Back on the farm after Scotland!

We’ve had a good few days since getting back from Belfast on Tues night. Wed (lucky I’ve got my journal to check what we did!) we had a catch up day. Lovely to see Molly again! She’d put some flowers on the table to welcome us home.

We went to pick up our hire car in Enniskillen & it needed new tyres! So they gave us a diesel Citroen, until the next day. Warren started it (by chance!) but after we stopped to shop he couldn’t start it! After a time he got quite a shock when it started – AFTER HE PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BREAK!

On Wed I went to the Library & Warren was surprised while walking up the main street, to the Mayor, in full regalia, standing on the front steps outside the Town Hall, in the rain!!! He opened the Fermanagh Festival - we & no - one else here knew anything about it! TV cameras newspaper reporters there! All sorts of things on (concerts, poetry readings, concerts, films etc).

Thurs – we got our black POLO VW. We were looking at the Festival program on the fence of the Presbyterian Church & 2 guys invited us in (insisted!) for coffee & morning tea & to see their Quilt Display. They have a new Centre at the back of the church for small Conferences, overlooking river (at end of main street). They are keen to let everyone see it & use it. Lovely scones & slices, talked to couple with daughter in Lane Cove; & Quilts BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Yesterday we set off to find Grogey (townland near Cooneen/Fivemiletown (15 miles away) where BROWNs (Eliza married Robert COLLUM), STEENs, BRYSONs came from.  Absolutely beautiful drive – sunny, rain showers, dark clouds – the lot – great for photos!) VERY hilly, GREEN as GREEN fields & little farms everywhere – sheep & cattle.

We visited Ethel (Baxter) Keyes again.   She’d found the BIG book from the American who had visited. It was written by lady I had been in touch with a while ago. Does EVERYONE from Fivemiletown who went  to USA - & who they descended from. Still haven’t found out how Baxter’s related to Johnston’s & Hoey’s – but Ethel also had letters & Wills, which have proven helpful.

We’re going back to have lunch with them tomorrow & then she’s taking us to see the COLLUM house (NOT the one she thought, Jen!!!) & Browns’ house. Lady in COLLUM house has invited us to go & see it!!!! Then we are going to the Harvest Festival Service in the Cooneen Church at 3.30.

Before going to Ethel’s we’re going to see Jack Primrose, 97 yr old who remembers Cooneen people!!!!

Hope you had a great 4^th birthday, Joshie!!!!
Photos - Grogey area - old now disused Methodist Church where Robert COLLUM & Eliza BROWN married before coming to Cooma, in 1889.