Belfast

We had a leisurely breakfast in the sunshine before driving to Belfast for the Titanic exhibition. my cousin went last week and said there was no need to get tickets on line, but because a cruise ship was in, it was so busy. The Titanic was sinking with the crowds and no more were on sale. We had a wander outside and then saw an interactive art exhibition before doing a big shop for our next stop at #3 daughter’s holiday house in Westport. Then we went to visit #2 daughter’s in-laws for a meal.

A first world problem will curtail our holiday in Ireland. We had intended staying till 27 August, but Mr C just checked his emails and found a message from the visa procurement company had been there since before we left home saying Pakistan had not granted our visas and we had to go to London to be interviewed by officials on Thursday at 11.30am. We rang the travel company who say there is nothing for it but we have to go on the day. I investigated flying from here and back, but it was going to cost £450 for both of us. So we have to end our Irish holiday after 5 days and get a ferry back home on Tuesday, then drive to London on Wednesday night/Thursday morning for the interview. After that, it they think we are suitable people to be allowed into Pakistan, the application will be processed and hopefully we can get it with passports back in time for the trip.

I am so disappointed to be missing our explorations of Ireland for silly bureaucracy, and poor Mr C is finding it all very stressful. But nobody is ill so really we just need to bite the bullet of the extra expense and we’ll hope to get the opportunity to come another time.