Thursday, January 29, 2004

26 January, Monday: Before I forget I wanted to write about an experience from the office. I may have told part of this before…When I went down to the café at work on Friday to get lunch, the woman taking my order looked up and said, “Oh, yes, you’re the woman who says ‘yes’ to everything.” I burst out laughing. She was referring to the experience I had the first time I ordered a jacket potato at work. The young man said, “Ya wan brrr?” I said, “Sorry?” He repeated it. I said “yes.” Then I turned to Claire and asked what I’d said “yes” to. She laughed and said, “butter.” The guy had asked, “You want butter?” So I laughed too and became the woman who says yes to everything.

Anyway, back to where we are in Cork. Last night, my pillows were nearly halfway down the bed, under the duvet cover which didn’t reach to the top of the bed. (When I asked Simon about it this morning he said his bed was the same way.)

The bottom sheet was flat and tucked in, but looked and smelled clean. So on the shelf there was a clean sheet, to be used for the couch. I pulled that down and wrapped myself in it, so the cover didn’t touch me. I did sleep well, however.

Simon, Kev and I met for breakfast at 8. It was good to see Kevin again, as I’ve known him for years and we served on the International Advisory Board together.

I had coffee and toast for breakfast. Ordered whole wheat. Got two teeny-tiny pieces of bread that I thought wouldn’t fill me up, but they were so dense. I was full.

Got through the “roundabout from hell.” A horrible, laughable experience. Everyone in Kev’s session laughs about it. It takes absolutely forever to get through and it feels dangerous. I certainly get my adrenaline fix for the day.

Anne Marie, our contact person, is a delight. Just the kind of person I’d hoped to meet in Ireland. Her lilt is uplifting and she always makes me smile. I gave her a cheesehead eraser and a “Big Cheese from Wisconsin” sticker.

Kevin worked hard all day at the presentation and it was so enjoyable to watch him deliver the training. A real pro.

Simon and I—as trainers also—had a hard time just sitting and watching. I always itch to be up there doing it. But then I remember the rigors of traveling every week and I become quite content with sitting and watching.

After work we went through the magic roundabout (another name for it) and went back to the hotel. I did some work, then we met at 7 PM for dinner.

The restaurant that was recommended to us, about a 20 minute drive, stopped serving at 7. So we looked for another place. Finally found a pub/restaurant right across the street from the hotel. The Brog Pub (means Shoe). Lovely atmosphere with a huge, gorgeous, wooden bar, a gigantic stone fireplace (welcoming and warm), rustic tables and chairs and plank floors. Other than not being smoky and dark, it was definitely an Irish pub.

The service didn’t live up to its potential. Pity.

Back to the hotel. I took another sheet off the shelf to use as a top sheet, and read until about 11. That felt luxurious.

POSTED 29 January 3:06 PM UK Time

posted by Jerilyn Dufresne, author @ 09:06