"Got Green?" Blog Hop - stories of Ireland

Today is the "Got Green?" Blog Hop, hosted by the very persuasive Mark Koopmans, who convinced me to participate in this O'Hop even though I didn't really think I had any Irish stories. This O'Hop is based around St. Patrick's Day, of course, so the following question is a general theme:

What does St. Paddy's Day mean to you?

But participants are also encouraged to share any Irish stories they may have.

When I claimed to have nothing Irish to talk about, Mark suggested I should talk about the fact that I'm visiting Ireland this year for the first time. Why did this not occur to me before? I have no idea! Anyway, here goes:

I've been to the U.K. before (the first time being when I was born there; I've also visited twice in the years since), but this will be my first Irish visit.

What am I expecting of Ireland?

• Cold(er) weather
• Lush green landscapes
• Possibly some depressing dinginess, but also cool medieval-ness
• Guinness!
• A lot of old history
• Groovy little old Irish pubs with hot stew...and potatoes.

Upon my return to gross, hot, brown Australia, I will update you all on how my Irish experience really went (don't get me wrong, I love where I live...just not in the summer months! I have been cursing the much-abhorred sun today, which I tend to do most summer days 'round here).

P.S. I'm going to Wales for the first time, too! And further north in Scotland than in previous visits - right up to Inverness! Oh, and we're starting in Paris, where I first went at age 17, but which I will be exploring in much nicer style this time around.

Okay, I better go now, as I have to drop my kitties off at the place they're boarding. I feel like a horrible mother!! But a friend pointed out that I'd be a very horrible mother if I just left them to run loose and become strays. haha.