How to be a Zebra in the big bad Northern Ireland (...and Ireland)

Another post going up a little bit later than expected but why break the habit of a life-time? I've spent most of the time since I got back from Northern Ireland recovering because I've been so pooped (we all have!) but I'm starting to get back to 'normal' now. I'm not all that practised at travel style 'what I've been up to' blog writing, so sorry in advance if this isnt my best piece of work.

We flew from Liverpool John Lennon to Belfast International on 10/3. It was a busy day because I had uni in the morning and our flight was at 6pm. I went into uni early to print the boarding passes off in the library and realised my name was spelled wrong on mine, so I had a mad panic to get it fixed. I headed to lecture and then half way through lecture, on my break I took out the boarding passes to check again that everything was right and realised that our return flights were coming back on the wrong day! Cue panicked texts to the girls. Irwin was in a meeting with her tutor and I was stuck in uni and so poor Becca had to just about sob down the line to EasyJet trying to get them sorted. Unfortunately there was nothing EasyJet could do and it was cheaper to rebook a new flight than to transfer. I don't know what we would have done without Becca on that morning.

We were all super stressed when we got to the airport after our morning of disaster. I was already really worked up because I was worried about flying and so we sat in the departure lounge looking like wet weekends watching the planes take off. I've probably flown about 10 times in my lifetime but the last couple of times I've not enjoyed - flight sickness in Portugal when I was 14 and blackouts when we went to France a couple of years ago. My consultant gave me some tablets to take to try and boost my blood pressure and also gave me a note to keep my feed on during the flight to Turkey to maintain hydration. I didn't need to keep it on for Belfast because it was only a 50 minute flight so I just took the tablets. The flight was actually fine and I didn't get travel sick or faint so I feel much better about going to Turkey. Hopefully it will go as smoothly.

The lights of Belfast as we were coming in to land.

We landed in Belfast and Irwin's Dad picked us up from the airport and by some miracle managed to fit us and all of our crap into his car. We went to go and meet Irwin's famous Granny that night and she did not disappoint - what a hoot! We also learned that Granny stays up later than us which suggests we really need to start sorting our lives out.

On day two (Friday), we went to the Titanic Quarter in Belfast and went round the Titanic museum. This is the only attraction we did, or that I have ever done in Belfast so I can't really compare it but if you're going I highly recommend it. It's absolutely massive - loads of artefacts, loads of models and interactive sections and there's even a cable car ride. It's on four floors and the top ones have some really good views out onto the docks. I think we spent nearly three hours there but we could easily have spent much longer. It was really accessible for Becca, really well laid out and not too crowded for me. The lifts were really easy to find and brought you out the same place as the stairs and there were toilets all the way round too. All the attractions were suitable for Becca, there was nothing that either of us had to miss out on. When we went on the cable cars they offered her an accessible car that the wheelchair could go straight into which is really great for anyone who struggles to transfer. Becca chose to transfer and since the ride finished at a different place to where we got on they had her chair ready and waiting for us when we got off. Irwin was being a big baby about getting on the cable cars because she's scared of heights, much to the amusement of the ride operator who was absolutely loving her. He was saying to her 'This is not a rollercoaster you know?!' It was the tamest thing in the world and she was glad she came on. For reference, if you're afraid of heights it's about as high as the first floor of a house. If Irwin can do it anyone can (and she'll call me 'cheeky wee scoot' for saying that). I was a bit sick at the Titanic Quarters which made it hard work to walk round - those frequent toilets were really handy for someone like me that day!

On the extremely high and white knuckle inducing cable car ride

First class cabin on the Titanic

You jump, I jump ❤

Blown away at an ACTUAL hologram.

View of the docks from the 4th floor.

Undersea explorer robot, like the one they used to discover the Titanic.

Put a wet suit on come on come on ♬

Hello Sailor!

On day three (Saturday) we went up to Giant's Causeway which was an absolute beaut. We managed to time it on some sort of open day and it was free entry, which was really good. It would have been £9 each otherwise which would have been nearly £50 for all of us! At the start they have a little gift shop and cafe and an indoor mini-museum (which had a section on sharks for me!). I bought a hat for Turkey, a sew on badge for my backpack and some shortbreads for presents. We got audio guides for walking down the causeway which were really good. As you walk down there are numbered sign posts and you can press the buttons on the audio guides that match and it tells you what to look out for and little stories on each point. I don't really think the pictures can do Giant's Causeway any justice so if you get the chance, then go. It was downhill on the way out onto the causeway and then uphill on the way back, so we got the (free) Shuttle Bus back up. We could only go so far with the wheelchair but I think we went most of the way round it.

Basking shark in the Giant's Causeway museum. Cooooooool.

After we'd been to Giant's Causeway we drove up to Portrush, to Irwin's favourite restaurant and then to Irwin's favourite ice-cream parlour (cup of tea for me!). Irwin and Becca had the biggest ice-cream sundae's that my eyes have ever seen.

Beach at Portrush - some Game of Thrones was filmed here.

Beautiful Portrush

Day 4 was Sunday and we spent most of the day in the car driving down to Dublin. Never underestimate the capacity of a Renault Clio. There were five of us, five over night bags (Becca brings the kitchen sink and more) and Becca's wheelchair. I don't even know how the five of us fit in the car, never mind all of our crap. As the person sat in the middle in the back it was the most uncomfortable journey ever but the car tunes got us through. I called a service station stop after about two hours because my legs and ass felt like they were being gnawed away by sharks.

Our apartment was really snazzy - self catered, two bedrooms and an ensuit. It was situated next to the Quays, we had a balcony and we were on the fourth floor. It was also really beautiful weather both days that we were there. We arrived about an hour before the concert started so we tried to have a mini rest to revive ourselves and then we walked up to the 3Arena which was just a short walk from where we were staying. The line-up was Maddie and Tae (who, I'd never hear of), Sam Hunt (who we were 100% there to see), Little Big Town and Carrie Underwood. We got to the arena part way through Maddie and Tae's set and they were actually quite good. Then Sam Hunt came on and we got pretty embarrasingly excited (Irwin especially). He was absolutely brilliant, the crowd were buzzing and he did all our favourites. Irwin was bouncing so hard the balcony was shaking - I thought she was going to get escorted away (or dart tranquillised). I was too pooped by this point to dance so I'm really glad we had seats (I can't listen to myself, why am I such a Nan?) but I was still absolutely buzzing. I don't think Sam Hunt stayed on that long, which was a shame but he was 10/10 the whole time. Little Big Town seemed like they were on for an absolute lifetime, but they were good fun. Then finally Carrie Underwood hit the stage as the headline act and she was also excellent! She has such an amazing voice and the live band (including violin and harmonica!) were on point. It was such a great night and I would definitely do it again next year! Country 2 Country, you were fantastic!

The accessibility arrangements were probably the best that I have ever experienced at a live event. Thumbs up to the 3Arena. There wasn't really a bad view in the house anyway as the venue wasn't that big and it was a good shape. We were slightly to the right and on a tier in between the stalls and tier one. It was really easy to get to and there was loads of allocated slots for disabled people. There was also quite a few people with non-wheelchair disabilities so it was good to see them being included in the accessibility arrangements. I also noticed that disabled party sizes were quite big too. Often venues limit party size to 2 or 3 people 'per disabled person' to create more space for more disabled people but it's a bit sad if you're disabled and have to choose which two friends to sit with when able bodied people can attend in groups as large as they want. Solution? Allocate more room for disabled people and their friends! This didn't seem to be the case at the 3Arena though and there was still spaces left over. At the end of the night several of the stewards collected all the people in the disabled section and escorted us out in an enormous lift so that we didn't get stuck in the crowds. How awesome is that? It was absolutely perfect for me! I've never seen a smoother operation. Thank you again, 3Arena!

Monday was another car ride back up to Northern Ireland and we scheduled in stops and busted out some squashed car dance moves to help us through the journey. Irwin picked up a 4 disc 'music from the movies' album at the first service station and that went down an absolute treat. Once back at Irwin's we all curled up in front of the fire and watched the Titanic, which we'd been trying to squeeze in since the museum. We were all very sleepy but managed to see Irwin's Granny again before bed.

The Facebook and Google offices in Dublin

Beautiful Bord Gais Energy Theatre on the Quays.

We set early alarms on Tuesday so that we could go round the farms (Irwin and Granny both live on farms!) before we left to fly back to Liverpool. Irwin gave us a ride on the back of the quad and then Becca had a go on the quad and nearly gave everyone a heart attack when she decided to pull some involuntary wheelies. All I'm saying is... I'm glad I was on camera duty. The next collection of photos is extremely heavy on the cows. I hope you like cows.

Irwin's Mum dropped us off at the airport and thankfully we were all feeling much calmer this time round. We had a mooch round the airport and me and Becca went full tourist and bought matching Belfast t-shirts. We sat in the window and watched the planes go up the runway again and it was really sunny so it all looked super pretty and got me in the mood for a holiday.

I look so tired - sorry if I scare you.

This exciting artefact took us on and off the plane. On the way out the stewards offered to meet us on the plane with Becca and I was like, hell no - I want a go! This was taken out the plane window as it was coming up to collect us at Liverpool.

Inside the doodah.

That's it. We landed back in Liverpool and Becca's Dad picked us all up from the airport because he is an angel - thank you Poppa H! We have all been in recovery mode ever since. I've felt absolutely haggard but I'm coming out the other side now.

Happy Easter Everybody!