Almost home

Ok, this is the last time I post for this trip. I actually thought the previous 2 were but  apparently this stuff is tremendously riveting and my readership of 3 demands more. Think of this as the final encore..

So, sitting here at Melbourne airport having been subjected to the usual reaming that goes with being a male transit passenger in Australia, I now have time to reflect. And of course, for the first time in days, I am sober enough to do so, at least at times that allow one to write little blog snapshots. 

Firstly, as is always the case, it is friends that make for special times and so it was wonderful to catch up with Stef and Michelle and the boys after a too long gap. I love spending time with Ben as well. He just never stops grinning. Plus he is trouble, in a good way I course. 

So thank you to all my mates. 

Secondly, all the things ticked off, finally riding in the Highlands, which delivered all I had hoped for. Fantastic trails, stunning and atmospheric scenery and horrendous but proper Sottish weather. 

I finally got to taste haggis on my last night in Scotland. Absolutely delicious, made by a South African of course. 

Finally just a pack of great memories: from the psychotic taxi driver in Dublin, who appeared sliding his car into the car park and loved Bens "Back to future" comment so much that he tried to hit the magical 80, singing lustily in the Irish pubs, being blown down a Sottish mountain in a freezing gale and laughing till the tears rolled. 

Thanks again guys, it was great. Till next time..

  

Dublin

Here we are, last night in Dublin and beginning to prepare ourselves for a long trip home. First Glasgow tomorrow and then Friday night we fly back to New Zealand. 

Of course we have devoted ourselves almost solely to increasing our understanding of the practise of stereotactic body radio surgical techniques. After hours we have focussed on the more classical aspects of the Dublin experience. For example, and we must thank ESTRO teaching school for this, we had an opportunity to have a free whiskey tasting evening. From our perspective it was important that we contrasted this to the Scottish whiskey. It was only a mild disappointment that food apparently interferes with taste buds and we therefore drank enough whiskey on an empty stomache that I will not quantify it here. Needless to say the evening ended with tunnel vision and kebabs many hours later, very reminiscent of behaviours I thought I had said goodbye to 20 years ago! Thankfully Ben, who is immune to both whiskey and Guiness, was able to get us home. 

The photos taken that night reflect exactly my condition. 

Now I don't want to give the impression that we all we have done in Dublin is drink vast quantities of Guiness. However, giving any other impression would be misleading.  

So. On that note we sign off. The photos are random snapshots reflecting our time in Dublin, from the beautiful grounds of Trinity College, reflecting several hundred years of scholarly history to the inside of various bars, reflecting a different kind of education.