Day 4 - We're a happy team at Hawthorn

 Day 4 - We're a happy team at Hawthorn

TV all set up for a big day.

Well today might be a bit of a disappointment to all those expecting a travelogue, but I had very important business to attend to - watching the mighty Hawks in the First Elimination final at the MCG in Melbourne. I thank God regularly for the joys of modern technology which enables me to watch my beloved Hawks in many far flung places - but never quite as far as Lahinch, Ireland.

But before I go on to the pleasures of the day, I had a few other little bothersome things lurking in my brain

The first thing was that I was quite cold last night and it impacted my sleep. When I hired this little apartment again for this year, I asked if they could perhaps make up the bed using an electric blanket. But the girl who takes the bookings, Julia, said they didn't do electric blankets! But I know I had one last year as I have a few circulation issues and need it to keep me warm. Anyway, I texted my cousin Marie for some advice as to where I could go and buy one locally. And God bless Marie - she told me she was going to work in Ennis today and could pick one up for me.... Yay! Marie is always coming to my rescue!! Thanks Marie :) 

The other little concern was while I was awake in the middle of the night, I tried to pay yesterday's toll fee online. When you travel on the M5, the toll is done by camera and if you don't have an account then you have to login to www.eflow.ie and pay online. Now, as you probably know, I am reasonably competent with such matters, but once again "the computer said No!!" I was going fine until I had to do the two step verification, and I'm using a prepaid credit card that I load with Euros but the authentication code didn't get through to me. Then, by retrying a few times, I got booted!!!! It was only €3.70, but you have to pay by 8.00pm the next day, otherwise you get a penalty fine, and it goes through to the hire car place, and of course, they charge extravagant fees to send it through to me after I return to Oz. Anyway, I found there was another option.... If you can find a shop that has Payzone, you can just go and pay, like the Post office back home. So I eventually found one of these in town and got it all sorted. But what a bugger!!! They try to get the unsuspecting tourist in so many ways.

So I went for an early walk to get my coffee before the footy started and the Atlantic Ocean was like a mill pond..

Not so wild Atlantic Ocean

Tide was in

Bought my coffee down at the Coffee Hatch. I was up and about early and there was hardly anyone about..

Coffee Hatch - down on the Promenade

So then I settled in to full footy mode. I had already paid a subscription to watchafl.com.au that cost me $94 for access to the full Finals series. When we were getting done in the first quarter, I was thinking that was quite an expensive little output. But the the Hawkies came good and of course, that made it worth every cent! During the match I was texting my family who were at the game. I was fully involved, and at one stage, I looked out the window and thought "Wow, I'm in Lahinch in Ireland". I was so immersed in the footy, I actually forgot where I was!  As you do!!!

So after all that footy time, I went down the street to celebrate at the Atlantic Hotel.

Smithwicks is good for many things - especially celebrations!

Then I went for another meander down the street ..

Main Street of Lahinch

Main Street of Lahinch, looking the other way.

Then I came back along the beach. By this time it was actually warm, and all the locals and visitors were in swimming!! Crazy people. My token gesture was to take my cardigan off, but that's as far as it went!!!

Swimming at Lahinch Beach

Swimming at Lahinch Beach.

 

Just getting back to the footy again.... I know many of my friends in Perth are Eagles supporters and proudly wear their blue and yellow. Well over here, the colours of County Clare are also blue and saffron and the whole County is awash with them, as they were the winners of the very prestigious All-Ireland Hurling Cup.There is blue and saffron here, as far as the eye can see. 

Kennys pub is particularly patriotic

Kennys pub again

So, the last thing I did before I came in to write this blog, was to attend to my other religion today... Just popped in to say hello!!!!

Lahinch Catholic Church.

So it's been a big day, with not much happening. Although I seemed to have filled the screen with stories from the day!!! Anyway, I'm a happy little camper today and now I'm going to watch the replay!!!!  :)