Before leaving I joked about renaming this blog ‘Scones and
Dogs’ in anticipation of the type of adventure I’m hoping to have in the
Motherland over the next 10ish months. Little did I know how quickly my dreams
would come true.
After a predictably tedious plane trip followed by a two-hour
tussle with my oversized baggage to the hostel (who knew a few cardigans
weighed that much?) I was reunited with a friend from Timor to embark on a week
of English/Irish/hubbly-jubbly adventures.
Just as a monarchist’s trip of London will centre on various
royal attractions, as people with a refined taste for the ridiculous, we
focused our London itinerary on dress-ups. In sprawling museums devoted to
showcasing masterpieces of art, at some point one’s interest in 17th century wrought iron and Korean tableware wanes. This is when you find yourself
inevitably drawn towards the ‘interactive’ areas, where you can try on stage costumes
and attire from bygone centuries. In doing this, you’re tapping into an underground community of people who also love dress-ups and
will give you tips on where to find the next crinoline skirt or satin cape
amongst all that art.
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| Trench coat and crinoline |
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| Satin cape and velvet coat |
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| Cravat and pannier |
Although we weren't able to find many dress-ups in Ireland, we were subjected to many many renditions of Galway
Girl and Whiskey in the Jar in traditional Irish pubs, where musicians are a dime a dozen. We also visited the infamous Kilmainham Gaol and frequented a lovely café
called Queen of Tarts where of course scones made an appearance on my plate. And with scones crossed
off the list, that brings us to dogs.
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| The Temple Bar in Temple Bar, Dublin |
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| Powerscourt Estate, Ireland |
A day trip to a charming village outside of Dublin included a visit to an impressive estate built in the 18th century. There were fountains and flowers aplenty, but what really caught my imagination was a
cemetery, detailing the lives and loves (yes, romantic interests) of a host of family pets from
about 1900. It seems pet sentimentality started very early in this part of the
world.
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| Good ol' Modge |
Terriers and daschunds, Shetland ponies and their wives (who were also,
incidentally, Shetland ponies) were all commemorated. My personal favourite was a heartfelt dedication
to Eugenie the Jersey cow, who by all accounts lived a prodigiously productive
life.
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In just 19 years, Eugenie produced 17 calves and 100,000 gallons of milk.
What have you achieved today? |
After a night back in London featuring some cabaret in Soho,
I’m now on a train to Leeds drinking bad coffee (which disturbingly I seem to
have developed a taste for). My first textbook to be read, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, is eyeing me belligerently from my
backpack.
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| Cabaret complete with beehive, sequins and keytar |
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| Angel at Powerscourt, Ireland |
