This is a special week for us because our friends Marianne and Frank Templeton are visiting from Australia. We spent the first few days at home and now we are taking a little time off to show them a bit of Ireland. The sense of excitement has been lovely as we hurried everything, burning the candle at both ends, so as to be ready to entertain them.

We visited them in 2007 and had a memorable holiday. We now want them to have a similar experience in Ireland and indeed Europe. It’s a long way to travel, and they have been planning this trip for a considerable time.

Marianne and Frank are also dairy farmers, so we have a lot in common. We strolled around the fields together and talked about family, grass and cows. We visited the local shops and walked around the magnificent grounds of Blarney Castle.

Sometimes we need to hear other people talking about the beautiful amenity that we have on our doorstep to actually appreciate it. For a fee of €65 for the year, I can walk the woodland walks, the lakeside walks and garden paths of Blarney Castle as often as I want. Of course I don’t use it as often as I should.

Party

We decided to have a few of our Irish friends in to meet Marianne and Frank, so they could really experience the Irish chat. Marianne and I did an early morning shop in the supermarket. Frank has a particular admiration for Queen Elizabeth and, while Buckingham palace is on their itinerary, a call to the English Market was a must. We wanted to get some nice food for the starter and Marianne and I planned a wholesome beef stroganoff with baked potatoes and rice for the main course. We decided to make Eton Mess with purchased meringues and some bought raspberries to beef up the ones that were ripening in the garden.

I also wanted Frank to see the famous photograph of the Queen chatting with Pat O’Connell at his world-renowned fish stall. It is now a matter of record that the moment of laughter from the queen was when Pat told her that the big ugly monk fish on display was known as the mother-in-law!

Sure enough, there was one on display with a professionally prepared sign of “MOTHER IN LAW” pinned to the fish.

As usual, the stall was very busy but still Pat was happy to have a few words with Frank. Frank Templeton will never buy fish from him, but because my friend was treated so well, I will continue to take my business to the O’Connell fish stall. It was also a memorable moment for Frank to meet the jolly Cork man.

A big fright

Once home, Marianne and I set about the preparations for the guests. The men were out and about giving Frank a flavour of Irish dairy farming. Our guests arrived and we sat around the big kitchen table. We had a lovely evening exchanging stories.

Sometime after midnight, Eamonn gestured to me that he was taking Margaret home, as she was feeling unwell. I followed them out to the back hall. Margaret had her hand to her forehead and paused to lean against the door jamb of the utility room. Eamonn and I urged her to come out to take fresh air. I discretely called another friend to get a glass of water.

I held onto Margaret at one side and Eamonn on the other. But before we made the door Margaret had fainted. We couldn’t hold her up, but at least we prevented her falling. We sort of lowered her to the ground putting pillows under her.

When she came around, her skin was clammy and cold and she was feeling nauseous. Marianne, who was a nurse in her earlier years, said her pulse was weak.

Then Tim was on the scene insisting that Eamonn take Margaret to A&E. She had recovered somewhat and was saying she would be fine after a night’s sleep. But Tim insisted and Eamonn promised that they would go to A&E, I offered to go with them, but they wouldn’t hear of it. So they left.

Ill-prepared

The rest of the guests were completely unaware of the events unfolding in the back hall. Luckily Margaret had nothing ominous wrong with her. She was checked out thoroughly and will follow it up with her GP. But to be honest I was shocked at how ill-equipped I was to handle the situation. I didn’t offer Margaret a blanket or a towel or even anything for the hospital.

I remember when Diarmuid jumped out the window when he was 10 and broke his leg. We were not at home and the babysitter had lifted him and brought him in. There could have been serious consequences. Ever after, I had a notice of things to do up on the wall in case of an accident. We have two friends who have had strokes in recent times. Each made a full recovery as a result of getting to the hospital on time to receive the necessary treatment.

I’m still appalled at my lack of clarity. As a result of teaching children with special needs, I am trained how to react and do so perfectly in my work situation. Yet I failed to transfer my knowledge to my home situation.

It is time for a new list on the wall. It is also time to redo a first-aid course I did many years ago. I want to be able to do the right thing and maybe save a life.