Just back from officiating at a blessing. This usually happens when there’s been a divorce in the background, but not in this case.
The bride and groom were married in Japan, because the bride is Japanese. Today they had a ceremony here in Norfolk, for all their English family and friends.
It was such a happy occasion. The bride’s mother and father were over from Japan, and the young couple had produced a beautiful wedding booklet with the whole of the service written out in it, and decorated in Japanese style with a single branch of blossom.
The bride looked stunning in the most gorgeous white dress with an incredibly long train, and after the ceremony they were all off to the reception in a marquee in the groom’s parents’ garden.
I like weddings. And blessings.
Today’s wall-to-wall rain is reminiscent of last week in Ireland. We had one day of non-stop torrential rain, so found our way to visit the Dunbrody, a replica of one of the so-called “famine ships” that took Irish emigrants to America. In the nineteenth century, the potato harvest failed in Ireland (it got blight, thought to have been imported with infected guano from South America, which was used to fertilise the land).
By the time these poverty-stricken people had paid their landlords, there was no food left for themselves and their families, so many emigrated to the brave new world. They went in ships like this:
One of these ships would carry more than 250 passengers. The majority travelled in steerage class.
Both upper and lower “bunks” (above) housed complete families. The lower area housed a mother and her five children! Conditions were appalling, with very little food, unbelievable lack of hygiene and no space to exercise. They were only allowed on deck for an hour a day, and during that time had to cook a meal over a coal brazier, do any washing, and empty the slops bucket. Needless to say, many died.
JFK’s great-grandfather came from New Ross, where the Dunbrody is berthed, and emigrated to America on a ship just like the Dunbrody. Perhaps it’s not surprising that he produced such a famous descendant. Anyone who could survive a voyage like that must have produced very hardy stock indeed.
We arrived home last night from our week in South East Ireland, stopping off for a meal with friends en route.
We stayed here at Knocktopher Abbey, near Kilkenny, in beautiful countryside.
One day we followed a looped trail, a 6km walk uphill and down dale, and just as we set off, this little fellow squeezed
under her gate and joined us. 
,
I thought she’d go back home when we turned the first corner, but no, she accompanied us the whole way round, pausing to to gaze back and check whether we were following. it was a bit tricky when we came upon the gate which said, “Strictly no dogs”, but she took no notice so neither did we. Also a hairy moment when she slid under a wire fence into a field of sheep, but there she sat for a minute or two, gazing at them, but not barking or chasing or worrying them at all.
At the top of the climb we came upon these standing stones. 
Significance unknown – probably an early religious site of some sort.
When we finished the walk, the little dog calmly scampered home!
Isn’t it great when you have an unknown and unexpected companion? I quite fell in love with her!
Ed and I have to be up tomorrow at what my youngest daughter calls “silly o’clock”. A friend is picking us up at 6.30am and driving us to Luton airport – around two hours away – ready for our visit to Ireland. I’ve only been once before, for a long weekend, but this time we’re going for a week.
We’re flying to Waterford airport, picking up a hire car and driving to Knocktopher, about 45 minutes away. The weather forecast for next week is pretty appalling, but who cares? We’ll don our wet gear and have fun.
I’m taking a little netbook computer with me, but whether I’ll find any wi-fi broadband remains to be seen. Probably not.
So I’m signing off for a week – see you again sometime around Monday week.
Have a great weekend, and I do hope none of you are affected by the hurricane.
