Conversation at baggage carousel, Malaga Airport: "Is that my bag, oh maybe it's . . . sorry I don't know you, would you mind? Ta very much! No, that's not it, don't know why I bring so much, well I'll tell you in a minute, it's for the kids really . . .
"We have our own apartment in San Pedro, it's all Kildare there, you know, had it for years, bought it for, let me see now, €240,000. We'd get €340,000 for it now, no bother, two beds, three baths, how's that for style. Frontline as well, so there.
"That's my daughter Shirley over there, looking anxious of course with two under five, what do you expect, and she not finished yet. I thought we'd be the last generation with large families but all her friends are having four and five, beats me how they can afford it. Was it for this we stayed away from confesión I ask myself? Where was I?
"You-hoo, Shurl, over here, over here, this kind gentleman will take it off. Thank you, oh no, that's not it. Here, I'll give you a hand to put it back on, somebody'll miss it, don't know why I don't put a ribbon on mine like everybody else. Of course they'd all be the same then and what would that solve?
"Yoo-hoo, Deirdre, see you outside, yes this evening, we'll call to you. Now, where was I , oh yes, usually we'd be out here well before the Easter rush, but we had to wait back coz our husbands were doing this thingamy at the GPO. Very smart they looked, I must say. Did you see it? The gang here saw it on Sky and CNN, it's great for the country, isn't it?
"Shurl, Shurl, over here dear, this gentleman has the buggy. Now if you don't mind me asking a complete stranger before she comes, see my skin, what do you think? Is that the cigarettes or the sun? Be honest now! I'm down to five a day, I'm gasping for one actually, never thought I'd see the day when the Spanish would bring it in, can't wait to get outside and have one.
"Isn't the price of property at home gone through the roof - any wonder there's so many of us over here, mind you, it isn't getting any cheaper here either. Shurl, Shurl, give him a hand with the kitbag, it needs two to lift, well, I say what's the point of being army if you don't learn something about packing. Gawd, it's not that heavy is it? Hope you didn't put your back out.
"I know a very good chiropractor in San Pedro. Or maybe you'd prefer a massage artist, plenty of those about. Sorry, what did you say your name was? Of course I have a memory like a sieve, comes from looking after so many of them.
"Where was I, oh yes, all Kildare out there, you know. We'll have a get-together this evening, compare notes, had to stay back for the President's reception after the GPO thingy, she looked lovely in that muted green what was it . . . she's the commander in chief of the Army, did you know that? A woman commander, mind you, some of the brass I know she could only do a better job, stuffed up with their own importance if you ask me. Oops, maybe I shouldn't say that to a complete stranger, sorry what's your name, oh yes, you told me. Were you on the same Aer Lingus flight, only way to travel, I did Ryanair once, never again, mind you that new Airbus thingy with the two aisles, carries 400, did you know that? Of course with that many you can't see everybody else, never know who might be sitting behind you, so have to be careful who you're talking to.
"Yoo-hoo, Shurl, over here now, this gentleman's got the cot as well . . . you are kind, so that's everything is it, Shurl? Count them out and count them back in, three cases each, cot and buggy plus dad's kitbag. Well, must be going. Look us up if ever in San Pedro, we're down near the beach, frontline actually. Cheerio now, have a good holiday.
