The long weekend - 4

Over all, the weekend went better than I'd expected. There are so many different angles from which I can look at this weekend. Looking at it from my "traveling point of view" it was exactly what I needed. It gave me strength, it gave me a feeling of relief, it gave me a boost. Looking at it from a "grieving point of view" it gave me a chance to pay my respects and to see his death as being real. Two simple days, gave me so much. The time away from home, didn't need to end for me.. I would have easily stayed for longer or gone back to England with Shellie... It only gave me the drive I need and the buzz of traveling. I probably shouldn't be saying this but from my perspective, it was a "good" weekend. I was strong, I was eating everything, I was full of life and I didn't struggle at all.

So just to go over the food situation, that I was also majorly worried about.. During the week I had come up with a weekend food plan. I had it in the back of my mind, but I didn't really need it. Saturday for dinner, we all had spaghetti bolognese. Well, I've never eaten such a massive plate of pasta..ever.. It had been ages since I'd eaten pasta. Not for not liking it, but just because it's too stodgy.. But I ate it and enjoyed it. I couldn't finish the plate, but either could Kate.. and even she said that she was proud of herself for eating so much, and I agreed by saying that I was also proud of myself for getting through most of this mountain of spaghetti. And to top it off, we got a chocolate cupcake, which I also managed to fit in.. without guilt.. I was stuffed though, but that was fine. Sunday morning, I had a small bowl of cereal and a slice of toast. That was fine..no worries, nothing too big, no fry-ups, which I was delighted with.

At around 1 in the afternoon we started a 3-course-meal, when we were back at Mickeys house. Soup to start, really nice..then a plate of mashed potatoes, with some turkey, stuffing and veg. It was like a Christmas dinner but without the roast potatoes.. I enjoyed it all. And to top if all off, there was trifle. I couldn't move afterwards.. When I started the soup I wasn't really hungry (because of the massive dinner I'd had the night before), but I got through it all.. And didn't feel bad or disgusting afterwards. It didn't effect my mood, as I was cuddled up the couch, with all these bodies around me, all of us eating like there's no tomorrow. And then this old woman was amazed that I was polishing off my plate.. so cute.. and I just agreed with her and didn't feel like a pig for doing so!

At around 6 they started with more food.. sandwiches.. I could only fit in a half and that was me done for the day! (except for 2 biscuits at around 10 o'clock). I couldn't believe the mountains of food... All they wanted was for us to eat and eat and eat.. But for any person, there's only so much your stomach can handle. I even heard some of Mickey's cousins talking about the mountains of food that were being served and that they wouldn't be able to eat for days, for being fed so much in such a short space of time. But out in the country, in real "authentic" Ireland that's real typical I reckon..portions that frighten the life out of you and make you full just by taking one glance.. All they do be thinking is: Keep on feeding the visitors!!! The food might also make certain hard times or particular circumstances feel a little better..you could compare it to people always having a cup of tea, whenever something goes wrong. It's looked upon as curing pain or as solving a problem, if only for the time in which you drink it..that's why it's also always on tap..(well, it was on Sunday anyhow), just like the food was constantly being served.

Then on Monday morning, the friends we were staying with, were cooking a full Irish breakfast. But I didn't have any. I was happy to have some cornflakes. I wouldn't have been able to eat a lot anyhow after being so stuffed from the day before. I wasn't restricting myself as I wasn't tempted by the smell. So that was fine. I was fine and I'd gotten through all the food, without any drama's..