Phew! Just finished a long day... Alison and Palmer celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary tonight with a big dinner party. About 40 odd people were in attendance (some were very odd indeed), cramming into the house and coming from all over Ireland and most of them were, in one way or another, related to me. And these folks were only the tip of the iceberg. I never realised just how many aunts, uncles, and cousins, in various degrees of removal, I had. Somewhere in the vicinity of 4 million of them apparently. It was a long night of introductions and very soon my brain was overloaded with names and convoluted relationships. Needless to say we all had a fantastic time and I met many people that I otherwise would not have been able to.
A note for Dad: word of 'the book' had got around and soon it was out and everyone was giving it a thorough perusal, hunting for the passage in which they or their parents might be mentioned. As usual everyone loved it and found it fascinating. We may have to consider publishing in Ireland...Brian Blennerhassett and Pam Browne and 'the book'.
Avril Blennerhassett and Alan Browne giving "The Pettigrews" a going over.Earlier in the day Rachel and I had set out to meet Michael, my cousin, in County Meath. We left early and spent the morning wandering around Tara Hills, an ancient meeting place and burial site. Really there wasn't a great deal to see some mounds and rolling hills that you wouldn't notice otherwise - except for a lone obelisk, which admittedly was my first genuine obelisk and knowing how much I liked Asterix as a child I should make a bigger deal of this, but we were glad to see some of the windswept countryside in typical Irish winter weather: wet, windy, and overcast. After getting this welcome fresh air we headed on to visit Michael at 'The Coachhouse', his picture-book farmhouse out in the countryside. Yet again we were subjected to the ordeal of Irish hospitality: this time it was a hearty breakfast of cereals, sausages, toast, tea, coffee, cheeses, biscuits, and more. It would seem that each time we eat the stakes (or steaks) are raised. But I can't lay the blame for this latest episode of culinary onslaught on Michael - the real culprit was Helen, his lovely wife with her gorgeous accent. Perhaps word has gone out that we're not to leave Ireland without gaining several dozen kilos. But they'll be healthy Celtic kilos no doubt. Bring it on, I say.
Mike Pettigrew, Luke , Alex and Rachel
The previous day we went for a walk Dun Laoghaire harbour in the morning. We later had to work off that exercise with a generous lunch at the Budds house.
Myself, Ann Budd, Rachel, and Declan Budd.
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