Bob's Sabbatical 2018

Apparently, one does not easily find a cup of coffee early (early!) in my neighborhood here in Dublin. Indeed, there are plenty of people and plenty of people who drink coffee, but the cafes do not open until say, 8 am on the weekdays and later on Saturdays. But, I found one.                        One of the gems of this city is Trinity College. I will tell of The Book of Kells in a moment. But, as I walked around, I noted the following two signs...the first was from Christchurch Cathedral down the street. They were doing archeology work around the church building and were obviously spending a lot of money to re-discover the history of the place. In one spot I saw this sign...below.                          Walking across the campus of Trinity College, I spotted the other sign...below. Think about both signs, and you'll have to wonder and smile. It should be note...

A Train and a Ferry I've been around quite a bit and so when I noted that my train from London to Holyhead, Wales had booked me on Coach B out of Euston Station...and when the departures board at the station conveniently displayed that Coach B was the second coach of the train...I was confident that the second coach of the train would indeed be my coach. Coach B was the fourth coach. On the other hand...the train was listed as leaving London at 9:10...and it left at....9:10. What a concept....trains.....and trains running on time! All too brief a time in London...and I walked far too many city blocks last night. But it was fun to experience. Perhaps another day in London at the end of my trip. We arrive at the first station along the way...Milton Keynes where we are about to attach five more coaches to this train. The train conductor comes over the P.A. System and announces that we are arriving and about to attach the coaches and that our coach doors will remain locked for a few mi...

" I'm sorry sir, that can't be done. I am sorry that you cannot fly earlier on standby to Charlotte ." the checkin agent said. "So, I can't take an earlier flight from Columbus so that I am assured to catch my flight to London.?" "No, I'm sorry sir. That flight to Charlotte is considered a part of the International connection and due to hard-fast rules you can't change your flght. But, maybe if they have oversold, they might want to get you out of here sooner. Try at the gate." I went through security and to the gate. I walked up, ready to give the agent ample reason to want to get me out of town sooner rather than later. " Can I leave early on this flight? I asked....expecting to have the agent quote international safety and security and anti-terror rules for NOT changing your flight time. " Why certainly sir! Give us $75 and we'll let you leave now! I did and I left. And so it begins...... It's interesting how quickl...