The Bittersweet Ending {No. 20}

Well, here we are.  It’s September 8 and we returned home from this trip over five weeks ago.  I’ve had the photos loaded for this entry for almost a month and yet….  I seem to find it difficult to wrap up the blog posts.  Some of that is because as soon as I return home, life takes over and my mind is elsewhere.  But I feel like it may be more than that—a hesitation to end things—officially?  Not sure.  The fact that I am sitting and writing the last entry of this trip only a month out from its ending is surely progress as compared to my last blogging effort on a trip (which still lacks a good three days’ documentation for true completion and that trip ended three years ago).  

Our last whole day in Belfast would never have been long enough.  It was a day of two halves and I wanted to savor every second.  Dean and I divided and conquered in the first half—he to the golf course and I to a lady’s day with Suzanne and my new friend, Nia.  Suz and I eventually bid farewell to Nia and headed up to meet our pro golfers extraordinaire for what I believe might be referred to in that corner of the world as “tea and craic” (pronounced “crack” but does not refer to illegal substances).  Suzanne will correct me, I have no doubt, if I’m a bit off in my attempt to be relevant.  The American version of that would be “dinner and a good time” which sounds super nerdy for some reason so obviously, until Suz corrects me, we’re going with “tea and craic.” 

It was such a great day and night.  We love our dear friends, the Bennetts.  Every time we’re with them it feels like coming home.  To be able to have the four of us together on the same side of the ocean and all enjoy a long delicious dinner, drinks, abundant laughter, still more laughter…and the kind of set-free vibe that we seem to rarely encounter as parents in the child-rearing stage of life where it felt like the whole night was ours and no one expected us elsewhere.  There’s no other word but “magical.”  Thinking about it even now, I’m transported—and laughing to myself.

The next day would be the day we left Belfast.  We spent the night at the Bushmills Inn and met the Bennys for some coffee the next morning before eventually bringing ourselves to give the final goodbye hug.  It always hurts.  And now I’ve traded my laughter for a lump in my throat and sting in the eyes.  Love them so.  They are worth the pain and heartbreak I feel every time we have to make our exit.  

Our flight was in the late afternoon so we had plenty of time to run a couple of last-minute errands before the ninety-minute drive back to the Belfast City Airport.  We flew back to London to spend the night before our morning flight back to the US the next morning.  I even managed to sneak in a bucket-list restaurant for dinner!   

We flew back home on Sunday, July 31.  I cannot accurately describe how grateful we felt for the opportunity.  For us to be able to leave for this length of time to adventure together and settle in, lower our shoulders a bit, consider no one’s needs but our own, navigate zero sibling mayhem, to not once be interrupted in conversation at dinner, to be regular ADULTS together, day in and day out—the rarity of it was exhilarating.  No way possible this ever could’ve happened without two hugely significant blessings:  Alpine Camp for Boys and our beloved Mimi and Pop who kept Mamie for the two weeks we were gone.  Thank you, Lord, for making a way—for our kids and for us.  And Happy 20th anniversary to us!  

.....“This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:23.....

Ladies’ lunch with Suz and Nia at the lovely Avoca in Belfast.  Nia is Suzanne’s good friend who I have come to know through the mysterious channels of social media and with whom I have bonded over our mutual love of all things French and Paris…and Suzanne!  We were so excited to finally meet in person!

The server was as tiny as a little bird and warned us that the charcuterie platter was large and usually shared.  We took her advice, considered it for a half-second and then threw it right out the blooming window as we each ordered our own for lunch.  No sharing necessary.

Move over, Rory.  There are a couple of new sheriffs in town at Royal Portrush.

Dean was GIDDY when he found out that Al & Suz's friend, Fraz, was able to get Al and him on at Royal Portrush again this trip.  Lots of excited talk around these parts as The Open will return here in 2019.  The Dougs are forecasting a return for the festivities.  

Welcome to Bushmills Inn and to Bushmills en general.  The coziest little inn you could hope to find.  Dean and I spent our last night in Northern Ireland here.  

The Bushmills Inn always flies the flag representing the country of the guest who has traveled the furthest on any particular day.  I have no idea if we were the Americans which warranted our flag being flown but we're happy to pretend we were. 

Give me all the turf fires and rocking chairs.  I can smell it in my mind as I write.  It smells like earth, home, comfort, provision.  It means there is rest nearby.  And tea.

Neptune & Prawn with the Bennetts.  Completely sublime.  Everything you could hope a night with friends would be.  I revisit it in my mind often.  

Back to the Bushmills in for a nightcap and we had the place to ourselves.  For someone who values cozy and friends and laughter, there would've been nowhere else on earth for me that night.  Mmmmm. 

Queenie.  We meet again.

Time to do a little souvenir shopping before we drove back to Belfast for our flight out.  Found a wonderful shop in Coleraine with great fishing supplies and incidentally, a fabulous selection of Barbour.  I went for the flies and...ahem, left with a jacket.  Oh and if you're ever in Coleraine and you want to meet the most gregarious, full of life, flirtatious Northern Irishman who adores his shop and his job, you MUST stop in to Smyths Country Sports in Coleraine.  Stephen's your guy.  It took him about 30 seconds after I left to post my picture on his Facebook page.  Haha!!       

Got back to London for the evening, checked in our hotel and headed out for one last bucket list restaurant stop.  Thank you, Dean, for humoring me as it involved a bit of a wait but it was beyond worth it.  Nopi is one of several Ottolenghi joints in town but the only one that's a bonafide sit-down restaurant, from what I could tell.  Flavors, flavors, flavors.  GO if you get the chance!  Mediterranean with a flair.  So so good.  The best way to end the trip.  

Walking down Regents back to the hotel.  It's never easy to leave London..

The Virgin Upper Class waiting lounge in Heathrow.  Literally never seen anything like it.  I had a complimentary foot massage in the spa, nibbled and sipped to my heart's content and almost missed our flight partaking off the accoutrements. If you ever decide to use miles to go business class to London, book with Delta and look for the flights which are coded "VS" which are the Virgin flights.  And then when you're leaving London to head home, get to the airport as early as possible to get cozy in this lounge.  

Asked the flight attendant what came on the cheese plate that I inhaled and she brought this jar so I could write down the info.  Can't even describe how yummy.  She could see I was really taken and in an unexpected and very generous move, she insisted I keep the jar.  How kind!  I wish I'd thought to stick it in my checked luggage before we had to re-check our luggage at immigration so those hateful people wouldn't have stolen it with their grubby little hands.  From delight to despair!!  Aghhh! 

Was there any other dreamier way to wrap up this trip than by getting afternoon tea on the plane while watching a movie about Queen Elizabeth?  N-O NO.  Did not want it to end.  If you haven't seen this, it's called "The Queen at 90" and was produced by ITV in 2016.  You can find it on Amazon Video.  May or may not have made my kids watch it when we got back home.  If you are even slightly interested in this lady, you would LOVE it.  Still can't believe we got to do this trip.  Just the sweetest, rarest gift.  

Cheerio, dear England, Paris & Northern Ireland!!  I will carry you so close in my heart until we meet again!!  And victory in Jesus that I even finished blogging this trip!!  Praise praise praise!!  I started this entry two months ago and all I lacked were the captions on the pics which I have now finally finished on November 6, 2016.  Thank you, Lord.