Wrapped around your finger

So I’m out on the beach the other day hunting for bottle caps and bits of foil with my metal detector when a guy walks up and starts talking to me. This happens, it turns out… people are interested in treasure hunting.

He explains that he lives in the house just over there (points at beachfront property just one or two steps below “mansion”). And he tells me that a lady, apparently visiting from Ireland, lost a ring the other day while getting her sunscreen on, just outside his house on the grass verge. He promised her that he would enlist the next detectorist that came by to try and find it.

[May I just say that one of the attractions of a beachfront house must surely be a cavalcade of comely visitors lathering up with sunscreen in your front garden]

And so, as a complete beginner, I began my first ring recovery mission.

And after only about 15 minutes of searching, I found the ring pictured above. It’s small and delicate. When I got it home I found markings inside “10k” and “Michael Hill”, the name of a big jewelry store chain.

Wow! My first ring ever, my first gold ever. It was very exciting. I went to the man’s door, but no answer, so I left my number and headed home.

He called, texts and WhatsApp messages were exchanged, and I got in touch with the lady who lost her ring.

This wasn’t hers!!

I went back the next day with a more experienced detectorist of my acquaintance, but neither of us found her missing Claddagh ring. I offered the ring I did find to the lady, but she graciously declined.

I’ve found a few more rings already since then, but no more gold (or silver).

What a fun little adventure! And just the kind of intermittent positive reinforcement that will keep me coming back for more!