IRELAND! and 1 more night in Birmingham

For just $100NZD I had a return flight from Manchester  to Dublin booked. Customs and border control at both Manchester and Dublin were very light, so much that the return to Manchester, there was zero checking at all. Anyway, Ireland. Guinness factory! I fell in love with Guinness as we young fulla in my 20's, and once again I fulfilled a dream to visit the Guinness factory and to have a pint of Guinness in Ireland! (had more than 1...). Best of all I also managed a fantastic catch up with another couple of CHD'rs. Jim O'brien and Siobhan Quinn. Had a great night out, including a visit to Irelands oldest pub. 1198. Jim took me into a dingy room in the back, and then proclaimed this was the very room that the original pub started! Wiremu joined us for a pint. Little did we know, that this was going to be his last outing. Wiremu suffered a terrible incident on the Scottish border, and while he had a great night out in Ireland, his incident in Scotland got the better of him, and he spent the rest of my journey in a body bag.

Jim, Wiremu and myself enjoying a quiet pint in Ireland's oldest pub, also we all dreamt about spending the One Hundred Trillion dollar note we found on the wall (Zimbabwe) Once we discovered we could buy three slices of bread from Sainsburys, we left.

Siobhan  and I enjoyed a nice walk from Jim's pub along the River Liffey in Dublin. It was such a lovely time, and once again my hosts were outstanding in their hospitality

Onwards to Birmingham to spend another night with Sarah and family. I absolutly felt completly at home in Damon and Sarahs house, It would have been quite easy to just stay. Jake certainly got on with his Uncle Stu, really well, and we all had such a great night, including another surprise 50th Birthday cake! I had also surprised Sarah with a little 30th Birthday gift!

To finish this part of my journey with these amazing people was simply the best. Sarah's journey is was one the toughest and her resilience is outstanding, the support she gets from her all of her family is the ultimate support network in the world of transplant. I felt very humbled to welcomed into their homes and lives, like I belonged. Now I know I do.