I spent 6 months in Dorset(and there's a thread in another site about the time that still gets updates to the day). During that time, I also had the chance to travel up in to Somerset and east in to the outskirts of London. I worked with a predominantly English crew, and two Welsh lads. They were all very good men, and I cherish what I learned from them, and the time we spent together. Since we were mainly out in the country, I found folks friendly and more relaxed than in the cities. The UK has a much, much higher population density than Ireland does - even out in the countryside, and the pace is breakneck compared to Ireland.
Life is slower paced here. You have to have patience if you are in Ireland, and the locals are very patient. It's a pastoral country, by both meanings. Old school. Old ways. Steeped in traditions and history. Deep in soul and feelings, which show in it's people and it's language. Modern capitalism and it's EU membership are slowly and surely chipping away at it, and the Ireland today is already different from the Ireland I first knew back when I visited in the 90's. But, still, it's very easy when you are out in the country to feel like everything else is far away and in a different time. I often find myself in front of one of our verandas, just taking it all in.
One of my favourite places local to me near the estate I work has a small unassuming door behind the shop counter. When the bar is open, the counter top will be flipped up at the end there. When you go through the door, there is a small room with a bench that lines the wall. To the other side is a small bar. It will seat maybe a dozen people, but never has that many. It feels like a speakeasy. If you aren't local, you wouldn't really know it's there. Though, I suspect there are a good many other shops like this throughout the country.
Would like to get a real tree jack someday.
