Sorry for the temporary blog malfunction. Hopefully you can now see all the photos...

Hello! Things here in Ireland are good. Chris is getting settled and negotiating with immigration. I have wrapped up the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and have moved on to the gastrointestinal and renal systems. We are enjoying being together and having some laughs getting used to living together again.

We bought a new car a couple weeks ago...a 95 Toyota Corolla hatchback. It stays parked during the week but it as it has given us a whole lot of freedom to explore on the weekends. Here's a bunch of pictures of what we've been up to....

Chris' trip up north to Donegal to buy the car...

Our new wheels!! "Blue Thunder"

(Credit to the Quinn's for naming the car)

We did a little hike in Connemara last weekend. Wind and rain cut the hike shorter than planned but we enjoyed ourselves anyway....

Nice windy wet spot for a picnic lunch...

This past weekend, our good friends Ryan and Desiree Quinn came to visit us from Nigeria. Friday was my birthday and to celebrate, we went to a small town called Gort to attend a traditional Irish party called a Ceili. It was very Irish!!! There was great traditional music, irish dancing, tea, sandwiches, friends, and lots of fun!! My friend Angela surprised me with a cake on the bonnet of her car in the parking lot...

Angela and her boyfriend Eoghan (pronounced Owen)

Chris and I practicing our Irish dance moves after a lesson from Angela. We learned a Waltz and some set dances. It was a bit embarassing cuz we were clearly rookies in a room full of very talented people. The trouble is that the song always seems to end just when you're getting the hang of it. Great fun though!!

Ryan, Des and us

Saturday morning we drove north to Wesport, County Mayo, to climb Ireland's Holy mountain called Croagh Patrick (765m). It has been the site of Pagan worship since 3000 B.C. In 441 A.D., Saint Patrick is said to have spent 40 days on the mountain top fasting and praying for the Irish. He also apparently cast all the snakes out of Ireland, a deed which I am especially thankful for! It is now the site of an annual Catholic Pilgrimage (which many people complete barefoot) and there is a small church on top where services take place regularly in the summer.

Starting out...

Hiking in the fog...a taste of Irish weather for Ryan and Des

There are steps for pilgrims to follow all the way to the top. This plaque describes what they are meant to do when they arrive at the top. The little doll is 'Flat Stephanie', Ryan and Desiree's travel companion. She belongs to a young girl in the U.S. and is currently on a journey to see as much of the world as possible before returning home with photos and stories to share with her owner (for an elementary school project).

Washrooms at the top of the mountain!!

At the church on the summit

Des and I on the way down

View of Clew Bay

Looking back at the summit

Sunday was a very nice sunny day so we went down to Blackrock beach and had a very brief dip in the ocean (currently about 5-7 degrees celcius). It was very refreshing and we didn't stay in long (though we were brave enough to jump in a second time).

Chris' face says it all!!

Warming up in the sun.

Most exciting of all is that we had a new little nephew born on Saturday, Feb. 24th to Lori and Jason (8lbs, 8oz). We are very sad that we're not there to meet him. His name is Gavin Luke Armstrong and he and his Mom and Dad are all doing well.

Cute as a button!!

That's all for now! K&C

Finally Reunited!!!!

Chris arrived on Sunday...there was drama right to the bitter end (he ended up stuck overnight in New York on his way here) but he made it safe and we are very much enjoying being together again. I don't think it has sunk in yet that we don't have to say goodbye anytime soon. We spent an action packed first day seeing as much as we could together and since then, have just enjoyed doing ordinary things like making dinner and sitting down at the table to eat together, watching movies, going for walks..etc.

Self portrait at Lahinch- a little surf town. There were lots of people out in the water and what looked like great waves. There were even some small enough for a beginner like me to surf!!

Quick stop at the Cliffs of Moher. There have been a few deaths there since November (people blowing or jumping off the cliffs) so they have really increased the number of barricades and the security presence.

A drive in the country....it was a very sunny day but we did encounter a very thick stretch of fog. I rented a car to pick Chris up at the airport. It was my first time driving on the left hand side of the road. I didn't find it a problem at all and actually loved the windy roads and roundabouts. Chris was a bit of a stressed out passenger! The narrow roads combined with driving on the left made him quite nervous (gasp!). I think it's sweet revenge for all of his high speed mountain driving I've had to endure over the years.

Chris has arrived in the middle of a stretch of beautiful weather. The days have been sunny and clear. The temperature is a bit colder...regular frost in the mornings but the sunshine is lovely! With this nice weather we have also had some really great sunsets. This is the tail end of the tail end of the sunset on Sunday.

Introducing Chris and Kelly O'Mieske...

I managed to convince Chris to not have his first Guiness with breakfast when he got off the plane to ensure that his first was a proper pint in a good Irish pub. We did make it on the first night though....a couple pints and some great live music. Chris is in his glory and I am a converted Guiness hater...it tastes horrible in Canada but here....YUMMY!!
Slainte!! (Irish 'cheers'- it means 'to your health')