So Cork
Cork lies on the River Lee and the river splits in two with two channels as it passes through the city centre
The Macau lies on the banks of the North Channel.
A very pleasant scene it made too as the heavy morning fog lifted and the sun broke through to reveal a day of Indian Summer potential
I awoke this morning to a 3.30am alarm call. Ouch. An hour to Stansted and a 6am flight. I have never in my life seen an aiport busier, let alone at 4.45am when I arrived
I handled the queues and delays with my customary patience and sang froid. Indeed I was delighted to be sat next to a young Mum and a three month old on the plane
I knew I had 3 or 4 hours to kill before the Macau opened and, the airport at Cork yet to wake when I arrived, headed to town to try to watch the Rugby World Cup
Fortunately the pub below my hotel had it on, I ordered an Irish Breakfast, just the one, and settled down
I was soon joined by a man of red face, grey hair longer than it should be and woolly jumper.
Bearing in mind it was 9am I was convinced he was drunk. Notwithstanding his state of inebriation I could not understand a word he said. Its a problem I"ve had before in South West Ireland
Still, I probably had it light. My colleague Mr Duffy alighted on a cafe for breakfast mid-saunter from hotel to Macau this morning and ordered a bacon sandwich, no butter, no sauce. Plain and simple
About ten minutes later the sandwich arrived. No butter, no sauce, but sadly no bacon either. Just two slabs of bread presented to him on a plate
Now I have an excuse, I am an Englishman in bandit country. Duffy, on the other hand, is born and raised this side of the Irish Channel and he seemingly struggles to get his point across
