Stardate: 18 May 2019 - Poor fellow my country

I'm done with politics.  I need a new interest.  And I'm glad that I will miss out on the gloating by the coalition and their media cheer squad over the next few days.

What a devastating day.  I know that Geoff and I are not alone in being completely shattered by this shocking and unexpected election result, and the prospect of three more years of this coalition of variously drunken, adulterous, racist, water-thieving, lying, grifting, rent-seeking, climate-change denying, coal-worshiping troglodytes is simply unbearable.  What the fork has happened to our country?  Who are these hillbillies and idiots, these dolts and nincompoops that voted against their own interests and against the interests of their children and grandchildren?  Shame on them all.  Shame.  I and virtually everyone else predicted a sweeping Labor victory.   We were wrong.  I'm not interested in any analysis by the pundits who also got it wrong - I'm done.

Geoff will not be contributing tonight.  He is too upset.

This afternoon we took ourselves over to the big 'ouse to say goodbye to our hosts as we're leaving tomorrow morning.  They gave us a tour of the house - quite a welcome distraction.  It's enormous and very lavishly-appointed with a wing set aside for up to 15 paying guests as long as they are in one group, although individual 'apartments' are available.  I very much doubt we could have afforded to stay in the big 'ouse even if we had wanted to.

I took this pic at the top of the tower that featured in our first day's post.  That's Lough Derg in the background.

While we were visiting, Jenny asked us if we'd been to the Norman castle in the village.  We hadn't, because while its direction is signposted,  there is a locked gate that says  "Keep Out", "Trespassers Prosecuted", "Do Not Enter" and sundry other messages in a similar vein.

Jenny said the side gate was unlocked and not to be intimidated by the signage.

So off we went this arvo and about 500 metres in, we found this.



It's called Oldcourt Castle and was built in the early 1200s.  It had various owners in its first 100

years.  It's described on Wikipedia as a 'four-towered keep' and the original owner had significant debts to Henry the Third who used the castle and surrounding lands as security against debts.

I'm not sure why it's now officially off-limits but as roon-fans, we were very pleased to have made its acquaintance.

Just one more of Oldcourt that includes beautiful Lough Derg in the background.











Sadly I think that's about it for our blog, as our trip home starts tomorrow.  We'll be home late on Tuesday evening.  I'm sorry the blog hasn't ended on a happier note.  I still cannot believe how self-interest won the day. Dutton and Christensen actually increased their majorities.  Jesus wept.

Also apologies to those friends who have emailed me and haven't had a response.  My Irish simcard is poop and while I can receive emails in a job lot once a day, I don't seem to be able to send with any degree of success - they just sit in the outbox.  I don't think this will change until I am home on Tuesday night.

Thanks for reading our blog and I hope it has been entertaining.  Apart from today we have very much enjoyed writing it and we have appreciated the comments we have received.

Cheers to all

Anne xxx