Thursday
Jun102010
Crowded House
June 10, 2010 
Ever since we live in Ireland we get loads of visitors from the Netherlands. Big fun, of course! And particularly when the visitors are people that are dear to your heart, very close to you, or simply your daughter.
Just this morning my darling daughter went home again, after spending 7 wonderful days at our house, and I should mention her boyfriend too, cause he was there with her, but SHE was the main course you can imagine! It had been nearly a year that we had seen her last and it felt good, good, good, to hold her in my arms again and hug her intensely. Of course she is a grown up and very adult 23 year old woman now. She doesn't need her mommy anymore, works in a brilliant job and bought her own house a year ago. But still.... She is my first born, looks a lot like me, and just is so very special! So now I sit here with an ache in my heart because she is gone again.
I am not allowed to complaint though, because there are mommy's far worse off than I am. Women who's children live at the other side of the world, and they only see each other like once every 5 years or so. Relatively speaking we are only 1,5 hours away by plane, so what am I talking about, peanuts!! Yet, not being able to pop in and have a quick cup of coffee and a chat is something I miss very much.
So thank Allah/God/Buddha/Whoever for air planes and all other inventions that make traveling so much easier these days, hence the opportunities to receive visitors on a frequent basis. I really like to entertain visitors and show them around in the beautiful country we are allowed to live in! Having said that I must admit that I hate being taken advantage off, even if it is only in my own thoughts. There are times that I get the feeling that people only come to visit us not for us, but because we have a huge house on the west coast of this magnificent island, hence a free of charge B&B, rooms en-suite and everything. We have had visitors that treated us like hotel employees, dropping their bath towels on the floor for us to pick up after them, requesting a full Irish breakfast at a specific time the next morning, and guided tours all over the country, either my husband or myself driving. Therefore I have decided that I will not have visitors anymore that invite themselves over 'because we have been friends for so long, and curious to see where and how you are living now'. Won't happen again.
People that WE invite over are big fun! They bring along typical Dutch treats we sometimes miss, like 'drop' or 'rookworst' and have news from Holland or other friends. We have many pleasant evenings with typical Dutch games like 'sjoelen' or 'klaverjassen'
One of the best visits we ever had was when the band members of the band my husband used to play in, their wives, and their children all came over at the same time. I never had enough cutlery and china to serve everyone properly and there were air beds all over the house, but we did have big, big fun! That was a crowded house all together!
Yet I love my daughters visit the most.
The picture is taken yesterday, when we visited the Cliffs of Moher by boat. My daughters boyfriend is a fanatic birdwatcher, and he had never seen a puffin in his life. Apart from seeing those at the cliffs yesterday, he also caught 6 other species he'd never seen in the wild before. As far as he is concerned this trip to Ireland was a success. As far as we are concerned, we can't wait till next time he brings our girl over. We love crowded houses.
Reader Comments (13)
Oh..I know how special and wonderful it is to have grown kids come home to visit - especially daughters. Sounds like you had a wonderful week together!!! And - I love the image. A perfect graphic representation of an 'overcrowded' house. And those birds are amazing!!!
I definitely know what you mean, Marion! Coming over the pond from America is a different story from flying over the channel, however. When we flew to England in April, we couldn't believe how short of a trip it is. I wish my daughter could get here that quickly. (sigh) So, whenever you need someone to bring you some rookworst and drop, and it can't be jouw dochter, you know who to ask. HA! We'll try to get to know you a bit better first so you won't think we're taking advantage of you. Do you need a carpenter or painter? :D
My son is still at home, but at 17 he will probably be flying the nest in the next few years. While I love that he's quite independent, I know that it's going to be difficult letting go. This was a lovely post and what a fantastic place to visit! The cliffs are spectacular and we will definitely take a boat trip next time we're there. Great photo too :)
Been there and agree, Beautiful country. Great blog, having just spent two weeks with my daughter, Where I had to fly to, I understand your feelings. Mom dorothy.
I was in Ireland last summer and got to see puffins and gannets and all sorts of birds at Skellig Michael and Little Skellig. You've probably gone there if you live in Ireland, but if not.... it is well worth it! Thanks for reminding me of such a happy time....
awww...so special! I want my daughter to come home every weekend! I love that you can put your air mattresses on the floor. Now that's a party!
Good for you for setting boundaries, but you can hardly blame them for wanting to come visit! ;) I love it when my sons and their wives/girlfriends come home. It really does make my house a home when they are there. Wonderful cliff shot - had to go in for a closer look at all those puffins!!
great shot ! I would love to see puffins, so when can I come? *LOL* Just kidding, I understand your feelings and agree with you.
oh my...i had to look at it several times before i saw the puffins.. how funny, and then of course there are stacks of them!!! incredible shot. and you write so well about your life, it really does sounds gorgeous over there!
Oh, I know others have it worse, but you are totally allowed to miss your daughter and to be sad that you don't see her more often! The scale of that shot is incredible, when I first saw it, I thought it was a macro shot, then I went back after you mentioned the birds, and wow!
Big, big fun is always the best, isn't it?
My visits from my son were too few and far between...so, I moved closer to him! And, instead of air mattresses on the floor for the grandchildren, we added an extra bedroom. :)
I TOTALLY understand how some guests are FUN to entertain and others a chore. You are wise to set your boundaries and only have guests you enjoy!
those are puffins!? wow! that is an awesome sight in picture form. i can't EVEN imagine it in real life!
i love having people come stay at my house. i love having them piled on the couch and the blow up bed. on the floor of my kids room. all snuggled in.
unfortunately hubby hates it. so we compromise and i have my people over only a few times a year. when his people come they get a hotel ;)
We don't have many friends sleeping over at our house. I have family and friends nearby. We are having a exchange student from England here for a week in January 2011. That will be really fun.