MY JOURNEY FROM ALBANIA TO BELFAST

14 SEPTEMBER 2013 MY JOURNEY FROM ALBANIA TO BELFAST. A week later, I reflect on that "TRAVEL GLITCH" when I got to RINAS NENE TERESA AIRPORT, when leaving Tirana. The British airways Flight I had been booked on, had been rescheduled days BEFORE RESERVATION WAS MADE FOR ME BY WORLDWIDE TRAVEL. British Airways offered to re-schedule me on a night flight on Sunday,to arrive in London at 2.00a.m. on Monday. This plan was not acceptable. I was glad to have Sister Mirjam with me as we searched for a solution. ROME came to mind and there was just one seat left, which sufficed for me! An ongoing flight by AER LINGUS PRESENTED A PROBLEM, as the Albanian British Airways staff couldnotbook the flight, so I was temporarily moved onto BA Staff, inside the counter to make the booking. I was so intent on this task, I did not notice Mirjam filming the incident, until i saw it on Facebook later. I was so glad to get to Dublin and had a good onward journey to Belfast. Needless to say, the "GLITCH" is still in the hands of the WORLDWIDE TRAVEL AGENCY and our TRAVEL INSURANCE. Otherwise, all is well and life has been very good. Jubilee went smoothly - Sister Rose sang the psalm beautifully. My first "official" work day is on Wednesday next. With two Anglican Franciscan Brothers, I will help lead a one-day pilgrimage to Lough Derg!! Have a blessed weekend as we move into Autumn. Tomorrow, 15 September, Feast of Our Lady Of Dolours, marks the fourth anniversary of the beginning of our Albanian Mission adventure in MONS. BELGIUM. I thank God for every day of my time in ALBANIA. I KNOW it is time to be back in Ireland now and thank God it is good to be here.

MAJOR TRAVEL GLITCH - NO PLANE FOR ME AT RINAS AIRPORT................

5 SEPTEMBER 2013 FEAST OF MOTHER TERESA..........MAJOR TRAVEL GLITCH FOR MEAT NENE TERESA AIRPORT, RINAS This evening,I experienced quite a SHOCK at the airport. The plane I was scheduled to take to LONDON GATWICK had been cancelled. Cancelled, not today but ages ago - the only contact they had was a girl at the WORLDWIDE TRAVEL AGENCY and the message never reached me in any shape. So, a new JOURNEY began and a HUGE LEARNING CURVE for Mirjam and me. WATCH THIS SPACE!

PHOTOS, KLITI KALLAMATA, VOSKOPOJE AND CALLERS!

1 SEPTEMBER 2013 PHOTOS, KLITI KALLAMATA, VOSKOPOJE AND CALLERS! One photo was an attempt to show the beautiful place we selected for our final outing with the group of blind people and their carers The second photo was to mark my visit to Ana and Desart's new apartment, as yet incomplete. Yesterday was a very special day for us! Our friend, Kliti Kallamata came, as planned, and gave Lalini and me a two hour presentation on his Doctoral Thesis. This was mainly on the iconography of Voskopoje - a mountain village area less than 20 miles from here. Kliti's research was thorough and detailed. His family had lived in the area for generations and his background as a historian and architect was a powerful tool indeed. What made the day so very special was that Bea, our proprieter, had arranged lunch at VOSKOPOJE, in a restaurant close to the monastery researched. We were driven there by the restaurant owner's son. The road was scarcely more than a mountain ridge. The monastery contains the oldest Church in the Balkans and dates back to the 12 century. We saw there a few of the icons that Kliti had used in his thesis. This was truly a memorable day. Today, Nicky called early to say "Goodbye" and she stayed most of the morning. Then, Aurora, a very different person. Lastly, Nadia had arranged to come in the evening, after Church. Nadia is a friend now and in our early days, she had the difficult task of teaching the four of us Albanian, through French! Quite a task both for Nadia and for us! It was good to recall those days now , with humour! Happy September to each one with lots of blessings.