Family time

After an unbelievable, super human effort from Joan and support from our nearest and dearest in Maraetai, the house was packed up and all our things were moved into storage. The house went onto the market and Joan, Scarlett and Frankie boarded the big bird and headed to Fort Worth for a week of destressing and family time before making the big jump to Fermanagh for a fresh start and some much needed time at home.

So after everyone had been in Fermanagh for about a month or so and started to settle into a new routine and surroundings for the girls, I boarded another flight and headed for Ireland. I landed early morning in Dublin and after a couple more hours sleep on the bus I arrived in Enniskillen and was greeted by Joan off the bus, which after the stress of the past 2 months it was so great to her smiling face again.

We headed straight to Dunnes for a feed and then went on to Ballinamallard to pick Frankie up from Nursery which was awesome. I entered the building and Frankie spotted me from across the other side, screamed and ran over to give me the biggest hug ever, it was lovely. We did the same thing for Scarlett when she finished school which was so awesome too. Nothing better than those first hugs when I get home.

We spend the next couple of days at playgrounds, eating ice cream, watching the girls gymnastics displays in Granny Linda’s front room and generally having the craic. We also were very lucky to all be in Enniskillen at the same time as Lisa so it was awesome to catch up with her, her folks, Dutchy, Sarah and the whole crew for some bowling and surprisingly good coffee at 9th Avenue.

No trip back to Enniskillen is complete without a trip to the rugby club so we spent a brilliant afternoon and evening up at the club watching the 1st XV beat Lurgan fairly convincingly, catching up with loads of old friends and sampling the Guinness and bacon fries. Great times.

Having missed Father’s Day in New Zealand this year I also got a very special belated Father’s Day breakfast in bed on Sunday, which after a couple of pints on Saturday was very welcome. We then rounded out Sunday at Lucy’s 5th birthday party with the Ferguson’s which was also great craic.

An action packed, but flying visit this time to see everyone, however the holiday wasn’t over just yet – Joan and I were off to fulfil a life time ambition for her the next day as we headed for Dublin airport and 3 nights in Ibiza reliving our youth …Læs mere