IRELAND-BALLYFIN...MAKES YOU FEEL LOVE and PEACE

And so Friday evening after class,I run home in the rain...
Heart pounding madly , I reach the Riding...
My bags are already packed, my notes are all ready, because I have my theory next week ..
The thing is when I met Rachna on Monday, she told me of this place in Ireland that they were visiting on the weekend...
And asked if I would come along , frankly I jumped at the idea, and the plan was made, but tuesday after class, just felt that I should , stay back and study on the weekend, so Wednesday morning, woke up and read through , by Thursday morning, I was wondering why on earth I'm not going and then spoke to a dear friend, who told me that this time is not coming back and I should go ....
Frankly my gypsy heart needs very little encouragement to travel...
So a few sms's later to Rachna, and I was going off on the weekend...

Got onto the train , and got off at Bond Street to be greeted by a crazy jam because the escalators had stopped working...
Frankly when you are 5.2 " being crushed in a sea of tall people is pretty scary...
Pushed my way out with a sigh of relief...
My train was the last one to stop there...
Luck of the Irish I say....
Got out of the station to be greeted by the pretty lit decorations on Oxford Street...
I love London in winter and during Christmas ...
Everyone is dressed so snugly and smartly, and people are holding hands, drinking coffee or hot chocolate, hugging one another , kissing at the street lights....it's just makes for the most wonderful setting , to hang with the one you love...
Waiting for the Christmas fair at Marylebone street ...to buy little goodies, sip on mulled wine in the cold ....
God I could easily live here ....but....
So I walk around like a kid in a candy store and stop , gob-smacked in front of this window that has a dress with my name on it...
Not literally , but I swear it was telepathically sending me a message to come and pick it up...
I look I stared and decided to walk away ...
Went to Rachna and Sanjay's house no:8...
And after a lovely Indian meal and lots a green tea and some lovely soul talk , I retired to my pretty room and sunk into the pillows and slept like a baby...

Next day ,two breakfast's later , we were on our way to Ireland....
We had an hour and a half car ride to Ballyfin...

When we reached there...
It just took our breath away, it was a chateau that took nine years to get restored ...
And as we got out...
The staff there was waiting to greet us ..like you see in old English films...
The building , the architecture, the attention to detail , the furnishing, the coloured, the upholstery, the paintings , the flooring , the library, flowers, crockery ...just took your breath away....
When I walked into my room..
I just died , it was absolutely adorable in a old fashioned classy and completely decadent , luxurious yet comfortable, inviting sort of way...
There were pretty flowers and paintings, with a breathtaking view, and the bathroom...called out to you to be indulged....
We had a quick lunch, took our cycles and went cycling all over the property , with the cold chasing us...
It was really lots a fun...
We came back tired and then just went around, taking in the chateau , that's has been made with a whole lot of love and tenderness...
Everything is absolutely beautiful and inviting , without being too in your face or too loud, it has chandeliers that belonged to Napoleons sister and , secret pathways, a summer garden to have tea, an indoor warm pool...
Gosh...just feel so so so blessed that I got a chance to experience this...
I must have done something good , to get a chance to come study at Tante Marie and then, travel most week-end to places I never even imagined...

The evening was filled with laughter and , we all dressed up and had dinner that looked like edible art...
Retreated for the night...
But did not really sleep...
Stayed awake...for a long time to come...
A lot of quiet , some music and moments...I will cherish..
Feel this is a dream and I will wake up ..
But right now...I'm just gonna live my dream...maybe it's what I always wanted and the heavens have just opened up and have presented all I want on a platter...

Was up at 6, but it was dark outside...so hung inside till it was a bit brighter and went and had break- fast in my night suit...
Eggs and brioche, hot chocolate...fruit..
I think the owner died of shock ...Fred Krieble, the man who owns Ballyfin and 20 other properties like this ....

After then took a cycle and just explored the propert on my own for an entire hour, went through paths , found new places, chased ducks, sang loudly, talked to the wind, about stuff I find difficult to say out aloud...
Called out to the people I love, and sent them messages that i yelled to the sky...
Therapeutic, felt free and happy and like Alice in Wonderland...really thought a Rabbit would just pop out from somewhere and take me for another adventure,the paths were filled with orange leaves, the trees are about to shed all their leaves, and I just fell in love with the rusty fiery beautiful orange that adorned the trees...
It's the most beautiful site I have seen....
An hour later...tired happy and hungry , I get back and join the rest of the gang, for a trek up the Blue Mountains...
Julianna , James, Rachna , Sanjay and me...
Julianna is adorable, she is tiny, Italian and just too cute, James her husband is a good guy, funny and friendly..
Rachna is full of life and adventurous and a risk taker, very straight forward and grounded ,smart and ready for adventure...
Sanjay, is easy and loves junk food, and funny and extremely smart and has the best business sense ever, and is forever planning another trek or drive , or what we doing next week , while we still on a fantastic adventure luxury vacation....
Thank God , that we are all friends..
And getting to know each one more and better ..

So we all head onto the mountain with John our guide , who was full of knowledge about the flora on the mountain , and told us stuff about various fungi, trees , leaves, the rocks on the bed of the river, the soil etc.etc...

Then he told us about this plant that Achilles was dipped into as a kid, called "yarro" ...
I love Greek mythology...and the men in it are all so beautiful ...
And so two hours later, with my wellies all coated in muck, and everyone of us happily tired and hungry , we head into the village , to this little eatery, with lovely home-made fresh food...

We head back , chill, stuff ourselves with more goodies from the Ballyfin kitchen, laze around the fire and just chat and laugh and can't believe we have to leave in two hours..

This was something, that I would probably not do on my own...
But I have learned one thing, "never say never"
You don't really know who comes into your life suddenly , and how it all changes, but I do know , that whatever happens, it will open your heart,help you grow and make you a better and more loving person...
So yes, every night before I go to sleep , thank God for all the wonderful people he has sent into my life this year, and how he has changed me around ......
I sleep knowing fully well that when you keep your heart open , everything that will make you a better person will happen to you, it may come tinged with happiness or sorrow, but change your heart for the better it will..
Writing this on my flight back from Ireland...
Stay happy and smiling...
And wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, when you wish upon a star, your dreams will come true...Disney-Pinnocchio

Thank you Rachna and Sanjay ....
Big hug and God Bless you ...