Another question we keep getting asked is what we will miss about Dallas and USA. Obvoiously there are plenty of things as Dallas and America has been very good to us but there are somethings we would love to take back with us.
some that come to mind are...
Whiterock Montessori School - this is the fantastic school that Anna and Sarah attend and the one they will be going to in Ireland has a tough act to follow as this is really a very special place. Anna started here when she was just three (a baby!), Sarah when she was four and both have since blossomed and developed into such a intelligent, smart well rounded little girls. All their friends in the school are also beautiful little kids with great manners, respectful to one another and generally all very pleasant children for ours to be palling around with. Gwen and I have the up most respect and admiration for how well the teachers have taken care of them during these critical years and the other mothers and fathers are generally all great "craic" and we will miss them too.
Our Friends - we have so many good friends in Dallas from all walks of life. The diversity of the people we know here is definitely something we will miss a lot and it's the diversity of the population in West Cork that was the biggest factor is our choice for moving there. The good news for the folks we leave behind is that they now know someone who they can come visit in one of the nicest parts of Ireland.
My job - I have a great job working for a great company alongside so many very smart and fun people. On 1st April I will be with them for 8 years and I really have enjoyed going in every day (not many people can say that). No question it is a bit weird walking away from a perfectly good career!
Jimmy's this gem of a food store is going to be missed.. Best Italian Sausage period, delicious meatballs and great Italian cheeses. Jimmy's Italian wine selection is second to none and we have enjoyed many a good Chianti from here (too many in fact!)
Restaurants and Pubs- Going to miss Abacus (lobster shooters!), Hatties (fried green tomatoes!), Daddy Jacks (where Gwen and I had our first date) and Cafe Madrid (where I proposed to Gwen) to name but a few. Many more great places too but the Dubliner (The Dub) where we first met will also be a very special place to us and still probably the best bar in Dallas.
Texans - The locals here are generally really nice very friendly. Terrible drivers but all good people and have always been good to us. I bought a big metal Lone Star that is coming back to Ireland with us and I intend on proudly hanging in our home.
I was going to add Terilli's as our favourite place for a nightcap but it burned down this morning. Gwen and I had a few glasses of wine at the bar there on Saturday night on our way home from dinner (as we usually do when we go out) but I guess that this too is another sign that our time us up here.
I know there are plenty more things that we will miss and I am also sure there will be other things we will not miss but I will leave that for another time! (the insanely hot summers come to mind!)
That's all for now.
Darren
