The Soft Hills of Ireland .
Storm Clouds A-Gathering
It
is, very often, the small mercies of life that turn out to be
gestures of deep saving graces. And, what happened to Hilde Blaschek
and her best friend Monika helped them in more than one way!
It
was late August in 1962. The two young Austrian girls were on a
hiking holiday in the south of Ireland and heading for the small town
of Cork. And, being the last but one day of their holiday their
feelings were jumping between wanting to stay and wanting to go. The
weather had been kind to them, the Irish had been kind to them, and
many memories for life had been made and were ready for home.
But
then came the cloud!
It
started as a speck on the horizon and grew bigger and bigger and
bigger. And then, all of a sudden, their circles of horizons were
firmly connected by one incredibly large dark menacing mass of
imminent storm. And when the rain started it started with force. And
the youth hostel was still over an hour in the distance.
But
hours pass, too. And, when Hilde and Monika arrived at the hostel
they could hardly contain their feelings of joy. What better than two
evening meals and two comfortable beds? But then came the shock.
The hostel was full! Everyone it seemed had wanted a bed for the
night. What was going to happen to them?
Outside
the rain was continuing!
And
there they stood. They were dripping and wet! And they were young!
But not to worry, the warden was a man with a heart. His hostel was
full, but, if they were prepared to sleep on the table then there
would be no problem at all. And so it was, that after a wonderful
meal of Irish roast chicken and vegetables, the table was cleared and
made ready for the night. And it was no normal night. It was the
most uncomfortable night that Hilde had ever had. When she woke up
in the morning she was freezing. The blankets, having all fallen off
in the night, were all in a heap on the floor. But then came the
breakfast.
And
it was great and it was Irish. Rashers, eggs, black pudding, toast
and strong tea. Peter Dunn (Hilde still remembers his name) did
everything possible to make sure that his two Austrian guests enjoyed
a good finish to their holiday in Ireland. And they did! And, on
their way home on the ferry to France they thought of the people they
had met. And they were happy.
Every
dark cloud has a silver lining. And the Irish the more so! It is
Peter who comes first to their minds when Hilde and Monika think back
to their holiday in Ireland,!
