trad on the Prom" a show of Irish dancing and music - it should be a blast.

We'll be back late.

And the alarm will be set for early tomorrow to start our next day.