Home, Home on the Range

It's been a slow start on the blog in May, but with very good reason. With the first part of my Easter break being spent in Fermanagh, exploring the county that will soon be my home, we then set off for Scotland, having first celebrated a 'big' birthday.



It was nice to see Bryan, Louise, Elizabeth and the 'bump' over in Dundee, getting some quality time with them to catch up on things and to explore some familiar parts of Scotland. We had a visit to Logie's, and a big barbecue on the Sunday; a trip to St Andrew's on the Monday (where Royal Wedding fever was in full strength, even the week after it); Anstruther on Tuesday, Glamis on Wednesday and I had a quick look around Broughty Ferry before heading for the Troon ferry home.


This highland cow was quite content on the Glamis estate.


Glamis Castle is the childhood home of the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.


This royal wedding portrait was made of jelly beans - see the closer picture for proof!

While we were in St Andrew's we also visited the aquarium - watch out for the update in a day or two!

Book Review: Awakening

Dundee has played its part in our wider family story over the past few years, being the place of studies, of a wedding, and numerous visits. Anyone familiar with Dundee will probably be aware of the ministry and legacy of one young man connected with the city, namely Robert Murray McCheyne.

McCheyne was minister of St Peter's Church on the Perth Road, Dundee, the church where my brother-in-law is now working, so I've been interested in M'Cheyne for quite a while, having first heard of him at a Proc Trust Student Ministers' Preaching Conference five years ago. Awakening is the remarkable story of McCheyne, written by the current minister of St Peter's, David Robertson (of The Dawkins Letters fame).

The book is divided into twenty small, manageable chapters, each covering an aspect of the background, history, life, ministry and effects of McCheyne, and is a wealth of information and inspiring (and challenging) stories and nuggets of gospel truth and ministry practice. Robertson presents a well researched and readable biography, presenting a fair picture of McCheyne, steering clear of the hagiography (or exaggerated accounts of the lives of saints as can sometimes be presented), as he says: 'As the research progressed, I became amazed, angry and awakened. Amazed at the relevance of McCheyne for today, angry that the hagiography and ignorance about him has largely obscured that relevance and awakened to the wonder of the gospel.'

Some interesting aspects of his short life (he died before his thirtieth birthday) include his pastoral visitation model (visiting each house in a street through the day, then having a 'street' meeting in a large house or hall that evening), and the account of the revival which broke out while he was away in Palestine on a mission trip to survey the state of the Jews in Israel.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of this book (and one that sets it apart from other biographies of McCheyne) is that Robertson includes a question or two for meditation and reflection based on the subject matter of the preceding chapter, as well as a prayer. The book is therefore not just for information, but also for further reflection and application to our own situation in a more structured way than would normally happen.

While the book may particularly be appropriate for ministers, it would be a great read for all Christians (indeed, Robertson expresses a wish that even non-Christians may read it, interested in Dundee, and through it experience the gospel by seeing it lived by McCheyne). My 2004 copy was from Authentic Media, but it has recently been re-released (as in the picture) by Christian Focus Publications.

February's Here!

The time does seem to be going very quickly. The last fortnight of January seemed to pass in a blur, so much was happening, so my blogging was well reduced. Last week the NIMA Preaching Conference had us thinking hard about how to preach a passage from 2 Peter in context, as well as feeding us richly from Romans. Then I was just back, and the bag had to be cleared out and repacked for a weekend in Dundee.

Our niece was being baptised over in Scotland, as her dad (my brother-in-law) works for St Peter's Free Church in Dundee, the Church that was pastored by Robert Murray M'Cheyne. A nice weekend with the family over there, spoiled only slightly by a hire car company which seems to be a cowboy outfit.

While in Scotland, we also were able to catch up with Lynsey's former flatmate and her husband, and just relax!

But now we're back to 'porridge' for another while, with me back into the realm of preaching most Sundays and all the other stuff that happens in a busy parish. On top of that, we'll have to sort through the photos, upload and email them to family members, as well as wading through the 300 plus items in my Google Reader subscriptions and the emails that were left for my return. For now, here's a photo of the Baptism party:

The Tron on General Assembly

St George's Tron Church in Glasgow is one of the leading evangelical churches in the Church of Scotland, and the base of Cornhill Scotland. Their minister, Willie Philip made a statement on the decision of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland to uphold the appointment of a minister living with his male partner.

The disappointment is evident, and yet he makes some great points as the Tron looks to the future. He acknowledges that fellowship in the Kirk is damaged, but affirms fellowship, partnership in the gospel with those who hold to God's word. To that end, the elders decided not to hold an offering at the service, as most of the offering goes to central Church Funds, and they won't be sending money into the central funds. Instead, they will fund gospel work, both within the Scottish churches, and elsewhere. And finally, they will not be moving from their building in the very heart of Glasgow city centre - it's a great mission base, so why leave and abandon it for others to come in to preach a false gospel and a false Jesus?

He also makes the key point that all of us struggle with sin, and especially sexual sin, but we are not to condone it. Rather, the church's reaction should be to encourage each other to struggle with sin, to fight against it, not give in and sanctify it.

At the heart of all that he says, is the assertion that the denomination is NOT the church. The denomination, whether the Church of Scotland, the Church of Ireland, the Baptist Union or whatever, is just a grouping of local churches, a grouping of congregations. The important church unit is the congregation, not the denomination.

Interesting times.

Doctored

It's offical, Lynsey has been doctored. Her graduation ceremony was yesterday afternoon in the Caird Hall, Dundee. The ceremony lasted about two hours, with a steady stream of people going on stage to be hit over the head by the Chancellor with a Dundee bonnet.

No photos available yet, but they will be available shortly - just need to get my camera hooked up to my computer back home. Today's a relaxed day before heading further north tomorrow for Jemma and John's wedding.

Scotland Again

By the time this is released into the blogosphere, I shall be in Scotland. Taking a few days over on the 'mainland' to celebrate Lynsey's graduation and the marriage of Jemma and John. Not sure if I'll have internet access until the Twelfth, but I'll take lots of photos and share them eventually! Less than two weeks to our own wedding now!

Un-tolled Delights

Tay Road Bridge
Originally uploaded by Gary McMurray.

Do you like the pun? As you probably know, I was over in Scotland last week, visiting Lynsey in Dundee. It was during my trip that I discovered that the tolls on the Tay and Forth road bridges have been removed, allowing free passage both ways! Up to recently, there was a cost of about £1 when leaving both Dundee and Edinburgh (but travelling the other direction was free).

The bridges are now free and easy in both directions, which was a big bonus, as Lynsey is currently working in Newport and Tayport, two small villages across the river from Dundee. I had the car over with me, and was able to drop her off to work and then go exploring and photographing!

There was one downside though. On Wednesday I set off for Edinburgh and got across the Forth Bridge without any hassle. When I was coming back, though, the Forth Bridge was closed, so I had to follow a huge diversion towards Kincardine Bridge. Eventually though, the queues were so massive and so long that I set off for Stirling, Perth and Dundee in a long circuitous route... Added about 60 or more miles to my return journey but it was still probably quicker than sitting on that motorway!

So there we are with my untold delights!

2007: The Year In My Pictures

I had intended doing this at the end of last year, but didn't get around to it. Being in bed because of the snow means that I have the excuse to do it today! According to my Flickr stats, I took 2587 photos in 2007. I've now sifted through them, to bring you the best, and my favourite images from the year - one from each month. I was going to include honourable mentions, or pictures I couldn't decide between, but that would have been far too many! Pick your favourite at the bottom!

So here, for you, is my year in pictures:

The Spike, Dublin was taken on 30th January. I liked this one because of the intense winter sun and the shadow of the Spire on Dublin's O'Connell Street.

The view from my breakfast table was February's favourite. It was taken in a cafe in Edinburgh, when I was on my way to see Lynsey in Dundee! The view of Edinburgh Castle was amazing!

In March, I was exploring the Legacy of the Past: Belfast Shipyard. The black and white rendering added to the sense of dereliction.

This photo of the Spelga Dam was taken in April when I was out for a photography drive. I loved the blue of the water against the surroundings, and it received a few comments on the lead in using the big rock in the foreground.

Downshire Sundown was my favourite capture in May. The silhouette of the monument and the trees against the backdrop of the setting sun made this a special one.

Scotland makes another appearance in June's selection. The Ladybird was wandering about on a leaf in St Andrews when I was there.

If you have been following my blog at all over the past while, you'll probably know this image well. Craigmore and Beyond was taken in July, from the top of the village of Bessbrook, looking towards the Mournes. The Craigmore in the title is Craigmore viaduct, on the Belfast - Dublin railway line. This image was used in an exhibition in Glasgow's 'The Lighthouse.'
In August, I got this photo of a Grasshopper in Milltown Cemetery in Belfast. An ugly brute, if I may say so!

In September, just before I started back to college, I went off on a roadtrip with Stewart to Sligo. On the way home, we stopped at Glencar Waterfall.

October was the month of Hallowe'en, and some of us from college went down into Dublin to see fireworks. This amazing photo of a wee man spinning in a fireball caught my eye.

For Lynsey's birthday weekend I was flying over to Scotland on the dawn flight from Dublin. One of the shots I took was the Plane Sunrise. Thought the colours were magnificent!

My final image of the year is from Belfast, and is titled It's Wheely, Wheely Big By Night. The lights in the trees, the Belfast Wheel lit up, the City Hall lit up, it's all looking very festive.

So now it's over to you. Out of my choice of the twelve, which is your favourite image of the year? Answers in a comment.

Plane Sunrise

Plane Sunrise
Originally uploaded by Gary McMurray.

I'm over in Scotland again for the weekend. Nice spending time in the same country, indeed, the same town as Lynsey for a few days... roll on the wedding (just 8 months and 8 days to go...)

Got the shockingly early flight out of Dublin yesterday morning, and this was the view out of my window. What an amazing sunrise. Good enough for an album cover or some such thing... Slightly annoying thing was that the seatbelt light didn't go off soon enough, as there were amazing views of the lights of Dublin on the ground and the sunrise on the horizon, but I couldn't get them!

So I had my usual walk about Edinburgh yesterday - some more photos to be uploaded at some point, then up on the train to Dundee. Today we were just down in Dundee, having a wander about the shops. Really busy!

Tomorrow night sadly it's back to Dublin again and into a fresh week of work, with the four essays to do before the Christmas holidays... Might as well relax now while I can!

A House of Prayer or a Den of Robbers?

When I'm on my travels, I always try to visit a church or two. Call it almost a professional interest, if you want. I'm always fascinated to see how things are laid out, to read the monuments and plaques, to visit the graveyard and to take in the history of the place.

On my most recent visit to Scotland I was able to take in Dunblane and Glasgow Cathedrals, as well as Rosslyn Chapel, and St Monan's Church. There may well have been more, but I can't think of them at the minute. At Rosslyn, the first thing you encounter is a wee hut with a till inside. To gain entry, you have to part with some hard cash (or if you don't have cash, they'll take your credit card). In one sense, I suppose this is fair enough - most museums have an entry charge, and Rosslyn to me was as much a museum as anything else. Indeed, the two cathedrals in Dublin also charge you an entrance fee.

So it was refreshing to visit Dunblane Cathedral and then Glasgow Cathedral and discover that there are no tills at the door refusing entry unless you pay, no high profile demands for money. Instead, they have a few discrete signs up saying how much it costs to keep the cathedrals open, and a wee box in which to put any donations.

What are we saying about our faith if the first thing we do when visitors come is to confront them with a till and a demand for money? Are we saying in deed (if not in word) that money is the most important thing for us in the life of the church?

Whenever I visit a meeting house with a till at the door I'm reminded of the actions of Jesus when he went to the Temple. 'And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not let anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."' (Mark 11:15-17)

Maybe if we didn't charge into our historic church buildings where tourists want to visit, we would have a better evangelistic witness about our faith, and be more able to speak to them of Jesus. At least they wouldn't have their focus on the lightness of their wallets and purses!

Exhibitionist

Hopefully exhibitionist is never a word that could be used to describe me, but for this posting, it seems strangely appropriate. Over the past few days I've received several emails from a nice lady in Scotland, who work for The Lighthouse in Glasgow. It seems to be a centre for design and architecture in Scotland, and they have a variety of exhibitions running.

Basically, to cut a long story short, they want to use my photo 'Craigmore and Beyond' which you can see to the right, in their soon opening exhibition: 'Shifts.' The exhibition is running between 18th August and 14th October in Glasgow, and will be focusing on the corridor between Glasgow and Edinburgh - its infrastructure and architecture.

My photo will seemingly be in a comparative section, where they look at the corridor between Liverpool and Manchester, and the corridor between Belfast and Dublin (where my work fits).

How exciting! I'm gonna be in an exhibition! Woohoo!

The wedding

Now that the photos are online and I have a wee bit of time before I head off for the afternoon, I thought I would do a more fuller blog posting about the wedding from last Saturday. So here goes...

As I've said, Bryan Kee married Louise Wilkinson in the Scottish city of Dundee; in the famous old St Peter's Free Church - the church of Robert Murray M'Cheyne (who I'm sure I've mentioned on the blog a few times before). Joined by family and friends, it was a very special day, and all enjoyed it immensely.

The weather even held up for it - a mostly sunny day, with the only rain coming when we were driving to and from getting the photos taken at Megginch Castle. (I've since learnt that part of Rob Roy was filmed there!) The reception was held in the Apex Hotel on the quayside in City Quay, and the evening sunshine was beautiful out across the quays. The meal was very good, as was the venue - a good size of a room for the number of guests.

The photographer was very good, taking thousands of photos over the day, which will soon be uploaded to his website to have a look at. The evening entertainment was a pianist who played in the background, enabling people to catch up on the craic, and also make new friends.

All in all, it was a fantastic day. Contrary to the (joking) expectations of my family, the whole experience hasn't put me off looking forward to my own - it being exactly one year today until I marry Lynsey! Here's to that day, when Bryan and Louise will become my siblings-in-law!

The Happy Couple

The Happy Couple
Originally uploaded by Gary McMurray.

Congratulations to Bryan and Louise Kee (nee Wilkinson) who were married on Saturday in St Peter's Free Church in Dundee. I was over for it, acting as best man, hence the quietness on the blog for the last few days. More photos and a full report will follow in due course!

No rest for the wicked

When it came to Thursday night, and the end of term Communion service and the later bash at the Principal's house, my holidays had started. You hear holiday and think - relaxation; unwinding; taking it easy. I laugh at such notions! The start to my summer holidays has been hectic, but I'm starting to relax now.

Friday was the appointed day for going to Tesco in Lisburn. With the parentals not driving, and me heading off for a few days, it was absolutely necessary for the groceries to be got in before I headed away. You can't have the family starving, now, can you? Then it was off to Lurgan to lift dad from work (and to get a hair cut), before running Neil to Sprucefield for urgent electrical supplies. Home again, got changed and out to Belfast (via Dromara), to a service in Richview Presbyterian Church on the Donegall Road. It was the Licensing service for Father David McCarthy, who is now a Preacher of the Gospel and a Probationer for the Ministry. An excellent service, with musical anthems from the King's Chorale (which David is in), and good congregational singing. He now begins to work full time in Abbot's Cross Presbyterian, in Newtownabbey. May the Lord bless you, David.

A late night led into an early morning, up at the scrake of dawn and off to Aldergrove for my flight to Scotland. I'm here in Dundee for a few days in the time between my exams finishing and before Lynsey's last few weeks of revision before her finals kick in. Yesterday morning we again went to Logie's both morning and evening, enjoying and being challenged by the preaching.

Today I went off to St Andrew's and explored the castle and ruined cathedral. Some photos will no doubt soon follow on Flickr, when I get back home and connect the camera up to the computer! Still two days before I go home again, so I will go and enjoy them!

Return home

I'm now back home again from my latest travelling - having got in shortly after midnight last night. There was some fierce winds on the motorway on the way up, but I got home all the same.

Yesterday I was travelling via the bus and then the plane... so I saw the first 60 minutes of the Ireland game and nothing after that. So imagine my puzzlement when I got to the security area at Edinburgh Airport, and the security guy starts a whole big chat about the rugby, and saying how disappointing it had been for us with the controversial late try... [I must point out that I was wearing my Ireland rugby shirt at the time... he wasn't just randomly talking to strangers]. I hadn't heard about the France game at all - other than they had won and took the Championship. So the guy had to explain the whole thing, and told me he didn't think it was a try at all!

The flight was quite rough, both in taking off, and in landing due to the heavy rain and winds about last night... so I was glad to be touching down at Dublin.

It being Mothering Sunday, we're heading out for dinner later on... yum yum!

Later on - if I remember - I'll write up the 26 Councils Challenge...

Adventures in Scotland

How quickly the time seems to go when away from home... I'm fast approaching my last night in Scotland (for another while), and can only remember the week that has gone. So what have I been up to while here?

Lynsey hasn't been well... so aside from looking after her, I've managed to get away for a wee while each day. Tuesday, I just went down into Dundee for the usual round of bookshops etc... although I may already have told you about that.

Wednesday I went to Broughty Ferry. I've been there before - it's a wee village up the coast from Dundee, which is very nice. It also has a castle, and a (windy) path along the shore from the village to the castle. When I was there, a family of swans had encamped on the roadside and seemed to be having a meeting! I also managed to get a special parcel posted - so Kosova, be ready!

Yesterday I was in pastures new, visiting the city of Perth. Got a lift with Louise, which was nice - and no scary moments this time! My first stop was the Black Watch Regiment's Museum, where I did the full tour. It's kind of similar to Enniskillen Castle or the regimental museum in Armagh (can't remember which regiment at this moment in time). I then stumbled into the Scottish Episcopal Cathedral, and had a look round it... but the lights weren't on, and there was only a cleaning lady in it who didn't talk...

Today I've been over to St. Andrew's (where Prince William attended university). As is my custom, I found a wee bookshop, and wandered about the main streets. I didn't go down to the ruined cathedral and castle this time as it was very windy! Then I came back on the bus, and did the last wee bit of picking up stuff from Dundee - some discount music books in the Wesley Owen bargain basement and another wee book in the bookshop.

So after watching the Ireland game tomorrow it's back on the bus to Edinburgh, the plane to Dublin, and the car home to Dromore!

Scotland the Brave

And so I find myself in Scotland again, for the first week of my 'Easter' holidays (even though we'll be back in College by the time Easter comes round). Due to the prices of flights, and me being on the old student finances, I was flying from Dublin. So it was a very early start on Monday morning (when really, it was still Sunday night), and down in the car on that familiar M1 road. I thought it would be plain-sailing the whole way with little traffic... and so it was - until we got to the Ravensdale complex... While I had already started Monday, a huge crowd of teens and twenties were just finishing their Sunday night out, pouring out on the kerb and road looking for lifts and cars. The press was so bad that the traffic was stopped! After I got through, it was again not very busy and good clear roads - the sooner we have the dual carriageway/ motorway the whole way, the better!

While waiting to get booked onto the flight at the airport, I got talking to three students from Alaska, who are spending their spring break doing some travelling. Wait til you hear this for a schedule... Saturday past, fly from Alaska to Dublin. Monday, fly to Edinburgh. Wednesday, fly back to Dublin, then on to Galway. Friday, fly back to Dublin. Sunday, fly home to Alaska. Boys oh... I don't know how they'll manage it!

The flight was good - very few people on board, so that we were only allowed to sit after row 6 - and it was good and sunny. The view was brilliant, although we didn't follow the M1 as closely this time, but I could still see the Boyne Bridge and Drogheda, and Dundalk. We then flew over the Mournes, but a bit of cloud was obstructing the view of Belfast and Lisburn and out into the country. I got some good photos though - in due course they'll appear on Flickr and here.

On arriving in Edinburgh (slightly late, as we didn't take off on time), I left off my bag at the station (left luggage is so handy!), and set off. I did my usual round of bookshops etc, and discovered one street where it is charity shop after charity shop. Yet even with all those books on offer, I didn't see any I wanted or needed at all!!! So sad!

With the threatened train strike on Friday and Saturday, I had booked myself onto the Citylink busses to make sure I can get home again. However, with that system, you have to book on the exact bus you want. It meant I arrived an hour early (my feet slightly sore) for the bus I was booked on. Two would leave before then, and I asked about getting on an earlier one - thinking I would be doing them a favour. But oh no, they would charge me well for the privilege of earlier travel, so I settled down to read and to people watch in the station for the hour. Oh, and to fend off the Attack of the Pigeons! The pigeons freely walked and flew about the inside of the bus station, on the look out for some crumbs.

The time of my bus came, and off we set for Dundee - without stopping or changing busses, which was handy - saved me from getting lost! The weather was really good, and I got a few pictures of the Forth railway bridge; and one of a brilliant rainbow! Plus, I managed to get two books read during the day, and have another couple for the rest of the week!

I've been in Dundee for about a day now and enjoying it. Here's to the rest of the week!

My breakfast view

Remember I was writing last week about not being able to upload photos? Well, now I have managed to get some good ones online. What about this for a view for breakfast?
This is the view of Edinburgh Castle from inside the Elephant Cafe, which is down towards Greyfriars Church and Cemetery. The food seems to be very good, and as you can see, the view is also great!

Links to more pictures from Edinburgh can be seen at my Flickr account.

600 not out!

So this is now my 600th posting, according to the Blogger records on my dashboard. And a wee bit of catch-up needs to be done, since my last posting. Sunday morning we went as usual to Logie & St John's Cross Church in Dundee (known locally as Logie's). The minister, David Scott was preaching on: Jesus on trial - the testimony to him, and the Jews on trial because they rejected him. Great stuff. And the sermon is available to download from the Logie's sermon downloads page, as are many more! We stayed on for coffee, and got chatting to lots of people (many with Norn Iron links!), which was great.

Sunday lunch, then, was haggis, neeps and tatties. Yes, that traditional Scottish fare, so soon after Burns Night - and my first experience of eating haggis. It was rather nice, actually, and something I would like to have again. Then we watched the Ireland v Wales 6 nations game before it was time for me to head back home again. Well, to Dublin anyway. And so the train journey back to Edinburgh. Then the bus journey out to the airport. Then the sit in the airport (as the Dublin flight is the last one out of Edinburgh on a Sunday night). Then the flight, and the wait for the luggage. It was just about 1am when I got back to college.

Any wonder I was wrecked yesterday, and had a bit of a sore head?! But it was worth it for the time I was able to spend with Lynsey.

College has been going on as normal, well, what I have seen of it. I haven't missed any classes, but went to bed at 6pm last night, first off lying on top of the bed til 9.30, then getting up for a few minutes and a chat with Lyns, and then back to bed again... That cleared the headache, thankfully, and I've been fine today!

We had Liz McElhinney speaking at College Fellowship tonight - great, encouraging stuff! Liz is on fire for the Lord - may we also have her passion and zeal!

Dundee again!

And so here I am in Scotland again, my first visit of 2007. Following the excitement of Thursday, with the self-appraisal interviews, and some provisional curacy news for the final year students, it was a very early start on Friday morning - 3am, to be exact! The M50 was quiet enough at that time, you'll be unsurprised to hear, and so I was in the airport nice and early. Yes, I'm the sort of person who likes to be nice and early to appointments, and especially the airport. Plus, it means I can sit and read, or watch the world go by.

I mostly chose the reading option, which meant that by the time I had landed in Scotland, I had read through Max Lucado's new book, 'Facing Your Giants.' It's on the life of David, and revolves around the maxim: Focus on giants - you stumble. Focus on God - your giants tumble.' Lucado is generally 'light' reading, but the illustrations are great, and his stories are always good. He is definitely a wordsmith, the way he turns memorable phrases and word plays out. Plus, he is always focused on Scripture, and teaching the message of the passage.

However, in my people-watching, I noticed a rugby team from Old Belvedere in Dublin who were flying out to Spain. Their destination was San Sebastian, and brought back good memories of last summer to me, and our day trip to the coastal town in Spain... and the heat of the place!!!

Having landed in Edinburgh as the dawn was breaking, I got into the city and left off my bag in the station. Then off for a wander, taking in breakfast in a wee cafe at the foot of the Castle Mount, with a great view of Edinburgh Castle. Pictures to follow on Flickr and here! I then couldn't miss my regular tour of bookshops in Edinburgh, along the Grassmarket and on out round the back of the Castle.

It's been great being back in Dundee and seeing Lyns again! Today we got a trip to the hospital (no, don't worry, neither of us are sick, bad and bokey) and then into the city centre for some book browsing and other shopping. Tonight the meal was in Rancho Pancho, and was delicious - Mexican food, so a wee bit spicy - my usual order of fajitas!

But the weekend is too short, and so tomorrow it's back to Dublin again...