Hello again or should I say Kia ora?

Kia ora is a Maori language greeting the significance of which I will explain later.

So, Friday morning, we embarked the Enterprise as usual at Grand Central Station but this time we had planned a mystery trip to God knows where.

We had already visited Malahide, Dalkey, Howth, Bray, Clontarf and Dun Laoghaire all onDublin Bay so everyone expected our destination to be Greystones or Blackrock but were delighted to return to lovely Bray.

Having previously visited the strand, we explored Bray’s Harbour Road area this time particularly Dockyard Eighteen before continuing to Butler and Barry.

Trisha and Colleen joined us for the first time, but Mary was missing and on the first train back to Belfast, or so she said, until she eventually arrived at the restaurant to be greeted with laughter and rapturous applause.

John appeared to be growing a beard, but he had just forgotten to shave, and Martin was reciting the same jokes he always tells but no one was laughing except for him.

He should stick to singing.

Some of the ladies said they were heading to a charity shop, but I think they meant Wetherspoons.

We all missed Kate with her precious glass of Merlot, and oversized jug of still water, while Martin and Ann were getting ready to catch their flight to the Canaries where a dozen of us will soon be joining them for Robert’s big birthday in the sun.

We then discussed future trips to Derry City for Halloween, a Sinatra/Armstrong Tribute Show and a proposed Christmas function but yours truly will be in Auckland for six weeks over the festive season so we will have to put that on hold.

Hence my Maori greeting followed by Ka kite ano which is how the Kiwis would say ……

Hope to see you soon.