Things don’t always happen as planned, do they now? Geez, Louise, this is nuts.

Thank you for all for the sweet notes of concern, I’m safe and fine for now in Ireland. Doing my best not to panic, and working out how to get home. I’m waiting a few days for AerLingus to get through their more critical passenger’s safe travels. 

Like everywhere, parades are canceled, restaurants are temporarily closed and social distancing is the new buzzword. BUT! the cookery school is still proceeding, and as long as that is the case, I’m staying, learning and cooking up a storm. Who knows how that will all go. Day by day.

Not much of a St. Patrick’s Day around here. They just announced all pubs and bars are closing as of midnight tonight. They even canceled mass, how crazy is this! Unprecedented to say the least.

Personally, one of the most unfortunate things is that my hubs had to cancel his trip to Ireland. So our 30-year (yes! 30!) anniversary trip has been postponed. On the bright side, we will reschedule soon. This could certainly be worse (as in, he could have arrived, and possibly be ‘stuck’ here, or would that be a bad thing? Then quarantined when we return, which I’ll probably have to do regardless, again, could be worse) Still counting my blessings, like seeing my friend Katy when she came to visit last week, sad so many things were canceled for her trip though. Ugh. She’s a trooper! It’s springtime here and things are budding and blooming, and I can’t complain about that!

And there are so many more things to be grateful for! Like a dear old high-school friend, Sheila Murphy (maybe you’ve seen her in a few hundred Insta posts since my arrival 🙂 and her guy Eric Morrissey (a life-long Dubliner, and you can’t meet a nicer guy) if I need help. It’s a great comfort knowing they are here, especially when they encourage me to hop on the next train and get to their house because I’m having a mini-panic attack (like I did a week ago!). Declan, the guy who I rent the room from has been so kind, extending my time at the house in case I can’t get home. Lynda Booth, the owner of the Dublin Cookery School, inviting me for dinner and welcoming me (that pissing-rain, first day of school) with open arms and a hairdryer. My 12-week classmates Owen, Arun, Graham, and Zennon couldn’t ask for better lads to share a kitchen, talk fine-dining, and good food. We make a great team. The school tutors Phillipe (yes, he’s French), Cindy and Grainne, I’ve learned so much. Attention to detail, plating, sauces, baking, pastries, so so much!

One of the saddest aspects of this adventure now when I think back on this amazing three months, it will always be overshadowed by this damn virus. So I will continue to blog about my experience in Ireland when I return for a few reasons. One being I’ve been so very busy while here, that I haven’t have as much time as I thought to write my blog. Two being it will keep me connected to this extraordinary country, the wonderful people I have met, and now consider such good friends and all the beautiful people who live here.

Two weeks to go. Hopefully, I’ll see you soon, we have a Paddy’s Day celebration to make up!

Beannachtaí na Féile Páraic oraibh!
 St. Patrick’s Day blessing upon you

Thanks again xo,
Shelagh