I love seeing people’s responses to the news that I am leaving to go travelling for a year. It’s mostly a positive, excited reaction although I did meet one colleague who felt the need to tell me that’s the oddest thing I’ve heard in ages. Each to their own I suppose. The reactions become less enthusiastic however when they hear my vague answers to their questions about my exact route or whether all my tickets have been booked and purchased.
But now, finally, I am able to say to them that I have at least bought the ticket for the very first leg. They usually get a little shiver of excitement and a dreamy look in their eyes as they ask where are you heading first then?
Cork! I answer proudly. I then enjoy watching them struggle to muster up some encouraging words at this news. On the 3rd of December I leave the Netherlands after 11 ½ years and I make my way back to the Emerald Isle for a month. Their obvious disappointment doesn’t phase me though as I have already lined up a stay with my Occasionally Pole-dancing Friend and his certain someone in Waterford. There is surely no better way to begin the whole adventure than by spending time with good friends back in the mother land! I can’t wait.
The Cork/Waterford story is obviously a cover to hide the real destination which is far too embarrassing to reveal. Lourdes maybe. Or Disneyland. Or Graceland.
hehe the real first destination is a good one I belive. Loud, colourful, busy…
Having never been to Ireland, Cork/Waterford sounds just fine! Very exciting to catch up with family and friends . . then I’m weird like that. I enjoy spending time with people I actually know rather than snoring German Backpackers in some bohemian hostel! (Just a quick funny thing. Apparently we’re going to start issuing television and radio warnings to sexually active British Backpackers because they’re bonking their unprotected way across the globe through Asia and into Australia, and bringing nasties to our fair shores!) So if you’re going to have ‘fun’ you know what to do!
Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to intimate that you were British . . .*smack on back of hand*
I can’ wait either….see you there bigboy…
a whole year, sugar! i am soooooooo jealous! send postcards! to me, of course! ;~D xoxoxoxoxox
baino – some of my friends are the best snorers in the world
travelling – you betcha!
savannah – I’m sure there’ll be all sorts of postcards
have you read robert cremins’ novel “a sort of homecoming”? about a dublin lad who returns home at christmas after living in paris?
not many similarities at all to you, except for the return and the december timing. but it’s kind of a cool read.
and by pole-dancing do you mean … pole-dancing? or, possibly, pole dancing.
either way i’m not sure i have any such friends but he sounds lively.
Anyone who fails to muster anything less than a hugely supportive and positive response to your forthcoming travels should be put on a list for me to deal with. I’m sure their negativity stems solely from jealousy.
Be warned, however, that even those of us who are 150% in favour of this marvellous, fantastically exciting adventure, are also more than a tad jealous. I’m sure that’ll come as a huge surprise
Perhaps I could recommend my snoring guard to your best friends who snore
laurie – I’m confussed – but then again I often am. He dances around a pole. Occasionallly
He’s not from Poleand if that’s what you were asking hehe
jovica – hehe well, a little snoring never hurt anyone. ( a lot of snoring however…)
And you get the chance to see Andrew Bird again before you go! Lucky so-and-so.
(also: COME TO DUBLIN!)
There is even a third possibility for the meaning of “pole dancing”, but this requires significant tolerance for subzero temperatures…
catherine – Am I seeing him too? ?? I know I’m definitgely going to Bell X1 in Den Haag next month
hidh – well my I’m sure my Occasionally Pole-Dancing Friend would be up for that type too given enough vodka
You should! Melkweg, with Jesca Hoop, who is also excellent
(oh and he’s going on a tour of churches in the US which he’s calling the Gezelligheid tour – wat leuk!)
Perhaps I should make a recording of some snoring for you to take on your travels, just as a memento of what you’re managing to escape
…but it’s full of people from Cork, why? I hear they eat their young, and play fiddles with cats
Whenever I’ve announced major travelling plans I’ve received a fair few responses telling me, “Oh you know what you should do instead”, which is usually a disguise for what they’d like to do.
Good luck with it. Looking forward to hearing what unfolds.
I can’t wait to spend as much as possible time with you on the first leg……and who knows maybe catch you on another leg later! I wonder how many legs in total you’ll end up with!!!
Aww, the banks of the ol’ lovely Lee.
“I wonder how many legs in total you’ll end up with!!!”
Who knows if he falls in the river. Never know with the stuff the chemical companies put in the water…..
why the heck not. marvelous idea. x
I firmly believe you can have a holiday ANYWHERE if you set your mind to it. Hope you have wonderful times on your travels!
Fab.u.lous. Conor!!
What better place to start than Da Banks?
I do hope you and Your Very Own Newfie ™ come this way and perhaps visit?
Now that would be BEST KIND. Ask YVON for a translation of that….
XO
WWW
So “crapologist in the Netherlands” will become?
Crapologists without borders! hehehe
homeless crapologist?
“Crapologist with a whole world of crap to choose from”
Have missed reading your Blog and was glad to hear you’re taking that trip! Hope you do return to Canada, we’ve got so much more to see than Ottawa. You’ll be awe struck if you go to Alberta and the Rocky Mountains!! Good luck, Bon Voyage (the only French I know) and happy trails, Connor. P.S. Parts of Canada may be in God’s Country, but we have wireless, so bring that laptop and let your friends, family and fans know what you’re up to and where you’ve been. Again, have a safe and great trip no matter where you go!