I picked Vynette up at 11am this morning and we went to the Fermanagh Cottage Industries Shop where we both made purchases. We made our way from there to Florence Court House and we had a quick look around, without going into the House, Visited the little National Trust Shop and Vynette picked up a book because of it's Title "Call a Spade a Spade" Too political to explain why she chose that book.

It is a publication book on "Patterson's Spade Mill" Locally we would say "Let's call a spade a spade" meaning let's talk candidly and factually. But in some other parts of the world that expression could be taken as racial.

From there we went up the Cuilcagh Mountain Road calling into the Marble Arch Caves complex. Now I was on "Home Ground" and explained how I used to grate the Cooper's sheep dip bars into a bucket of water, which would be heated on the fire while stirring it to melt the concoction used to prevent Maggots and lice on Sheep. This was mixed into a large cement tank in the ground and the sheep were driven through it one at a time while a man with a plunger pushed the sheep under the surface to totally immerse it and kill ticks and other creepy crawlies in the wool.

This had to be done twice yearly and in the wartime a policeman had to be present to witness and register the number of sheep each man had.

I showed Vynette where the Marlbank Road used to end, because the second contractor had gone bankrupt blasting through a rocky part.

The old Marlbank PE School is now a sad sight with no windows and very few slates left in it. We carried on round this scenic road to where the first Contractor went bankrupt that too was the cost of blasting the way through Rock faces.

We stopped at the lay by and viewed the beautiful Lower Lough McNean formerly known as Lough Nilly, and the twin villages of Blacklion and Belcoo some four miles away in the distance.

While descending from around 1200 Feet above sea level the road banks were blue with Blue Bells. I showed her the house where I was born, where the road used to end in my grandfather's days it was called the Avenue and was only used by the Earl of Enniskillen to gain access to his lands. Vynette's Film ran out before we left Florence Court House so I will take pictures and get them to her.

We turned towards Blacklion and we passed the little house I have spoken of before where we used to be given fresh soda bread and cheese with salt and pepper on it. The corner gable of it is about to collapse through neglect. Very Sad.

Onward through Blacklion to Belcoo explaining that we had crossed into Eire or Republic of Ireland emerging out of it to enter Belcoo, where Olivia lives so I decided to call and include her in this visit.

Unfortunately she was out at her Club so we met her sister who made us both welcome and implored us to visit the Holy Well. Time was limited but we did take a tour out to it before proceeding along the shore of Lough McNean via Mullaghdun through Letterbreen to Enniskillen Calling at the "THREE WAY INN" for refreshments. [Roast Beef and Branston Pickle in Bread. Very tasty!!!]

We then called at the Bus depot to confirm the times of the bus to Dublin tomorrow intending to get the ticket if we could, but that has to be done at the time of boarding it. So I returned and very happy Vynette to the Hotel just before 3pm to await David Keys at 3pm, but arranging to pick Vynette and her Cases up tomorrow and take her to the bus. [12-10pm ex Enniskillen with 3-20minutes-journey time] 

David was prompt in his arrival for Vynette and took her out to Lisnarick graveyard and other places of interest in North Fermanagh taking the most scenic routes he could think of. He did ring me to give me the names of all the places he had been but the names have evaporated from my brain.

Frank also reported to me that he had called on Vynette this evening to give her a book and say cheerio.

I am quite certain that Vynette has had the absolute time of her life while in Fermanagh and that she will return again. I hope I will still be around to partake of the same pleasure I have had this last week.

Viola

Well I am sure that Vynette had a great time on her first ever visit to Fermanagh, credit should go to all who have arranged this trip, it was a truly great occasion.

I would like to thank Sam Trotter , Viola Wiggins , Frank McHugh , Bob Graham & Barry Bradfield for their great input towards these pages... Thankyou !