Ireland Trip
Kelly and I were supose to meet my dad and Mary Ann in Ireland this weekend. Unfortunately they weren’t able to make it because my dad got pretty sick. Fortunately Kelly and I brought our golf clubs and hit the links. We ended up playing 4 rounds in 5 days.
Here’s one picture from Enniscrone Golf Course. It looks nice out, but this is hole 15. For the first 5 holes we were poured on with winds varying between 15 and 30mph. It was crazy.
We played Enniscrone, Rosses Point (County Sligo), Donegal (Murvaugh), and Carrick on Shannon. All 4 beautiful courses. 3 of which have been in the top 100 courses in the world.
Side note, at County Sligo — the wettest and windiest of the 4 rounds - I went Driver, PW on a 500 yard hole. About 45 minutes later on a par 4 I went Driver, 3W, 6 Iron and still only made it to the front of the green.
Truly remarkable. And an unforgettable experience.
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Great Few Days
The last days have been great. As you can see from our photos at www.mcfaddenplace.com we’ve had a blast. Today I played my first round of golf … all documented on my golf link. It reminded me of playing golf as a kid. I rode my bike to the course and played as a single. As I rode up the hill I wondered if any PGA tour guys have ever done that.
Kelly has done a great job with our place. She’s added some color around and is brainstorming how to add a little more life to the living room. All in all the flat is wonderful.
We ate at the Eagle and Child tonight. It’s the pub CS Lewis and JRR Toilken used to meet and discuss. It’s a neat place and you can feel the history there. They also serve fabulous fish and chips. Truly fantastic.
That’s all for now.
Cheers.
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First Round In England
Today I rode my bike (yes with my clubs) to the nearest golf course in Oxford. The club is Southfield (http://www.southfieldgolf.com) and it’s about a 20 minute bike ride from my flat. It was quite an adventure just getting there as the roads are tight and my bike is a little unstable. There were two classic moments: the first one was riding around a turn about with clubs on my back - I’m pretty sure the cars had no idea what to think. The other was riding up to the turn off road, which is called Hill Top. I learned the hard way why it’s called Hill Top. I had to ride straight up hill for 8 blocks just to get the clubhouse. I think I’ll take a cab or a bus next time.
Now onto the course and my round. I played as a single. There was a twosome behind me that didn’t want a single since they were playing a match and the twosome in front of me did not speak English and they rented the only cart I saw today. So it was me and the Oxford breeze. It was an excellent way to begin golf in England.
Southfield is a splendid course. A lot of elevation changes and it was very difficult to save par if you missed the fairways. It was also tough to score when the wind picked up (but that was only for a few holes today). As for my round it started off quite nice with a few pars and one bogey through the first 5 holes. Hole 3 was a difficult hole. Driving straight downhill into a very narrow fairway, you are left with a straight up hill approach shot into a green you cannot see. Par here is a wonderful score.
Hole 3 from the green:
I finished up the front nine with a double bogey on 9 for a 39. I was a disappointed in my score but very happy with the course. Now onto the back nine.
I made a few great saves after some wary drives. No one would have believed the par putt I made on 12 - a 208 yard par 3. Only 30 feet or so but it dropped right in with perfect speed.
But my legs and body started to get tired on the finishing holes. I bogeyed 15, 16 and 17. Each because of a mental error or something I should have stopped. But 18 I made up for it hitting the par 5 in two and just missing my eagle putt for a tap in birdie.
38 on the back for a 77. Not bad and I look forward to many more rounds at Southfield.
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Arrived In England … Itching To Play
I’m still waiting to get my first round of golf in England. Granted I’ve only been here one day (I’m writing this September 15th). I will document my rounds as I’m studying abroad.
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Grandma Mcfadden
On the way to England Kelly and I took a long hour lay over so we could swing by my grandmother’s in LaGrange. She has been very tired and sick lately and she’s been in and out of the hospital. My dad suggested we try to see her if at all possible. We did and it was great to see her.
Unfortunately I got an e-mail soon after we arrived to England announcing she had passed away. Kelly and I feel very blessed we were able to visit her one last time. She lived a great life … filled with many great years. Her funeral is Saturday.
This is an excerpt of an e-mail my dad sent to my brother and me on Sept 14th:
I am very glad that you stopped to see Grandma. Unfortunately, she passed away about an hour ago. Yesterday, she got to see you and Kelly, then I think Katie was there. Joan Marie was also there yesterday and called me around 7:30. She said mom was very tired and still wasn’t eating very much. She had a couple bites of a Wendy’s Frostie.
I am not sure I ever told you that Dad also wanted those Frosties at the end. Mom was hesitant to give them to him because of his diabetes and I said, heck mom he is dying. Give him the Frosties!
Anyway, late this afternoon I called to check on her and Uncle Ed answered. He said she was not doing well and hadn’t eaten all day. They wanted to get her to turn over from lying on her right side to laying on her back or her left side so she wouldn’t get bed sores. She wouldn’t do that. Ed said she was somewhat out of it and they were trying to decide what to do. Should they take her back to the hospital, call hospice or whatever. Apparently, they decided to put her back on the antibiotics and then check with the hospital in the morning. They had to go to Walgreen’s to get the medicine and she didn’t want to take it. I don’t know if she ever took it. In the meantime, Katie showed up, and then Uncle Pat and Joan Therese. After talking for a short while, Ed and Katie left and a few minutes later the caretaker went in to mom’s room to check on her. She called Pat and Joan in because something was wrong. She had died. It was so soon after Ed & Katie left, they were still in the parking lot. So at least you got to see her at the end.
Joe, I am sorry that you didn’t get to see her in the past few years, but age had been taking its toll. At least she died peacefully and at home.
My grandma was a very special lady. She raised a great family … and a big one indeed. The notice was completely filled just with the list of family survived:
Joan Marie McFadden, nee Mulcahy, of LaGrange Park and Grand Beach, MI, died peacefully at home on Wednesday evening, September 14, 2005, beloved wife of the late Edward P. McFadden, Sr.; loving mother of Edward (Fidelis), Roger (Diane), Patrick (Joan), Michael (Mary Ann) and Joan (James) Marcellus; cherished grandmother of Edward (Jenny), William (Kathleen), Kathleen (Kevin) Larmon and Martin McFadden, Bridget, Maureen, Patrick and Michael McFadden, Michael (Kelly), Joseph and Brian McFadden and Elizabeth, Christopher and Anne Marcellus; devoted great-grandmother of Lily Larmon, Margaret McFadden, Emmett Larmon, Liam McFadden, Edward McFadden IV and Matthew McFadden; devoted sister of Mary Helen (the late Dr. Edmund) Donoghue, Therese (the late Clarence) Usher and the late Roger Mulcahy; fond sister-in-law of Honey Mulcahy and Henrietta McFadden; preceded in death by her parents, Roger and Johanna Mulcahy. Family and friends will meet at Christ the King Church, 9235 S. Hamilton Ave. on Saturday morning for visitation 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials to Sisters of Charity, B.V.M., 1100 Carmel Dr., P.O. Box 858, Dubuque, IA 52004-0858 appreciated.
Information: Heeney-Laughlin Funeral Directors, 708-636-5500.
Published in the Chicago Tribune from 9/16/2005 - 9/17/2005.
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Day 1 Almost Finished
Hello All -
What a day Mike and I had! After traveling all night, we arrived in London at 9am ready to go. Deciding not to deal with our bags, we rented a car and took a wonderful country drive into Oxford. Mike did a great job with the left handed stick. He never even drove on the wrong side of the road, although he did try to enter the car through the passenger side.
When we got to Oxford we quickly got our keys and found our flat. It is perfect. We will be posting some pictures soon. Our pad is actually bigger than we thought…except the bed. That is exactly how big we thought it was 6 x 4 feet. What a trip…but it is all part of the adventure.
Mike and I decided to grab lunch after we got in and on our way we came across the Glouster Green which on Wednesdays hosts an outdoor market. It was wonderful. We were able to purchase a few move-in essentials. Moving to our college: The grounds of Worcester College are unbelievable. We can’t wait to explore the entire city starting tomorrow. But we definitely will pledge our allegiance to our college.
The afternoon was filled with unpacking and naps. And now we are reporting from our new home before we hit a pub for dinner and then CRASH! We are pooped.
Thank you all for your well wishes, prayers and love. More updates coming soon…
Kel & Mike
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Arrived!!!
We’ve arrived in Oxford safely.
We landed in London at 8:45AM local time and then decided to rent a car (we had a lot of luggage to carry to the bus).
We got to Oxford around 11AM … we had a few detours in the city … these streets aren’t marked as well as the US.
We moved our stuff into our flat (3rd floor at the Gloucester House). We also made our bed (yes it is 4×6)!! We’re super excited. We’re off to get a bite to eat and run some errands. We’re writing from an internet cafe, but hope to have internet access up and running in our place today or tomorrow.
-Mike & Kelly
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Cheerio Party
Last night we had going away party at the local Lawn Bowling place. It was a blast. So many came in costumes (British theme). I’ve loaded a few picts so you can get the feel. Kelly and I came as Alice in Wonderland and the Madhatter. It was a great way to say goodbye to our California friends and family.
We should have more picts on the website soon.
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4 Days Away
We are less than 4 days away before we head
over to England. Kelly finished up work yesterday
and we have our “Cheerio” party this Saturday
night.
We are so excited for the year ahead. The last
few weeks have been crazy. I’m sure Tuesday
morning we’ll have no problem falling asleep on
the plane … assuming we haven’t forgot anything.
We’ll keep this site updated as well as send out
e-mails to keep our friends and family posted on
our adventure.
Please drop us a line.
We did get a webcam so if you have Yahoo!
Messenger look for us online.
Keep in touch,
The McFadden’s
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