I've heard more than one person say "If Ireland had great weather, it would be the most amazing place in the world". It's baffling to me that, although the weather is predictably miserable, it's a constant topic of conversation. I'm learning new phrases and vocabulary about the weather here...."oh, 'tis a nice, soft rain", " 'Tis cool, but 'tis dry". If it's not pouring rain, it's a nice day! It'll be cloudy and I'll be wearing 3 layers, but it's considered a nice day in most people's eyes. However......all of the complaining aside, when the weather is nice, it is unbelievably beautiful. August wasn't too bad, and coming back after being in Spain for 6 weeks, I must say I expected the worst, but a few mostly sunny weeks had me more optimistic. But as the calendar page turned to September 1st, it's as if the clouds have rolled in to settle in for the winter. Thank goodness my mom sent a package with my winter coat and wellies to get me through the coming months. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for my mom and Steve's visit...hoping we get a few nice days while they're here!
On with the stereotypical Irish topics.....Potatoes. Another thing you'd think these lovely people would get tired of! But I suppose that with this unpredictable weather, comes the need for winter food 11 months out of the year. Only here would you have a nice, hearty stew in August!! We were at a wedding Friday and as my plate came out, my lovely steak was accompanied with roasted potatoes. As the wait staff circled the room with sides, adding them to our plates, I realized that I had not two but THREE different potato dishes on my plate! Roasted, scalloped and mashed. As I longingly looked around for someone offering salad or green vegetables, a girl came by and put about 6 snow peas on my plate. I guess the green stuff doesn't keep you warm on those winter (or September) nights. I really must say though, those potatoes (all of them) were delicious:)
This wedding was my third in Ireland and they still don't cease to amaze me. I thought we threw pretty solid celebrations at home, but I must say, that endurance wise, the Irish put us to shame. With Mass usually around 1 p.m. they usually have a few hours to go home and have sandwiches, or go to the nearby pub and get the party started. Dinner is then served (see above) where you stuff yourself silly and the drinking continues. The tables are cleared and dancing commences as the band starts, cranking out the tunes. At Kevin's brother's wedding, the band was followed by traditional Irish musicians who went on around 1 am, followed by the dj, who played on until 5 or 6 in the morning. At 1 a.m. or thereabouts, tea, coffee, and snacks (more POTATOES, sausages, cake, etc) are served (as if you need more food). The next morning, everyone (after 15 hours of eating and drinking the day before) wake up for the full Irish breakfast...a plate full of 4 different types of pork and eggs (and maybe, you guessed it, some potatoes). Everyone heads back into the bar to catch the Gaelic football match and have a pint. I'm still recovering from the wedding Friday night, and hope I have a while until the next one, so I can prepare my stomach and liver, because I'm just not built like our Irish friends!
On with the stereotypical Irish topics.....Potatoes. Another thing you'd think these lovely people would get tired of! But I suppose that with this unpredictable weather, comes the need for winter food 11 months out of the year. Only here would you have a nice, hearty stew in August!! We were at a wedding Friday and as my plate came out, my lovely steak was accompanied with roasted potatoes. As the wait staff circled the room with sides, adding them to our plates, I realized that I had not two but THREE different potato dishes on my plate! Roasted, scalloped and mashed. As I longingly looked around for someone offering salad or green vegetables, a girl came by and put about 6 snow peas on my plate. I guess the green stuff doesn't keep you warm on those winter (or September) nights. I really must say though, those potatoes (all of them) were delicious:)
This wedding was my third in Ireland and they still don't cease to amaze me. I thought we threw pretty solid celebrations at home, but I must say, that endurance wise, the Irish put us to shame. With Mass usually around 1 p.m. they usually have a few hours to go home and have sandwiches, or go to the nearby pub and get the party started. Dinner is then served (see above) where you stuff yourself silly and the drinking continues. The tables are cleared and dancing commences as the band starts, cranking out the tunes. At Kevin's brother's wedding, the band was followed by traditional Irish musicians who went on around 1 am, followed by the dj, who played on until 5 or 6 in the morning. At 1 a.m. or thereabouts, tea, coffee, and snacks (more POTATOES, sausages, cake, etc) are served (as if you need more food). The next morning, everyone (after 15 hours of eating and drinking the day before) wake up for the full Irish breakfast...a plate full of 4 different types of pork and eggs (and maybe, you guessed it, some potatoes). Everyone heads back into the bar to catch the Gaelic football match and have a pint. I'm still recovering from the wedding Friday night, and hope I have a while until the next one, so I can prepare my stomach and liver, because I'm just not built like our Irish friends!
No comments:
Post a Comment