| M: |
Hey
Susanna! |
S:
|
Hi Mark! |
| M: |
What have you
got there? |
S:
|
Well, I've developed
the pictures for our holiday in Ireland [ http://www.goireland.com/]
and so finally here they are. Have you got your pictures? |
| M: |
Oh that's great!
Yeah! Well you know I've just come back from the photo
shop myself? |
S:
|
Okay! Maybe
we just look at them and see which ones you like to
make a copy. |
| M: |
That's right.
Because sure you're going to want some copies of mine
and I'll certainly want some copies of yours. They look
really good. |
S:
|
I got several...Yeah.
I chose several of them and because I think they are
really nice-looking. So, well, I'm sure they will bring
back memories. |
| M: |
Oh that's fantastic.
They've come out really well. |
S:
|
|
| M: |
Yeah. I remember.
It was that old castle wasn't it? |
S:
|
Yeah. That's
an old castle and do you remember we just got ten minutes? |
| M: |
Yeah. Before
they closed. |
S:
|
Yeah. And we
were there for only ten minutes and they closed it and
it's in Waterford and... |
| M: |
Yeah. It was
a lovely evening. I remember that. And the photo's come
out really well. Look at all the people. |
S:
|
Yeah. Yeah. |
| M: |
Well, look!
See there is Liza at the bottom sitting on the bottom
step and that's you, isn't it? |
S:
|
Yeah. It's me.
And then Sue and Mei. |
| M: |
Oh yeah I can
see half of… |
S:
|
Where are you?
Don't see you in the picture. |
| M: |
Well, I think
that was my photograph. Yes, it is. Come on, that's
one of my photographs. |
S:
|
That's one of
yours. |
| M: |
I was behind
the camera. |
S:
|
So what happens
to all the gentlemen? Where is Ricky and where was Joe? |
| M: |
Well, I think
they were wandering off looking at something else in
the museum, you know, at that time. |
S:
|
Maybe they are
taking pictures elsewhere. |
| M: |
They could have
been taking pictures out of the windows as well. |
S:
|
Yeah. This one
is... |
| M: |
Because it was
a lovely evening. |
S:
|
Yeah. Okay.
So we can make several copies. |
| M: |
Oh. I think
everyone will want a copy of that one. |
S:
|
This one, I
think is another good picture [ photo
2] that brings back memories. This one is quite
nice. |
| M: |
That's got all
of us in it, hasn't it, this time? One, two, three,
four... |
S:
|
No, except Joe.
I think again Joe is... |
| M: |
Joe must have
been the one taking that photo. |
S:
|
|
| M: |
Was it? |
S:
|
Is it the first
time? |
| M: |
In your life
or just in Ireland? |
S:
|
No |
| M: |
In Ireland?
Oh right okay... |
S:
|
Could be. |
| M: |
Well they do
say Guinness in Ireland tastes different from anywhere
else in the world. |
S:
|
And I remember
we had a very nice dinner there. |
| M: |
You and Ricky
are looking really happy. |
S:
|
We had curry
something curry. I don't remember if it is seafood curry
or chicken curry or and then Lawrence and Drina. They...
I think they had ... Oh, I remember Drina had dessert
or did she have dessert on that night? |
| M: |
They was some
very very nice dessert, very tasty, but I don't like
dessert, but... |
S:
|
The odd thing. |
| M: |
This wasn't
an Indian restaurant though was it, although we were
all having curry... |
S:
|
|
| M: |
Oh yes, we had
to walk upstairs through a pub again and it was on the
top floor, looking out over the road... |
S:
|
That was very
late at night, and we arrived at about eight and we
had to check and see if the kitchen is still open...
because there are places like... |
| M: |
It was another
long day's drive that. I remember... |
S:
|
People are so
tired and hungry and we... but that's a very nice choice,
very nice recommendation. |
| M: |
And where did
we go after that then? Oh yes. |
S:
|
To the B&B of course.
That was already very late. Here are three pictures?
two pictures of the bed and breakfast...
|
| M: |
I can see they
must have both been taken the following morning. So
there we all are, outside the house. [ photo
3] |
S:
|
That's the...well,
that's outside the house? And, the other one we took
it in the...I think it's the seating area, the sitting
room. [ photo 4] |
| M: |
You can even
see the date on that. 11th of August. Hey, now this
time, that is all of us. Look! There are nine of us.
We were all in that photograph. |
S:
|
So, it must
be the hostess. I think the hostess took the picture
for us. Do you remember this is a, well Lawrence said
this is a five-star bed and breakfast? |
| M: |
I do, I do.
Look at it. It looks like it. It looks like, not a castle,
but a very big house. |
S:
|
I still remember
the breakfast. That is very nice, the breakfast. I couldn't
forget it. It's one that you could order your own thing
and like you can start with fruit, fresh fruit and all
the cheese on the table and they are so generous with
their food. |
| M: |
I think they
call that à la carte, it's more than just being
served the same bacon and eggs and sausage. It was really
our free choice. That was very good. What am I doing
with that stick? [ photo 3] I look as if I want to hit
someone. |
S:
|
I think it's
a hockey. Is it? Are you playing hockey with...? |
| M: |
No, I found
that stick. Maybe in the house or on the grass outside. |
S:
|
I think it's
on the lawn, but it's not hockey? |
| M: |
|
S:
|
Inside the bed...And,
we started late again that morning. |
| M: |
Yeah, we did. |
S:
|
It's a routine.
We started very late and then we finished late, but
that's a very special morning. Do you remember? That's
the morning we... |
| M: |
Yes, we went
for a long walk, didn't we? |
S:
|
|
| M: |
Oh yes, you
can see from the date, 11th of August. Well, that's
lucky to remember that. That's very good. Yes, we went
for a walk in the countryside...hoping that we would
see something of the sky... |
S:
|
But not all
of us, not all of us, only a few of us had a walk. |
| M: |
That's right. |
S:
|
I think only
the four of us. Yes, it's Liza, Sue, me and you. |
| M: |
And Ricky. |
S:
|
Yes, Ricky went
for a walk then I think he...well...No he didn't join
us till the end. I think that well...he did not feel
very well. |
| M: |
That's right.
Yes, he wasn't feeling very well that day. |
S:
|
And Joe and
Mei... |
| M: |
Joe and Mei
went for a drive, that was it. |
S:
|
Yeah, they went
for a drive... |
| M: |
And we look
where they ended up. [ photo 5] Look at Mei with her
cousins, or brothers and sisters... |
S:
|
(laughing) |
| M: |
Well they look
big animals don't they, really. |
S:
|
But they are
very nice animals. I still remember they were wagging
their tails. |
| M: |
They made some
nice char siu bao anyway. She doesn't look afraid of
them. |
S:
|
Well... she
might be. |
| M: |
They're sniffing... |
S:
|
Well, it doesn't
look like she is scared but I think she... I remember
she telling me that she is quite scared. |
| M: |
Yes really,
there is a big solid fence at least or a gate. |
S:
|
But too bad
we didn't see the eclipse. |
| M: |
Yeah, we didn't.
No, it was just...well, the sky got a little bit darker.
You noticed that I remember. |
S:
|
Yeah, and also
the... maybe, is it, do you think it is the weather
or is it because of the time? We missed it. |
| M: |
Partly because
of where we were, because we weren't in the complete
path of the eclipse. But also the weather. It was such
a dull day that even if the sky had gone very dark,
we wouldn't really have noticed it so much because it
was gloomy anyway. |
S:
|
Yes that's true. |
| M: |
Okay, so then
we carried on our tour round Ireland and we found this...pub
is it? |
S:
|
Do you remember
this is in the hotel? [ photo 6] |
| M: |
Oh yes it was
in a hotel. |
S:
|
Yes we went
there after a trip to Rock of Cashel. |
| M: |
So we looked
around the Rock and then... |
S:
|
We didn't know
anything about this hotel , but we just felt like having
a cup of coffee. Something hot because it's so cold...
|
| M: |
Yes, it was
cold that morning. |
S:
|
Yes, we won't
believe it. It's August. We would think that it wouldn't
be so cold, but it was, very cold, and so... |
| M: |
Ireland is not
known for its good weather. |
S:
|
No. And, but
then you found the birthplace of Guinness... |
| M: |
That's right! |
S:
|
....by chance.
And that's very good... |
| M: |
We just went
into the bar, we saw this sign on one of the walls.
And then behind there were signatures of lots of famous
people who visited the place. |
S:
|
Yeah! Lots of
famous people. Yes .. yeah! You can, well, you can still
see some of their names. |
| M: |
Yeah! I think
it says "home of Guinness, seventeen forty"
something. |
S:
|
Is it really
much nicer there? The Guinness? Is it much nicer in
the hotel? |
| M: |
Well the theory
with Guinness is, the further it travels, the more of
its taste gets lost in the journey, like wine I suppose.
So we say... |
S:
|
How about the
one in the hotel? |
| M: |
Well if it really
is the birthplace of Guinness then that means it hasn't
travelled at all, so in a way... |
S:
|
Ha! Ha! |
| M: |
So it should
be its purest form, it should be the best. But actually
they say that also about the Guinness in Dublin... |
S:
|
That's true.
Yeah! |
| M: |
...that it's
the best in the world. Anyway Joe and I seem to be enjoying
it there. |
S:
|
I think you
were the only who drank beer. The other people...well...went
for hot... |
| M: |
That's right!
The rest of you were having coffee, but Joe and I couldn't
resist that. And of course the photograph as well. |
S:
|
We had tea and
coffee because it's so cold outside. |
| M: |
Is that your
photo Susanna? Must be yeah, or Ricky's? |
S:
|
No, it's...I
don't remember...I...Usually mine got the date, and
this one doesn't. Well it could be Joe's picture. |
| M: |
Yeah...yeah!
That's right! |
S:
|
But it's very
nice. Yeah! |
| M: |
Okay, so we'll
definitely make copies of that one. Okay! And what about
the last few we've got here? |
S:
|
Well...this
one is near a cliff. [ photo 7] But I don't remember
where we took it. |
| M: |
|
S:
|
Ah...so could
it be just the cliff of Kinsale? |
| M: |
Yeah...just
beyond Kinsale. Oh! I remember there was a golf club
at the top of the cliff that we weren't allowed into.
So, we parked the car and we just walked over, so we
could take a picture of the view. So there are three
beautiful ladies... |
S:
|
Right! |
| M: |
...looking over
the wild Irish sea... |
S:
|
It's kind of
dangerous and ...well...because there is nothing, no
fence, nothing so we have to be careful. |
| M: |
That is a good
one too! Well! |
S:
|
Sorry! Then
when we took it on the thirteenth of August... |
| M: |
Oh yes! You
can see the date again. |
S:
|
Yeah ...which
is the, just the day before Ricky's birthday. |
| M: |
Oh, yes yes!
We left on the morning of Ricky's birthday so we couldn't
celebrate it with you. What a shame! |
S:
|
So that is actually
the day before you left. |
| M: |
Yes, that's
right. Yes, so this was our last day together. |
S:
|
Right. |
| M: |
So this must
have been later on then. What are you doing? What's
that guy doing with his arms around you? [ photo 8] He's
not your husband Susanna! |
S:
|
What do you
think we are doing? We're not dancing or anything. No,
I was about to kiss, um, the Blarney stone... |
| M: |
Oh I thought
you were going to say kiss him for a moment! |
S:
|
No no no no
no no no no. Well. Do you see all the legs there? People
are waiting. |
| M: |
Everyone else
in the queue. I remember. |
S:
|
|
| M: |
Well that's
what you're doing right now isn't it? It must have worked
for you! |
S:
|
I don't know,
but it's kind of tricky because there is a big gap between
the wall and, you know, the place, well, the tower or
the castle, so you have to be helped. You can't really
do it yourself. And I get safety... |
| M: |
So that's why
the guy's holding on to you there. And you got the poles
at the back to support yourself? |
S:
|
So you have
to hold onto the poles and then you have to...well,
I didn't take the picture. Some people took it when
they're really kissing the stone. And, it's... |
| M: |
That sort of
photograph you'd have to take from underneath... |
S:
|
So, you have
to really lie down flat on the ground and then kiss
it. |
| M: |
So was it worth
the wait because you were queuing for nearly an hour
for that? |
S:
|
Yeah, well that's
why I want to kiss it. You know, well, six people went
up, but only three of us kissed the stone. It was me,
Sue and Mei. And, Liza, Joe and Ricky decided not to
because... |
| M: |
So the guys
didn't want to kiss the stone? |
S:
|
And Liza didn't... |
| M: |
And Liza as
well... |
S:
|
Liza didn't
kiss the stone either and she said "ooh, ooh, it
looks a bit unhygienic" and... |
| M: |
Well that's
what I would think. Yes, I mean, how many thousands
of people have kissed that stone before? |
S:
|
That's true
but if you remember what Mary said, our hostess of the
B&B and she said, it's in the open air, and it's
so cold. So, it doesn't really matter. |
| M: |
Yeah, germs
wouldn't last very long on the piece of stone... |
S:
|
Shouldn't be.
Yeah, it shouldn't be a problem, well besides you queue
up for so long and if you don't do it... |
| M: |
It would be
a shame. |
S:
|
Yeah, it's
really a shame and... |
| M: |
Oh that's great.
That's a really good photo. You could even have that
one enlarged. Put on your wall. |
S:
|
To remind myself
that I've kissed the stone... |
| M: |
Where you got
your gift of eloquence from! Now this last one... |
S:
|
|
| M: |
Now you see that flag at the top. That's the Irish
flag. And this is actually the post office.
|
S:
|
So this is not
taken in the countryside. This is in... |
| M: |
|
S:
|
Yes, this is
in Dublin. |
| M: |
This is the
general post office in Dublin and it's rather a grand
building for a post office, but... |
S:
|
Oh yes, I remember
seeing it, but we didn't go inside the post office. |
| M: |
Can you see
those buses waiting outside? I think they are dropping
off tourists actually because... |
S:
|
Did you go in? |
| M: |
We did. We went
in very quickly. I think because it was raining. It
is actually a post office, but inside they have a few
exhibits because...do you know the history of the building? |
S:
|
Yes, it's about
the revolution or... |
| M: |
Yeah. When Ireland
got its independence from Britain. There was a war really,
certainly a revolt and the revolutionaries, the people,
the Irishmen fighting for the liberation of their country,
um, sort of took refuge inside the post office, and
there were the British outside, the army guys who were
trying to shoot them. And they were inside. And because
it's such a strong building they stayed in there for
quite a few days. In the end they lost, they had to
come out and they were captured and some of them were
executed, but to this day the Irish consider this to
be a symbol of their independence. So they have a few
exhibits inside. And didn't you say saw on the outside
as well some...? |
S:
|
Some bullet
holes. |
| M: |
Wow! |
S:
|
But we saw it
from a distance. We didn't go into the post office and
I don't know why, for some reason, we just didn't have
time. We just stayed in Dublin for two days. We read
about the history and when we walked past by, I think...no...not
walking past by but driving past by, we can see the
bullet holes. I think it was Joe who saw it. |
| M: |
Well that was
very observant. |
S:
|
He's got very
good eyesight. |
| M: |
But when you
see that it makes history come alive doesn't it? And
that was one of the great things about our holiday because
we went to so many places, but some of the places we'll
always remember and when we read them about afterwards,
we'll know their special significance.. |
S:
|
So you did go
inside and do they still use it as a post office? |
| M: |
Yes! Oh yes!
It's a functioning post office. There are people queuing
for stamps! You know, and to use the fax machines. |
S:
|
And alongside
with that would be tourists?. |
| M: |
Tourists were
really looking at the building. There were flags and
pictures on the walls. The pictures were painted to
commemorate the, I think it was the nineteen sixteen
Easter uprising. |
S:
|
Yes, you have
got a very good memory for years... |
| M: |
Well...I hope
no one's going to correct me afterwards. |
S:
|
Hahaha... |
| M: |
But yeah, it
was certainly a very long time ago but the building
is still in very good shape. |
S:
|
So this picture
you took it from the other side of the street? |
| M: |
No, in the middle
of the road. This is very interesting. This is a O'Connell
Street which is the main street in Dublin. |
S:
|
Oh yes of course,
so you took it in the divider. |
| M: |
Yes, there is
a divider, a reservation in the middle, and as you walk
down towards the river, the Liffey, you see statues
of all the famous Irishmen, especially the revolutionaries,
each on a plinth, so as you walk past them one by one
you get an idea of Irish history too. And I was just
standing by one of the statues, trying to frame the
whole of the post office in the picture. It was quite
difficult because the post office is very big. |
S:
|
That's a good
one, yeah, that's a good one. Well if the buses were
not there, I mean... |
| M: |
Yeah! And the
weather, of course, look at that! The sky is grey or
even white. It was cloudy and drizzling. |
S:
|
Very typical
Irish weather. |
| M: |
Typical Irish
weather. |
S:
|
So I think these
are the pictures that we should make copies for everyone. |
| M: |
Yes! Yes! |
S:
|
They are really
nice ones and... Really. Yeah, how many have... |
| M: |
Nine! That's
perfect! |
S:
|
Yeah! Nine of
them altogether. Yeah! Okay. |
| M: |
Okay.
|
