Irish Hospitality

I met very wonderful people in Ireland
Even with all that strife that I've heard about, NI is one of the friendliest places I've ever been to
Everywhere we went, I got nothing but friendly nods
because I looked foreign enough that they won't think I belong to one camp or the other
haaha
the advantages of looking different..

the following pictures are not the best portraits i've taken
but I have to put them up in appreciation of the welcome I had in Ireland

our very kind and gracious hosts, Elizabeth & Tim
Tim is only pseudo-Irish; an Englishman working in Ireland
Don't they look sweet together?
I lent my cap to Elizabeth because it fit her outfit perfectly

Whilst I was taking this set of pictures (success rate being 15%)
a group of men were walking alongside and smiling at me
I hurriedly told them that Elizabath and Tim were friends
in case they thought I was some paparazzo stalking people
but I found out later from Christina that they were actually talking about what nationality I was
O_o

Here's Elizabeth looking very pleased with a sweater she found in Belfast St George's Market
she's a great model (just like her cat Smudge) :D
A total sport, and she gamely posed for me as she was trying this on
But this is my favourite because she wasn't paying attention

Tim in his computer chair
He was showing me how I can lean back on it to make myself comfortable
Didn't work for me.. because I don't weigh enough
So i curled up in it instead when i got tired

I still don't quite know how to get good shots in low light
:(
ISO versus noise.. I have a lot to learn

Isobel & Bertie in their summer caravan near Port Rush
Two lovely people I met for the first time
This picture just makes me smile
Susanne (who refused to be photographed) was making faces from behind me
because Bertie was not looking very relaxed

We were only friends of friends
and we'd arrived unannounced
but minutes later, a four-course high tea miraculously appeared on the table
I was awestruck

Elizabeth told me nonchalantly, "That is Irish Hospitality"
but it's a caravan with a tiny kitchen!!
where did all that food come from??
In the picture: Tea & milk, ham sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, cake
Not in the picture: Caramel pudding, mince pies
(we didn't eat dinner that day when we got home)

It made me quite homesick really..
because it reminded me of Burmese hospitality
and it makes me miss my grandparents as well

when i told mummy the next day, I got a sound scolding for not having prepared any presents to give them
-hangs head-
But I'm going back to visit them again, I'm sure