Farewell and Good Luck, Dear Sis..

Salam..

Terrible.. Terrible!

Having a blog and then a silent spell of a fortnight?! Terrible!

Enough said, here I'm back again.. This might be a short entry, but nonetheless.. And maybe a few more happenings to share since the last entry..

As noted as the title of this entry, YES, Erin has left Eire for good.. She flew home from Cork Airport yesterday.. Unfortunately, it was a Friday, so the weren't many sending her off.. Maybe that would be better - less 'rain and shower' possibly..

Lucky for me and my wife, we both managed to get a half-day despite being a busy day - usually Fridays would be busy, to have the patients all managed for the 2-day break of weekend.. We left Limerick around 12.45 and, alhamdulillah, traffic was smooth flowing all the way.. We arrived at the airport but Erin hadn't arrived yet.. She was on her way - of course her place was only about 10 minutes drive from the airport..

We waited at Subway, had a quick tuna sandwich and seafood salad sandwich, and then Erin arrived.. Gya and Adni were there sending her off.. And of course Hannah too, Gya's daughter.. Erin checked in and the heavy 25-kilo baggage went through with no problem.. But she still had a fully-loaded laptop bag and a hand luggage with her..

Hugs and shakes and kisses - but no tears! All being well, she went in around 3.25pm and was still waiting at the gate at 3.45pm.. Of course, her flight was supposed to be flying at 3.45pm! It was kind of a quick send-off..

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Erin was in Limerick last weekend.. She was already on holidays after not working since start of July.. But still some to do with her pension, salary and banks - of which I will have to settle them after this..

Initially, we planned to have maybe a picnic in Lehinch or Kilkee or Ballybunion, but weather didn't permit.. So we ended up shopping in Limerick - of course, 'we' meaning my wife and Erin! Some handbags, dresses and possibly shoes (I lost track of the items!).. That Saturday night, we went out and had dinner in Papadom..

Erin and Ina (my wife)


Erin eating with a grin

Sunday, further shopping and again weather was 'autumn-y'.. Nasty! So I decided to send her back to Cork rather than her taking a bus with all her massive 2-day shopping luggage.. And to Cork we went.. Dinner at Istanbul and then we sent her to Glenarden.. After that we drove back home to Limerick..

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*Sigh* Erin leaving Eire meant that there'd be less reason for me to visit Cork.. Of course, with our hectic schedule and all, it wasn't really a regular plan to visit her.. But still it would be very nice to have a sister nearby.. Somehow I feel a loss that Erin's not here near me anymore.. *Sigh again* Insya-Allah, this will be for the better.. Erin will now be close to mom and Zuli and Qwan, and she could look after them too.. In fact, given her wedding is now somewhat-planned for next year, it'd better for her to be at home and get the things sorted out bit by bit..

All in all, I know I will miss her here.. A six-year stretch of studying and working had then come to a definite end - for now.. May Allah ease your way back home and may you have a fresh new chapter of your life in the long-awaiting home.. We will miss you here! Slan Go Foill!