A blast from the past
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
Rockingham, Australia
February 25, 2023 5:32pm CST
At the end of March, my husband and I will be heading to Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland, to spend a month with our son and his wife. We are swapping houses with a couple who are coming to Perth, Western Australia, to visit their daughter. Yesterday, our son visited the house and met the couple so it’s all starting to get real now.
The photo shows us on our first visit to Ireland back in 1998. We hired a canal boat at Tullamore and went downriver to Shannon and back again. Our son was with us and took this photo. For the six weeks we were in Ireland and England, we only had two days of rain which I think is pretty unusual.
I don’t know why I have such a funny expression on my face. Do you like our hats? Sometime after this, Vince’s blew off into the water and promptly sank. Our son took his double bass with him. It would only go in the door at the back of the boat and it laid on one of the single beds there.
26 people like this
31 responses
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
26 Feb 23
Great photo! What an adventure for you. Very cool hats.
5 people like this
@thislittlepennyearns (62912)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
26 Feb 23
I love this picture!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Feb 23
@thislittlepennyearns It could well be. I might need to smuggle a jar into Ireland! I'm glad you mentioned it.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (62912)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
26 Feb 23
@JudyEv Vegemite!
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90294)
• Arvada, Colorado
25 Feb 23
Oh Judy you know I love this photo!!
I cant wait til you go!!
Ill be ther with you
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90294)
• Arvada, Colorado
26 Feb 23
@JudyEv Yes I dont like the EU..in fact I do not like the fact that the British are in any way ruling Ireland at all...but that is another topic I am a rebel all the way call me the frighting Irish
1 person likes this
@shaggin (72183)
• United States
26 Feb 23
@JudyEv I do but I’m not sure where I came from or how far back. I know my great grandparents on my moms fathers side came over from Germany. Maybe one of them was from Ireland originally I’ll have to ask my mother. I believe my grandmother had Native American heritage.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137461)
• United States
25 Feb 23
In some of my pictures when I was younger, I was trying not to smile and my expression in them looks similar to yours...
You and Vince look good.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137461)
• United States
26 Feb 23
@JudyEv You're welcome...
Don't think too hard about it or you might remember.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Feb 23
Love the hats. It looks like you had a fun adventure, but sorry to hear Vince lost his hat. At least your son didn’t lose his double bass!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121659)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Mar 23
@JudyEv I’m sure you enjoyed those few drinks while waiting for the music to start playing.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Feb 23
We would pull up near a village, go to the pub and ask if they had music. If they did, we'd go back later, Damian would talk to the musicians and invariably be invited to go get his bass and join them. The trouble is, the sessions never seemed to start till about 10pm by which time we'd had a few drinks - or even more than a few. It's a wonder we didn't fall in the canal ourselves.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Feb 23
Do you know I'm not really sure but around 24 hours I think. We have time to change planes in Dubai then we go straight to Dublin.
@allknowing (137552)
• India
26 Feb 23
25 years ago - a great memory. I love hats and have a small collection. I bough one when I was in Australia too. Sad Vince lost his.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137552)
• India
27 Feb 23
@JudyEv I wear a hat just to keep my hair in place.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (107859)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Feb 23
I love that picture. Even your funny expression
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41686)
• United States
26 Feb 23
That's a cute photo. I'm so happy and I know you, Vince and your kids will have such a great visit together!
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41686)
• United States
26 Feb 23
@JudyEv Even with little bumps in the road, I'm sure you'll all enjoy being together.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181314)
• United States
26 Feb 23
Love the picture and the hats. I'm glad you will be spending a month with your son and DIL. I'd be making maps and packing already!!!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181314)
• United States
27 Feb 23
@JudyEv From searing heat to cold. That will be quite an adjustment!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Feb 23
@LindaOHio I'm sure we'll notice the cold.
1 person likes this