My youngest and I took the 'Prew Crew' to Blarney Castle yesterday. A lovely family, they are. The children are absolute sweethearts and we saw a different side to 'Dad' during the trip, but I'll let him fill you in on that side of things. Despite all the rain during their week, the two families got on with it and had a lovely time together.
So, Blarney Castle was our port of call. I went to the top maybe 10 years ago and swore, 'never again'. And up to now I haven't. On the drive to the Castle, I was trying to remember why I've refused for so long, but couldn't. When we arrived, 4 wee faces were looking up at me and I knew they wouldn't (shouldn't) go up on their own. Wouldn'ts, couldn'ts and shouldn'ts are things I try to avoid when showing kids a good time. For the first time in many years, I was stood in line with the rest, on the way to the top. It didn't look so big.
The 4 kids were dreading the long wait until they realised how truly frightened I was. All week long, they'd watched a happy go lucky nutter bopping around the place and now she was turned to mush. Granted, I kept a smile on the face, but man oh man. Fear...of the highest degree.
Kids will be kids. Sometimes they laugh and play and other times they want to be first, best or whatever...and will take out anyone who gets in their way to reaching that goal. Well let me tell you. With each winding step, my fears grew and their need to be first to the top slipped away. The four of them took each step with me, asking was I okay along the way. No notice of the huge gap between us and the group ahead. No notice of the large line forming behind. Kept smiling and thanked them for being so good, but man were my legs shaking. Tiny steps, damp from rain, nowhere to land if you slipped...except on the people behind you. Great stuff.
Finally, we reached the top and the memories came rushing back. I was absolutely terrified. Heights and I don't get along, you see. But I had to keep it together. I was in charge of 4 children. At the top of a fecking castle. Sigh.
You walk along a wee path on the edge. OK. Maybe the path wasn't THAT small, but it was to me. Anyway, to your right, a few metal bars - a hand rail. On the other side of that railing, a few stories drop down through the centre of the Castle. Thanks very much. People were hanging over the edge of the wee bars to have a better look down below. Has the world gone mad?! On your left - to most people it's probably a spectacular view. To me, open air...and eventually the ground. Brilliant altogether.
We walked along that edge until we reached the spot where the two lads took their turn kissing the Blarney Stone. The girls didn't want to. Can't say I blame them. I didn't do it either. Seriously. Who wants to hang upside down to kiss some stone, with so much space between you and the ground? Apart from the millions who have done it before, of course. Pack of lunatics. I don't need 'Gift of the Gab' anyway. Pretty sure I've that well covered.
Delighted to have accomplished their task, the kids now wanted to tear road down the second set of winding stairs so they could check out the different views along the way. Great stuff. I'm all for getting the hell out of here. Except that 'down' was harder to manage than 'up'. Of course. Sigh. While 3 of the kids headed off, Tighty Junior walked every step of the way down - right with me. Smiling all the way as he was the 'big man' helping. Bless. Probably hiding hysterical fits of laughter too as the line behind us grew, but I didn't care. Was still delighted he was there. Thank you wee man for looking after me.
Got to the bottom and collected the lad's photos. They couldn't wait to show Dad. I couldn't wait to get to the nearest pub. The legs were still shaking.
So that was Blarney Castle. We got to the top and survived. But I promise I'll never go to the top again. Honest. Don't look at me like that. I won't do it!
Anyone else around here have a serious fear of something? Doesn't have to be heights. Anything at all. How do you deal with it or do you just avoid the thing that turns you to mush?
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