Tales - Ireland Trip '05

Found out a few weeks ago that Elroy, Sophie his girlfriend, their friend Carla and another Welsh ex-pat Amelia were comin back for a few days to visit family + friends etc. I'd been looking to get back over there + see everyone for ages so decided that when they went back, going back with them would be my best bet.

Firstly, went to Cardiff a few times while they were here, and met up with a load of people in a pub called the Mochyn Du (thats black pig if you can't speak Welsh). Mr DJ Wicky Wicked and Tom 'Barry White' Scoble turned up too which was cool (if you read my Ireland '03 road trip you may just recognise the names!).

Tuesday morning came around, and a rush to get to the airport in time. Flying with Ryan Air you kinda know what your getting in advance, a small plane and no gaurantee of getting a decent seat. Yet again I ended up by someone who smelt about as bad as the end of Porthcawl pier, and they didnt stop coughing all the way there, maybe I attract these people somehow? Anyway, we got to Dublin about lunchtime, but that was just the beginning of the journey, to get to Sligo from there its about 3 hours on the train. Its journeys like this that the iPod was invented for fo sho.

Finally got to Sligo and got to the boys house. Just had time to get our stuff in before getting called cos Richies van needed a push to bump start, just what you need after travelling all day! Anyway, we got that sorted, then had a lil' skate on Elroy's block he made. The boys are in training for a thing called the 'Warriors run' so lots of fitness training is going on, including playing touch rugby to do some short bursts of pace, so I got dragged into this too.

Was knackered for the next few days from all that so just chilled round their house and cruised down to the beach a few times. Think the most active parts of the days were going out in the evenings, apart from car pushing. The boys I stayed with have 2 cars, and both died while I was there, not my fault honest!

Recovered by Friday so in the day while Elroy and t'others were working, went to have a walk around the area to have a look. After this came yet more longboard cruising to the beach before getting the block out for a proper skate. Skated it in the carpark where they live but soon attracted the wrath of someone on their residents committee, the type of people who got nothing better to do than think of things to ban, she'd be right at home in Porthcawl! Didnt fancy getting them evicted so we went on a mission to get the block down to the beach. Didnt want to attract too much attention so went on a covert operation to sneak it down using the golf course behind their place, having to dodge people on the way. Eventually got it down there + got rad. Skated until the flies were swarming like rain, must have swallowed a few just riding up to the block, had a little mess around then headed back but stashed the block at the beach.

Not much happened for the rest of the trip, except for spending too long in the pub, witnessing Shambles unique customer service skills in the Venue Restaurant "The pudding? Its like all dirty and thick and stuff. Don't talk to me I'm wasted", more longboarding, swimming and pulling my hamstring.

To get back to Dublin I had to get a bus cos the train times were rubbish, the bus took an extra hour so it was at least 4 hours, what a nightmare. Thankfully I was one of the 1st on so could block up the seat next to me pretty well with my bag.

Big thanks and shout outs to Elroy, Richie, G-Man, Nai, Ruth, Carla, Zoe, Sophie, Amelia, Sarah, Debbie, and anyone else I forgotten for either putting me up or making me food or giving lifts or just being cool to me. Until next time..............