Random reminder

Press, 26 July 1984, Page 33

Random reminder

LAUGHTER LEARNT OF FRIENDS

There was certainly no enchantment present before they landed in Eire. It had rained steadily during the drive through the green valleys and misty mountains of Wales. The coast was windswept, grey and uninviting. The ferry trip across the Irish Sea had caused 80 per cent of the passengers to i be seasick and only by riding the gale on the open deck had the New Zealanders avoidea succumbing to their example. Shaken and wan, they faced the landing formalities and emerged into the Irish countryside. The rain stopped but the ground squelched The sun came out as they drove slowly to the next little town to buy some food — bread, eggs, bacon, meat and fruit Stretching and relaxing in the warmth they eavesdropped on a policeman enjoying the sunshine as he told his friend about the funeral he had attended the day before. Standing casually by, they listened to every charming word, trapped willingly in the lilt of the Irish world. They rang their friends in the next

county and arranged to meet in the county town at 2 p.m. The New Zealanders, true to their upbringing, arrived early. Their friends were two hours late, quite unapologetic but overjoyed to meet the cousins from over the sea. The guests were swept into the nearest hotel for a brandy, introduced all round shepherded back to the family farm for the night The house was made of stone and very large. The rooms were large, the family was large and five extra seemed to make very little impression. The evening was full of reminiscing, laughter, confusion, children and joy. The visitors were fascinated to hear tales of the past, tales of the present, tales of tinkers, horses, hounds, saints and sinners. Never had there been such hospitality — such magic. Nor did it surprise them at all next morning to find when breaking the eggs into the frying pan for breakfast that one of those purchased the previous day was already hard-boiled.