The Ireland as featured on my vision board comes true but not in the way I expected. It was such a good ‘craic’ and some extraordinary things happened, which I later spotted on my Intuitive Vision Board. And the best of it was I came away with more money in my pocket than I started out with and sweet memories that still make me laugh.
Serendipity
It all began when a friend called me up with a random request.
“Would I be interested in an all-expenses paid trip to Ireland for the weekend – in 4 days time?”
I’m to be an English tour guide on a ‘fam tour’ (familiarisation trip) along with four others from Canada, France and Denmark. I’ve never heard of Fingal where we’re heading. But that’s the point. We are to be introduced to the lesser known delights of this county north of Dublin and tell the folks back home all about it.
I’m not an English tour guide, by the way, but I thought I could pull it off. Besides my friend is desperate for someone to represent England! Since I felt I could write a report for a tourist magazine, it won’t surprise you to know I said ‘yes’.
I knabbed the last seat on a flight out of Heathrow.
Two men are collecting me from Dublin airport. I’ve no idea what they look like but one hour later, they still haven’t appeared. I send out an SOS to the fam organiser and discover they’re not in Arrivals. They’re waiting for me in Departures instead.
Yay! Welcome to Ireland, Mary.
Is it Ireland? Or Denmark? Or a bit of each?
United with my male escorts, I’m whisked off to Skerries, a charming fishing village with a fisherman’s pub that has perched on the quayside for aeons.
The first thing I notice are the colourful fishing boats. They’re SO like the ones on my vision board – in blues and reds and the shape of them. I had Denmark in mind at the time. I’d fancied a trip to Copenhagen but why I felt compelled to put a photograph of my daughter next to the boats I don’t know. She had no plans to go to Copenhagen when I made this vision board. But four months later that’s exactly where she went.
However I discover Skerries has strong historic links to Denmark because the Vikings landed here. I learnt too that the organiser of this fam trip has a sister who crossed the Irish Sea to Denmark, fell in love with a modern-day Viking, and has never come back.
Synchronicity and mysterious connections, all round I’d say, and raised a glass of Guinness to that in the fisherman’s pub in Skerries.
More Irish craic
After a stroll around Skerries I’m dropped outside my hotel. I have a couple of hours in which to chill. At check-in the owner is puzzled.
“The only reservation we have is for “Mary and Jerry”. I respond with a charming smile: “But I don’t want to share with Jerry, I want my own room.”
Yep! My escorts have dropped me off at the wrong hotel – and sadly this one is full.
Two and half hours later they finally return to take me out to dinner. I’m still in the jeans I travelled in with my overnight bag beside me. Meantime I’ve been plied with drinks on the house, fed nibbles and kept entertained in the bar by Irish brogue and their wonderful sense of humour.
After a splendid seafood dinner, where I finally get to meet the other tour guides, I’m deposited at the correct hotel. Everyone is asleep by now. My key is hidden under a gnome, which retrieve under cover of darkness and tiptoe into the guest house.
Running late
Next morning I’m to take part in a family fun-run – and then hand out the prizes.
My escorts have forgetten me yet again. Mother of Mary! By the time they remember and drive me to the start of the race, everyone has run off and I’m left behind in an empty hall. What do I do? I start to walk part of the course, with the lead runners passing me by on their way back.
It’s time for the prizes. How embarrassing is this. I’m introduced as “Mary, who has come all the way from a London Athletics Club to support this event”. Having demonstrated I’m the least athletic among them, ‘it put my heart crossway in me to hear it’.
On the road again
After the race, we’re off again. This time, they’ve managed to secure a place in the car with them. Destination Fourknocks – a Neolithic site that predates Stonehenge.
Surprisingly we’re the only ones there. The big, iron key to the door of this ancient burial mound is with Eileen down the road. She is the keeper of this private Fort Knox. We’ve been warned if Eileen doesn’t like us, she won’t let us in.
Knocking on Eileen’s door with trepidation,we’re in luck. She likes us. And there’s no charge to enter and to be no supervision. Just the four of us like moles burrowing underground, marvelling at the abstract art painted on these interior walls 5,000 years ago.
Uilleann pipe farewell for Mary
The trip ends with me attending a small music festival in honour of Séamus Ennis, an uilleann pipes genius. A 15-piece band is assembled which spans five generations of musicians, an eight-year old being the youngest. It’s held in the local pub (where else) and it’s a treat for the eyes, ears and soul.
My hostess, unwilling to entrust my return to the airport to the men, takes me herself. We say our farewells and she drives off.
But the Irish magic has not finished with me yet. I discover my flight is cancelled due to fog and there are no more departures that day. However, the nice Aer Lingus people are willing to put me up in a lovely hotel and treat me to a splendid dinner.
It’s more than 12 hours later before I board the plane bound for Heathrow so apparently I’m due a £200 refund too.
I think I should buy a ticket to Copenhagen don’t you?
What next?
The next public vision board workshops – date and details
For 1-2-1 sessions or private group workshop options, please drop me a line.
And to receive my newsletter regularly please sign up here.
About me
I’m the founder of the Intuitive Vision Board. To read more about the power of Intuitive Vision Boards consider purchasing my book Awaken Your Intuitive Vision Besides Amazon, it’s available to order from your local book store and other online book shops.