Leaving for Ireland in about two weeks
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325818)
Rockingham, Australia
March 16, 2023 3:17am CST
Things are moving along ready for our trip to Ireland in about two weeks. The time is starting to hurry now.
We are swapping houses with a couple from Ballina in Ireland. Their daughter works on the mines at Paraburdoo in Western Australia. She is FIFO worker (fly in fly out) and works three weeks driving one of those huge Haulpak trucks then has a week off.
She visited us today so it was nice to meet her and to show her through the house. We are leaving copious notes for her parents but it was nice to meet her anyway. She left home 13 years ago but still has the most lovely Irish accent.
After she left, we went to our doctor to have another covid boost and we also had our flu shots so we’re just about ready to fly now.
The photo shows the type of country around Paraburdoo in our north. It’s very rugged but rich in minerals.
29 people like this
28 responses
@FourWalls (62164)
• United States
17 Mar 23
@JudyEv — absolutely! I’ve never been to Ireland. The closest I’ve ever been is walking by Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans! 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 23
@FourWalls And I might even get to see your president although that probably excites me more than it does you. It's not so much the 'Joe Biden' factor as the 'President of the USA' if you get my drift. Imagine going halfway round the world and the US president turns up!
1 person likes this
! Your son is there, right? I hope you and Vince have a great time 
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
16 Mar 23
I bet she was very interesting to talk with...
Your trip is getting very close. Are you and Vince excited about going?
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
16 Mar 23
@JudyEv I get excited and nervous before we take trips... The nervous part can make me start throwing up... I hate that part.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 23
@DaddyEvil Oh dear. I'm glad I don't get that nervous although mostly it might affect my other end! 
Maybe throwing up would be better.
Maybe throwing up would be better.2 people like this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
16 Mar 23
I like the photo
I think I'll make a long overdue trip to Ireland end of this year once I buy a bike
...I don't want to fly so will get the ferry
I think I'll make a long overdue trip to Ireland end of this year once I buy a bike...I don't want to fly so will get the ferry3 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 23
@Mike197602 Fair enough. There are plenty who are afraid of flying. I've just written about Knock. We found it by chance in 2019. We'd never heard of it before. We're going to Mayo in a fortnight.
3 people like this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
16 Mar 23
@JudyEv Back in 07-09 I used to fly between Birmingham/East Midlands to Prague and Knock (mayo) a couple of times a month.
Visiting family in Ireland and a friend in Czech Rep...don't know how I've become afraid of flying as I've had flying lessons in a plane and even a helicopter
I'm just afraid of flying so the ferry is my option
I'm just afraid of flying so the ferry is my option4 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45498)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
16 Mar 23
Enjoy your time in Ireland. Will you be posting in an Irish accent from there?
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45498)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
17 Mar 23
@JudyEv Happy St Pat's day!
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@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 23
@BarBaraPrz As Vince is/was Catholic, we always used to go the the St Pat's cabarets before we were married. We had some great evenings back in those days.
2 people like this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
17 Mar 23
Enjoy your trip.
What will you be doing in Ireland?
2 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
16 Mar 23
Those two weeks will fly off. Enjoy your stay in Ireland.
2 people like this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
17 Mar 23
@JudyEv You and myLot are inseparable. Hope to hear from you all the way from Ireland.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 23
@allknowing I enjoy it here. Otherwise I might have to do house-work.
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@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
16 Mar 23
To be sure , to be sure.
You will be in Ireland before you know it.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 23
@JimBo452020 Some Americans aren't familiar with 'fortnight'. I was amazed when I found that out but it would be familiar to you surely?
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@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
16 Mar 23
Your son in Ireland surely can't wait to see you two.I wonder why you swap the houses with them.It hasn't been long since you moved to this house .
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
17 Mar 23
@JudyEv Oh,I see.You just temporarily swap the houses with the couple.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 23
@changjiangzhibin89 Yes, that's correct. Some people do it a lot and go all over the world staying in different houses but this is our first time.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 23
We are swapping with another couple (not with our son) just for a month then we'll be swapping back again. This will save us a lot of money. By swapping houses, we won't have to pay for accommodation. We can use each other's cars so won't have to hire cars and we'll be able to make as many of our own meals as we want to.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86769)
• United States
16 Mar 23
Grand now Judy a lovely photo..see you have a wonderful time in my Mother's country.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86769)
• United States
17 Mar 23
@JudyEv You will Judy you will xo
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73444)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Mar 23
Lovely view, So excited for you and I hope you will have a really good time, At least once you are ready to go spring will already be here,
2 people like this
