Notes from the (never) bored-room

All change!

2012-02-16T16:03:00.003Z

So I turned 49 at the end of November. Time for a mid-life crisis methinks. 49 is a sort of a key number I reckon - my "seven Sabbaths of years" - a "super Sabbatical" before the big Jubilee.

Time to change a few things in anticipation of the next 7 years (and I have things brewing in my head on that front.....)

So a new year, fresh diary and the fastest way to get a bit of control over things was to allocate themes to each month.

January = "deal with it" month - tying up urgent loose ends; two tax returns (yes TWO) - the IR "misplaced" the 2010 return. Then it was pantomime time at the Ulster Hospital (it's behind me...) I had a brilliant band this year - great music. Looking forward to next year already.

February = "Dump it" month. Dumping from the study, the wardrobes, the fabric stash, the roofspace etc. One thing I hadn't quite factored "dumping" was my job... (thanks auntie beeb). They say it's "restructuring" - the same old same old.... we're all the same and too old.... 10 of us in the pot to go and 6 have already gone. (i still can't work out how that adds up to the "7 posts only to go" thing... maybe I need fresh batteries in my calculator.....)

March? "Technology" month... though it's started early - dad come over all technological on us yesterday and insisted on loading up a database for his choir. Brilliant!! March will be for gutting out the picture and video files, changing internet/phone provider here and up north and silencing the tedious talk talk - which apparently is all they do. I'd be happy if it was "do do" although in childish language, it sums up their service.

April I'm planning to spend finishing all the UFOs so it's "Sew and Sew" month - though if I've been pushed off the shelf in the office, I may get to this faster.

Any lonely millionaires out there?!

And so, another year ends.

2012-01-02T13:01:00.006Z

Happy new year! A few pics from the family album;

Christmas day was spent at my brother and sister-in-law's home - and featured a beautiful cake measured, mixed and wished upon by the l'il guy. (Wishes for a "real live dinosaur for Christmas" didn't quite materialise... wishes are a bit hit and miss these days.)

The cold polar bear (does such a thing exist?) looked great with his stripey blue scarf...

...though one blink later and a small person had nibbled all the bears snowballs.... and head!

The day after boxing day and we returned to the family get-together for lunch at a local restaurant then a toddle over to the beach to work up the appetite for deserts. Two small people who idolise another bigger cousin...

... and a lot of spinning and stone flinging into the waves, and everyone's happy.

I love the reflections on the damp sand.

Did I mention I'd been on the road again?

2011-11-09T20:24:00.014Z

Two trips this time - one to the western Med and one to Kenya and Uganda. (Trips seem to be like buses - you know the "none for ages then two come along at once"?

Our cruise round the Western Med was the most relaxing break in years - even allowing for a hot tramp round Pompeii (haven't been since 78 and that was a school trip - it hasn't changed much but I understand it better now!)

I was bemused to find a street that appeared to have been paved with stones from the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. We went to a Sicilian olive farm for lunch. Having read Carol Drinkwater's books about her own olive farm and also her talk in Bangor at the Aspects Literary Festival, we were keen to see an organic olive farm for ourselves - and we enjoyed the scenery as we sailed out of the harbour at sunset.

Other highlights included a trip to a Corsican organic essential oil producer (mum and dad surrounded by fragrant, pungent maquis in Corisca - rosemary, lavender etc) and later to a small family run business where they make nougat to die for. Mmmm.

Less than a week after we got home, the passports and bags were at the ready again. The African trip was unexpected. For years I've been trying to persuade my parents to visit Uganda and see the projects they've been prayerfully and financially supporting since I visited the country several times on work teams in the 1980s. At last, on a whim, dad agreed and I had the tickets bought and collected before he got the full stop at the end of the sentence.

We went to Kenya first to stay with a friend from home for a few days (a soft landing - it's higher, so fewer bugs and cooler temperatures - also less humid than Uganda.)

It was lovely to see Graham again - just sorry he couldn't join us when we headed to Lake Naivasha for a couple of days to stay in the fabulous Chui Lodge. Oh man, what a trip that was. Several game drives, a couple of sundowners and a large, greedy python later (it ate, then barfed up "Bambi") we headed back to Nairobi for another overnight at Graham's. Luxury all round.

Then we headed to "real" Africa and the Acheru project run by Africare. I love Uganda. It's sticky, the roads are still hopeless outside of the main routes, there are bugs galore and I'll never be able to digest matoke, but it's wonderful.

It was dad's 79th birthday while we were there, and some of the children clambered to the verandah to sing happy birthday to him. (that's them on the left.) It was incredibly moving - and such a joyful day. The unit offers care and treatment for children in need of (mainly) orthopaedic surgery and rehab. It is NOTHING like what we can access at home, but they're setting new standards in Uganda and getting referals from all round the country - and beyond and man are they putting smiles on wee faces.

Funding is mainly from NI and we're having a coffee morning on Saturday to spread the word about the work going on in Acheru. If you know where I live and you're in the area - we'd LOVE to see you - just swing by for a cuppa (and a freshly baked scone with good Irish butter and home made plum jam!)

I've gone into overdrive making jams (lemon curd, plum) and marmalades (ginger and Bushmills whiskey!) Hopefully the little pots of sunshine will sell! (If you don't live nearby I'll post you a scone! And if you'd making a even a little donation, you could do so online at www.acheru.com - go on, you know our scones are great - and I'll post them ANYwhere in the world. Ask nicely and I might even manage a wee tody tiny pot of marmalade too!)

funky cake!

2011-08-22T23:23:00.003+01:00

Update on the happy zone.....

The wedding cake was a lot of fun. Different flavoured tiers, and in keeping with the theme of gerberas for the whole wedding.

And it was a fabulous day - thanks to the new "Minnie Tinnies"!

Welcome to the happy zone.

2011-08-11T23:12:00.005+01:00

Northern Ireland is living up to the Vivaldi thing - four seasons in one day.. or at least in one week. The only thing we haven't had this week is frost.

That's the bad news.

The good news is that I'm in a happy zone. (Can you feel the vibes from there?)

I have a wedding cake to decorate for next Wednesday and a house to refurb for a friend by the end of September - so a creative outlet and an organisational one - both make me very happy!

I love the "before and after" thing of a house - the satisfaction of emptying it, repairing then redecorating - and to a short timescale so there's no time to diddle about. This is a three story red-brick (brownstone) end of terrace in need of a lot of love.

The cake is a fun one - multi coloured and zany - so I can't wait to get started - I've all four tiers baked already - a different flavour for each one. It's going to be a busy Saturday and the finishing touches will be done on Monday so I can deliver it to the hotel on Tuesday evening and assemble it.

Roll on the weekend.

New Irish Arts

2011-06-16T09:35:00.003+01:00

I was having a poke about on the web and realised someone had posted our appearance on BBC Songs of Praise - it's "Still, my soul be still" - hope you like it. (Since it's from the telly, the words are there so you can sing along with it!)

This was part of the chamber choir and orchestra - I'm looking forward to the big event this summer at the Waterfront when we're part of the 75th anniversary celebration of the Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention. There are still some tickets available for that if you're in Belfast in August!

Ladies of impeccable taste.

2011-06-15T21:44:00.004+01:00

Of all the shops, in all the world... how did Angela and Leta end up with the same shirt?! (And I have one just the same in the wardrobe.... though mum bought it for me because I admired hers!)

our latest graduate...

2011-06-13T23:51:00.006+01:00

The l'il guy follows in the family tradition! It's the first non-university graduation ceremony I've been at here - though I think they're creeping in and I know they're very common in America.

It was the best entertainment for half an hour - I'm not sure when I last saw my father enjoy something so much and laughter is such good therapy. They trotted in behind the staff to their version of the drill instructor's song from Full Metal Jacket - "we are winners from the start"... and from there we had songs about numbers, colours, shapes, hygiene and a personal statement from each of them about something they'd learnt this year (table manners!).

So having been snowed out of the nativity play at Christmas, and security alerted out of sports day, nothing was keeping me away on Friday. I wouldn't have missed this for the world!

Elderflower cordial

2011-06-10T01:31:00.009+01:00

It's that time of year again and for once, I have bottles.... and time.... and there's sunshine (or there was when I made it last weekend) and there was elderflower* a-plenty to be had in the lanes near the village.

I brought some into work with sparkling water to dilute and it went down a treat. It's simple to make;

In a large stainless steel or glass container, soak the following overnight;

about 25 heads of elderflower (ideally picked at the end of a sunny day when it's very lemony and fragrant)

3 unwaxed lemons sliced very thinly

sugar syrup (2.5 pounds of sugar (don't think about it!) disolved into about 3.5 pints of hot water)

2oz citric acid (Boots generally have it at the pharmacy counter)

After about 24 hours, strain the mix through a seive lined with muslin and pour into sterilised glass bottles with screw top lids. It'll store in a coolish place for at least 6 months, but when I open a bottle, I keep it in the fridge and use it within a month. Gorgeous with sparkling water, ice and a lemon slice. Mmmm.

*Elderflower grows on woody stems, generally shoulder height or above - the stuff that looks the same but grows from the ground on green stems is cow parsley and smells like cat's wee! Not recommended - even with ice and lemon!

puppy love

2011-06-09T20:27:00.006+01:00

Thought it was time to revitalise the blog a bit - and this background was very pretty.

Having dabbled again in facebook for work purposes (we were running Wild Week across BBC NI so I had to have a presence), but I've come off it again - it's such an hour-gobbler and life's too short. THIS however, is more like a slightly public diary and I don't need to be so responsive to it so it doesn't faze me as much - and it doesn't steal my days. That said, it's lovely when someone leaves a message.

There've been some lovely days recently - including the Sunday we went to visit friends in the village to meet their new puppy "Yo-Yo".

Call me sentimental, but a four year old boy and a seven week old pup is sort of a marriage made in heaven - one of life's essential pairings - but this was just a visit - l'il guy doesn't have any pets yet.

"Yo-Yo" is a trainee guide dog and my friend's family will have him for 18 months to get him ready for serious training as a visually impaired person's "eyes". Lesson for life? Proverbs 22: 6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it!" (Small, energetic boys... and pups!)

2011-03-05T00:33:00.005Z

So it's been a while... and it's been a busy while too. I'm knee deep in an animation project to introduce children to French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese - and maybe Irish eventually too.

I've also been on the fringes of some Songs of Praise recordings - for those not in the know, it's the BBC's longest running weekly music programme on television and is watched in the UK by about four million people every week, and many, many more internationally. It's been a pleasure to be involved in it - and it's not often I get to say that about work!

Added value is that the New Irish choir and orchestra are taking part and as I'm a member, it was fun getting to be on both sides of the show. (The hyperlink is to the trail for the Christmas concert but it gives you a flavour of what we're about.) Jonathan Rea's arrangements of the hymns featuring in the programme are wonderful. It was also recorded in the church I attend, so it's great to recognise lots of friends and family in the pews.

The first programme is for Sunday 13th March - and features Dr Helen Roseveare - she's only on for a few minutes, but she packs her punch as always and it's compelling viewing. Her story is the stuff of a Holywood filmscript - except her experiences of God's presence as she served through her medical missionary work in Africa are challenging. She starts by saying she fell in love with Jesus while she was a student, and finishes by reminding us that at the end, it's only what's done for him that matters.

catching up?

2010-11-08T23:40:00.017Z

Ok, so it's been a while... but since I've been ribbed and jibed and coaxed and cajoled, I'm posting and I'm adding photos as well. Not one a day. Sometimes there just weren't enough hours; other times, there just wasn't enough interest. So a summary is called for.

Now, where did we leave off..... June? Well that was about France mainly - communal lollipops with Granny/Nanny Leta and Granda/Papa on a very hot day.

Half the family went home after a week - no reflection on the ones left behind of course!

July? Hmmm.... more France and then back home for a swanky afternoon tea at the Merchant courtesy of a friend's very thoughtful gift. (Thanks Angela!)

August? Aul Llamas Fair in Ballycastle with it's collection of strange people.... really - once is enough!

Then a quick retreat to a lovely sausage sizzle at Ballintoy Harbour. Could have made a fortune if I'd brought more bangers... something to do with the Cookstown whiff outdoors on a hot day attracting lots of hungry walkers!

September/October? Bit of a blur really... though it was all about family: the loss of a loved one for my sister-in-law, and the reminder to make the most of the truly important people.

uh... normal service

2010-07-30T20:55:00.002+01:00

may be resumed shortly. (Do I have to post ALL the missing pics?)

365:153 The only cat I can tolerate

2010-06-09T22:39:00.006+01:00

I don't like cats. There. I've said it. (Probably not for the first time on this blog, but who's counting.)

This one I can tolerate because it allows me to do the ocd thing with the in car "essentials"; this furball pot holds scissors (I've lost count of the number of times I've used them to wrap last minute gifts, cut open battery packets etc), a torch (you never know), pens and pencils (I leave work and walk to the car still holding them), hand cleanser (ocd, I told you, I'm seriously beginning to worry but I mean really, who knows what you grasp on door handles or coins), almost dead chewing gum , tweezers (don't ask) and spec spray.

It wasn't until I took the pic I realised the furball has a pink bow and dress. The scissors will come in handy again tomorrow.

365:152 You wouldn't want to know me really

2010-06-09T22:28:00.005+01:00

So call me weird but I cut the wings of an angel. It's probably a genetic thing...I remember granny telling me about "people" who pulled the wings off a fly once just to see. Ouch. (Would they fly in circles if they just lost one?) Anyway, the angel. it freaked me a bit and while I'm not into mutilation otherwise, I did clip this one's wings.

Now from the back it just looks like someone shot it.

The faceless thing gets me a bit too....

(Anyone got a sharpie?)

365:151 Paying a-tent-ion

2010-06-07T01:02:00.003+01:00

Just realised it's almost week since I posted pics. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day.... unless you're 3.

365:146 -150

2010-05-31T20:06:00.007+01:00

Paint your wagon....or at least paint the house... still not sure why we needed a cherry picker. Still, house now glowing so it'll be seen from the moon.

Big blousey poppy in the park.

Perfect for a "Fryday" (with a couple of stolen chips).

Saturday cards and coffee at Robo's - we were fundraising for Compassion and selling lovely Phoenix Cards... then round to see the old boys bowling... dad and Billy posed for a pic - so cold they were as white as their coats.

Sunday was Praise in the park day...

Beautiful sunrise today - maybe beautiful every morning but I'm generally not around to peek out at the water at 0435. (Scotland in the distance.)

365:145 All smile now

2010-05-25T23:35:00.003+01:00

Mum (still) looks after the Senior Members Fellowship in the church she used to work in. Today, they had wangled a little behind the scenes tour of Belfast City Hall and had a blast. Cheers Robo.

365:144 Blast from the past

2010-05-25T01:58:00.002+01:00

I can't get today's photo to upload... so here's one from the past. Charlotte Beers - my mother's great, great grandmother - born in 1842. The famine seems such a long time ago... yet this woman was a toddler when it started... and we have photographs of several family members from that generation...

2010-05-25T01:57:00.000+01:00

365:143 Stationary stationery.

2010-05-23T23:17:00.002+01:00

Spring tidy in the study ... my shiny new home for the essential stuff... where it won't "move".

365:142 24 in the shade

2010-05-22T23:05:00.003+01:00

It was a hot day... and even though the garden's cluttered (planters and furniture have been moved for the painters, we decided to have mini bbq. Why does life seem to slow down and food taste better when it happens outdoors? Feels like I'm on holiday today.

365:137 - 141

2010-05-21T01:12:00.005+01:00

365:141 Friday 21st

For once I'm early. Except, it's late.

365:140 Thursday 20th

From the train at Carnalea halt. Nice tiling from children's art work - and it brightens up the platform.

365:139 Wednesday 19th

The campanula is out - love the purple against the white walls. (And yes, I know - the daffs need deadheaded!)

365:138 Tusday 18th

The secret's out - dad is a secret drinker. (Apple juice - and posed.)

365:137 Monday 17th

Ok - it was late and I was desperate... maple bubbles in the neck of leaf shaped glass bottle of maple syrup.

365:132-136

2010-05-21T00:20:00.010+01:00

365: 136 Sunday 16th

These were the "story reminders" we made in beginners' Sunday School today. Just wish I'd recorded the bangs, clatters and rattles of all the shakers, tambourines and bells. A couple of dozen very happy 3 - 4 year olds and happy - but deafened - teachers. The story was about David praising God.

365: 135 Saturday 15th
Big Kids. New playpark in Donaghadee.... hardly any kids in sight, but the big people were having a blast!

365:134 Friday 14th

Baby cake. Not into gender stereotyping or anything, but I don't think it's for a boy....

365:133 Thursday 13th

A wee poke in Maud's, Donaghadee - I'd arranged to meet Lynda and son William when who should drive past waving but ma and pa. Like they hadn't planned it. Hmmmm ;p

365:132 Wednesday 12th

Took days to get over this. I'm not allowed to order feathers with a website address cut into the fluffy bit and a biro bunged up the other end because a health and safety officer is concerned about the chemical makeup of Fairy Liquid. I kid you not. The feathers are washed in it - then rinsed three times, but teachers might suck them and where would that leave education in Northern Ireland. And to think I only asked in case there was a rule about things kids might shove up their nose.

131 Brown out, Cameron and Clegg in.

2010-05-12T02:17:00.005+01:00

(Sighs like Eyore as champagne corks pop all over the country.) Today's photo is mood reflective.

127 - 130 And even more oops

2010-05-12T02:10:00.014+01:00

127 - Tried to snap when there were five church spires/towers in view but didn't manage it -train pulled out of station. How many churches etc per square mile in this part of East Belfast? And that's not counting mission halls etc with no tall bits.

128 - Brilliant morning - thanks to Clara and the anon photographer for pics as my camera died on arrival. Some of us from the New Irish Chamber Choir sang at the unveiling of a new piece of art from Ross Wilson - very moving ceremony and a big deal for this Loyalist community to acknowledge the slaughter of the 10th and 16th Irish Divisions as well as the 36th Ulster Division at the Somme. Massively big deal for them to agree to have a Bible verse in Irish as well as English. So now, for a new generation, a new way to "behold the sons of Ulster, marching to the Somme".

129 - The button boot my mother wore as a child. Badly written - despite use of the definite article, she had/has two good legs... and did have other footwear! This one's partner went walkabout over the last 70 years but this solitary, soft, leather lovely has it's own tale to tell. I adore this wee boot and used it as a creative prompt in a creative session about a new history website we're building.

130 - Happy 80th birthday Ewla; I got to decorate the cake mum made for a family friend, and lead the rabble in some trad Irish songs. We'd a lovely evening.

123 - 126 More oops!

2010-05-12T02:09:00.006+01:00

123 - Eat up - you're in gran's and mum's not looking... "half pint" sinks not quite a half pint of ice-cream. When it comes with chocolate sprinkles, coloured sprinkles and marshmallows it's been declared "the most delicious ice cream I have eaten in my whole life". That's a big admission from a 3 1/2 year old!

124 - GB "old girls" night out at McKees - name no reflection on mum and Winnie - though I did hear mutterings about "former members not old girls".

125 - Hmmm.. Ulster's politicians as potential king makers? Somehow I don't think so.

126 - discreetly sneaky shot of fellow passenger's journey to work: makeup bag, coffee, paracetamol and iphone. HOW DO YOU PUT FAKE EYELASHES ON WHEN THE TRAIN'S MOVING?!!!!! More to the point - WHY would you put them on at any time?

119-122 Oops!

2010-05-12T01:26:00.007+01:00

Sorry it's been a while folks... but the shots are getting uploaded at last. (I console myself that at least I've taken them and they are probably most of benefit to me as a log of the year's comings and goings!) So some now and some later today so upload doesn't glue up the server.

119 - Rainbow on Dublin Road - suspect the pot of gold in the multi-story carpark.. note to self - check level 13.

120 - Stiltwalker in Ards market - did Cafolla's poke do that to his skin?! - note to non-locals - a "poke" is an ice cream cone.

121 - Flowers (alstroemerias?) a "thank you" from the ladies breakfast - for "not" interviewing the speaker.

122 - Gang at HJ's and M's amused at having the Tatler's page 48/49/50 pin up in our midst...

365:118 Greenhouse

2010-04-28T22:19:00.003+01:00

We'd a staff meeting today - 250 of us crammed into a telly studio to do some creative thinking. Some days I really like my job - just not the commute to Shepherd's Bush from Belfast via the ever busy Heathrow.

365:117 Happy birthday Ellie

2010-04-28T22:07:00.010+01:00

Aunt Ellie doesn't speak much, but she's good on dates when you get her started. She remembers when all her siblings were born, her parents too, and all the wedding anniversaries. She knows when she was born - it's today's date she struggles with.

I gave her the envelope with a birthday card and as soon as she saw the card she looked horrified, then mad and told me in no uncertain terms "I'm not 80!".

Oh yes she is.

I'm told by the time some of the family had a wee party for her later, she'd come to terms with the idea! It's nice to know that even when most of your mind has wandered to another place, you've still the sense to be vain, but never pass up on the chance to be the centre of attention and to party.

(Note to family members reading this - Ellie's to the extreme left of the black and white snap - and yes, on the extreme right in what looks like a very fetching saggy one piece, is dad and beside him, granny. I think he looks about 3 so probably taken in 1939.)

365:116 Stitchin' time

2010-04-27T00:01:00.005+01:00

my camera case - very unsophisticated, but made in front of a toasty fire one night when I wanted to sew something... anything... and a new camera needed a bag. Black linen and a few threads to hand and... hey presto - a wee pouch to cushion against the bumps and lumps in my handbag.

Will buy a snazzy case some day - the new camera (Cybershot 14mp/HD) is overwhelmed by the size of the case bought for the last SLR type camera.

365:115 Sympathetic background...

2010-04-25T22:24:00.004+01:00

...for Ali whose dad died this morning.

365:113 and 114 Catching up!

2010-04-25T22:16:00.004+01:00

Friday was train day - very low on inspiration, so have settled for the real Holywood - Co Down. May day dancing round the May pole on Monday at the town's medieval fair.

Then Saturday - and shopping with the girls. Mum wasn't sure what size the shoe was, Fi got to read the sole and Ang had a good laugh. Next stop Moulin Rouge Mum!

365:111 and 112 On the red eye again

2010-04-25T21:58:00.006+01:00

And for once, I had an hour to kill before the flight home, so a few shots to include today. First off... two early starts in a row, so the dashboard blur on Wednesday - says it all really if you can read the time. I'm not an early riser by nature.

Then from London on Thursday, The bus/tempo shot amused me - from the sublime to the ridiculous really. (They're "tempos" in Nepal - what are they called in the UK? Bicycle rickshaws? Anyone know?)

Next is All Souls', Langham in the background and the lunchtime crowd at the Oxford St / Regent St junction. It's the church I used to attend when I lived in London.

And finally, my favourite. The staircase. One of life's ups and downs - I love this one - it's in the Liberty Store just off Carnaby Street.

365:110 a giant job..

2010-04-25T21:44:00.006+01:00

They've been painting Samson (or is it Goliath?) for a very long time. I think they've mixed it up with the Forth Bridge or something. The other shots below were taken a couple of years ago when my father, brother and I went to have a look-see from the top of the crane. Quite a view. Look closely and you'll see the red tour bus... but you'll need a magnifying glass. The domed building is the Belfast Odyssy and most of the waste ground is now built on.

365:108 and at the other end of the scale

2010-04-25T21:38:00.005+01:00

From the fantastically yellow wet-the-beds yesterday (which used to be cultivated by the Victorians - good for salads etc), to the subtle sophistication of an orchid. For a while, I lived in Seychelles, and in Mahe, the orchids grew like weeds!

365:109 going, going... almost gone

2010-04-25T18:09:00.005+01:00

Slowly it's being dismantled... and no one told me where the hamster would be re-homed.

365:107 Just fine and dandy

2010-04-25T18:06:00.002+01:00

from a distance I thought the council had gone into random daffodil planting - up close, there are some very healthy dandylions around this week.

365:106 Here's looking at you kid.

2010-04-25T18:02:00.003+01:00

Mum and her friend Margaret at the BB Old Boys Centenary Choir - dad was on stage with the "boys"

365:105 Running out of inspiration...

2010-04-15T23:35:00.003+01:00

Not very original, but it was on the desk and it's getting late!

365:104 Study time again

2010-04-15T02:05:00.002+01:00

...didn't quite manage to take the point though.

365:103 Postcard pretty

2010-04-13T23:27:00.004+01:00

The view from a friend's house... I love the candy colours of the houses in Ballyholme. The tide was out far today, so no water to be seen in this shot.

365:102 Gorse or Whin?

2010-04-13T23:23:00.006+01:00

In one county it's gorse; in another it's whin. It seems to have two smells too - in strong sunlight, it's almost like coconut; other days it's like vanilla. Today, I'm just grateful for the splash of colour it brings to the wee roads near the village where even a blast of salty sea air can't knock the blooms off.

365:101 happy days

2010-04-13T23:19:00.003+01:00

Here comes the sun... and the wild garlic along the road into the village. Is it my immagination or is this a little earlier than usual? I always associate the garlic with bluebells and May? Anyone else locally spotted the bluebells out yet?

365:100 And so it continued both day and night

2010-04-13T23:14:00.002+01:00

But enough said (rather, the least said..) Here's some more (awful) music.

365:099 And we apologise for...

2010-04-13T23:09:00.005+01:00

...this break in transmission due to circumstance beyond our control... and in the meantime, here's some music. (Uh... let's be delicate here.... would an attack of the Groomsport Gallop... or Kathmandu Quick-step... or maybe the Bangor Bolt... mean anything to anyone? In other places, the bucket and bog boogie?)

365:098 And it continues.

2010-04-13T22:56:00.001+01:00

The endless easter break. Good news on the motorways.

365:097 So why am I working?

2010-04-13T22:52:00.002+01:00

...especially when everyone else in Belfast seemed to be still on holiday on the Wednesday of Easter week? Oh to have such clear car parks every day.

365:096 There IS hope

2010-04-13T22:47:00.005+01:00

... and as everyone else was off work for Easter Tuesday, I decided to take a day off too. This was one of those perfect rainbows - the kind that gives a double smile - and between the stronger arc and the paler one, the sky has that special. washed dove grey shade. Now if only all those buildings and traffic lights and other drivers and laws hadn't made it so hard to take a photograph.

365:095 Quiltin' cousins

2010-04-05T23:18:00.004+01:00

Had a wonderful day at Alex's - with two quilts rattling through two sewing machines and the clucking going nearly as fast as we caught up on all the gossip. I love quilting days - we're a couple of sew 'n' sews.

Got home to find the Sandyknowes and Killowen gangs here - just sorry they didn't stay longer. Had a revolving door yesterday - lost count of the number of cuppas made - but always good to see folk. Think I need a baking day though - the boxes are all empty!

365:094 Keep it simple!

2010-04-05T23:04:00.003+01:00

It's the Begginers Bible we use for the pre-school Sunday school - the kids are all 3 or 4 and we have about 25 of them. Each child gets a copy when they "graduate" from the "walkers creche". I love the illustrations.

365:093 Chocolate OD

2010-04-05T22:56:00.009+01:00

Rules:
1. Buy Easter eggs for the kids.
2. Deliver Easter eggs
3. Withdraw - Would be great if you could tie a duster onto them when they're flying round the ceiling with far too much energy ;o)

365:092 In preparation...

2010-04-05T22:51:00.005+01:00

...for tomorrow's leg of lamb lunch. Lovely.

365:091 Hey ho, hey ho...

2010-04-02T00:45:00.003+01:00

...it's off to remedial class (for theology) we go.

Quote: "...and I thought they'd be good for illustrating a children's talk on Joseph and the rest of Jacob's seven sons... no wait... was it seven?"

Oh dear, oh dear, back to the drawing board - and where to start?! I'm definitely grumpy.

365:090 Time out

2010-04-02T00:38:00.003+01:00

One of those days when there just didn't seem to be enough hours in the day.... this was quittin' time - at least I'm off for Easter now.

365:089 24 hours of chaos

2010-04-02T00:28:00.004+01:00

So the weather delivered: snow, ice, floods and hail. We had the works. Some poor souls were stuck in their cars on the Glenshane Pass for 7 hours while the emergency teams dug them out. We had to turn back from the Stoney Road because of flooding - this shot was at the corner of the main Newtownards Road - fast flowing water well up the trunks of the trees. Quite astonishing weather.

365:088 What happened to spring?

2010-03-30T01:07:00.002+01:00

Welcome to Northern Ireland; home of the "Vivaldi Climate" - all four seasons in one sitting.

365:087 A nice cup of tea and a....

2010-03-28T23:15:00.004+01:00

Sometimes, life's little pleasures are all a girl needs at the end of a long, busy day.

365:086 Getting dug in

2010-03-27T21:47:00.004Z

First day at "God's Garden" today - and Jona came to help with the heavy stuff. So glorious spring day with birdsong and that lovely satisfied feeling at getting the first planting done. A carpet covered patch needed little clearing, but lots of breaking up to do - I've enough clay to start a pottery. (Now there's a thought!) We have rhubarb, onions, red onions and shallots in so far. Seeds to go into trays over the next week too. Lots to keep me busy but it's so good to get back.

365:085 Grand Opera House, Belfast

2010-03-27T21:38:00.004Z

Was at the Grand Opera House last night - "Beauty and the Beast" (Belfast Operatic) and was incredibly tight production - very impressive. I love this building - really cheesy and OTT but it works. Tea with the family before hand was just lovely too - good to catch up with Betty, Jack and Sian.

365:084 Seahill

2010-03-25T21:07:00.002Z

Through the window of the train today... the Seahill halt. Maybe the place for inexperienced Irish water skiers? (Beats looking for a lake with a slope.....)

365:083 rainy train

2010-03-24T22:40:00.003Z

Bit of a change in the weather, but I'm happy - no sitting in traffic jams, no stress, just me, the book and a drink. Bliss. (And I liked the reflection!)

365:082 Blitzed

2010-03-24T22:36:00.002Z

Recording a drama about the Belfast Blitz today... and the entire cast is under 15 years of age. Was good fun.

365:081 getting desperate

2010-03-23T00:06:00.004Z

Desperately dusty keyboard (any tips on de-gunging them?) and desperate for a photo of something - anything for today.

365:080 Ouch - I've got piles

2010-03-22T01:24:00.003Z

How does this happen? You turn your head for two minutes and the stuff leaps off shelves and out of drawers...

Anybody got a deliverance (of clutter) ministry?

365:079 More ahhhhs.....

2010-03-20T19:05:00.007Z

Today is just one of those beautiful spring days you long for - cold, yes, but sunny and in the sheltered spots, just lovely. On the way home from a long, leisurely lunch with a friend I hadn't seen for ages, I spotted this lovely mare and foal.

A field further up the lane, a farmer was ploughing much to the delight of the terns (?);

By the drive-in at home, the dwarf daffs in the wall planter were still looking fresh despite having been out for a couple of weeks.... ... and a suprise bouquet of roses and lillies was waiting for me in the porch - from American friends who enjoyed a concert in the Belfast Waterfront Hall - Sharon Shannon and the Ulster Orchestra (St Pat's day).

Could you want a better day. (Ok, a win at Croke Park would have been nice!)

365:078 Say Ahhh...

2010-03-20T19:00:00.004Z

Dentist this morning - most upsetting part was trying to get parked. Happy to keep it that way - though back in a few weeks for a little treatment. Say ahhh.......

365:077 freaky throw

2010-03-18T23:30:00.004Z

As someone who could go half a game of ludo before throughing a six to get "out", I was fiddling with an old camera film box to see why it was rattling, and out fell the six "farkle" dice - in sequence, one through to six. How often does this happen?! I've never placed a bet on anything in my entire life, but maybe I should have had a flutter or something today!

365:076 Celebrations

2010-03-17T17:09:00.006Z

Wearing the work hat here - our team's been working flat out to produce this site for a launch date today - think it's well worth a poke about. My favourite bit's the kids describing the man himself here.

Ok, shameless advertising over - normal service will be resumed tomorrow.

365: 075 Anticipating St Pat's day

2010-03-17T17:06:00.005Z

St Patrick's day tomorrow .... this artwork is in St Anne's Cathedral in Belfast - and not a pint of the black stuff or daft wee green men in sight.

365:074 Inspection day

2010-03-17T17:03:00.004Z

Tourist Board inspector gave our rental house five lovely stars today... and we celebrated. Dad by walking down to - AND up from - the Giant's Causeway and the rest of us by walking down, getting the bus up and stuffing ourselves with ice cream. Very proud of dad - it's a good leg stretch to walk back up - just proves how good a knee replacement can be!

365:073 Mother's day in the UK...

2010-03-17T17:00:00.004Z

... and a game of Jenga gave us all a giggle after lunch - though you wouldn't think it from this shot! My brother's in-laws joined us (the out-laws) and we had a lovely day in Bushmills.

365:072 New Irish

2010-03-17T16:58:00.003Z

Lovely concert in Ballymena tonight - chamber choir and some musicians - lovely lovely lovely music. The guy in front wasn't taking part....but he had a great "ear" for music....

365:071 Inside out?

2010-03-13T00:24:00.006Z

A snatched pic from the car today while waiting for the lights to change (does that still count as driving?!). Not sure what the idea was but the site was close to the art college.... so some great meaning no doubt. It's colourful.

365:070 Posh nosh

2010-03-11T19:15:00.004Z

A leaving "do" here this evening for yet another work colleague who's taken voluntary redundancy. Name means "son of William" - so do daughters get a look in?

365:069 Ignore the mug... the contents are an illustration.

2010-03-11T19:01:00.008Z

So, a nice story that illustrates beautifully the (mystifying) reverence held by Irish mothers for their sons. A colleague's brother had just started university and was visiting another student's flat.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" asked the host. "Lovely, yes please" was the reply.

"Milk?"

"Yes please."

"Sugar?"

"Yes thanks."

"How many?"

"I'm not sure, my mother usually puts it in."

You couldn't make it up could you. Needless to say, this story will follow him for life.

365:068 No red sails in the sunset

2010-03-10T00:08:00.003Z

Groomsport harbour with the Copeland Islands in the distance - taken on the way home from work - around 6.30pm. I love this clean cold spring light. Still too Baltic to be in a boat mind you!

365:067 Bye Mary...

2010-03-08T23:25:00.003Z

Despite being in Omagh today, my pic of the day is from Good Book Club this evening. Mary's heading to Scotland to work and we're going to miss her. Great to see everyone this evening - especially Zarina - and Anne G called from teaching practice in Cornwall. I love these gals.

365:066 good to go...

2010-03-08T23:11:00.004Z

...not that a few dollars will take me far - and I'm only going as far as Omagh tomorrow anyway - but am tidying up the bureau tonight. I was emptying a travel purse and liked the shiny 2009 bucks. I have another sack of coins from European countries in the pre-euro days - francs, marks and lira etc. No idea why I've still got them since I'm really not a hoarder, but can't bring myself to part with them.

365:065 teeny weenys

2010-03-08T23:03:00.005Z

I love these wee pencils a colleague bought me a while back. Having seen me colour coding script takes in studio with a big set, he reckoned these would be easier to carry. I reckon he thinks I have borderline OCD -so just to prove it Simpso - I haven't put the pencils in the right order. (Ok, it's killing me...... but they're still random!) They're so tiny. Such a thoughtful thing to do and since I've a script to work on this week, they're back in action.

365:064 Spring beckons

2010-03-08T22:58:00.003Z

So it's time to get the seed store built up...looking forward to getting some planting started. Couldn't resist the flowers and the kids stuff - serious veg list underway.

365:063 eggs

2010-03-04T21:57:00.006Z

I love these soapstone eggs from Kenya - always cool to the touch and they bring back lovely memories.

365:062 Memories

2010-03-03T23:41:00.005Z

So, a treasure today. My grandfather who was with the RAF in Italy sent this box home to his family in Belfast and no one could open it! Dad - who was 11 or 12 at the time worked out the secret opening mechanism and the goodies inside were for everyone - silk stockings for gran and all the sisters, sweets and postcards for the children. It's been a great conversation piece as others try to work out how it opens.

365:061 potty

2010-03-03T00:59:00.005Z

Being a "bucket of tea a day" girl, I'd been too busy all morning and was absolutely desperate for a cuppa this afternoon - so when it eventually arrived... ah bliss.

365:060 Spring bulbs

2010-03-02T00:29:00.003Z

Irises this time... maybe a floral theme this week? They're the first of the spring bulbs to pop out in the wall planter among the violas. Just bootiful.

365:059 Toolips

2010-02-28T23:10:00.001Z

Spring is in the air... toodlepip February.

365:058 Lisnawhatsit

2010-02-28T14:45:00.005Z

So, all attempted pronounciations please for where you'll arrive at 3 miles down the road? (Had me stumped for years.) Oh - and an extra few from the lovely sunset light up in the north coast on Saturday night. So, the Causeway museum, the beautiful sky over the ruins of Dunluce castle, the entrance to the Bushmills Inn and John Willis' painting of Finn at the pub . Enjoy.

365:057 dad?

2010-02-28T14:43:00.003Z

I've never worked out what dad was doing half a mile away....

365:056 Marmalade

2010-02-25T23:54:00.003Z

Not strictly "signs", but "labels" - same principle though? Now, anyone for hot buttered toast and a pot of tea to go with the marmalade?

365:055 Sharks ahoy?

2010-02-24T23:55:00.002Z

This one's from the local harbour - alternative text - "sharks chase boat up ramp"?

365:054 Signs of the times

2010-02-23T19:34:00.003Z

Not a planned theme following yesterday's "stop" sign for the birds... but this one made me giggle this morning. It's on the drive through the grounds of one of the local schools (just at the Belmont Road roundabout for those with local knowledge!) and I think it says a lot.

D'you think it's a reflection on the old joke about this particular school educating the "cream" of society?!

365:053 "Fowl" play

2010-02-22T19:10:00.004Z

Well it amused me this morning - the suggestion that the winged wildlife around Lough Neagh might be literate - they all seemed to be following instructions. I guess the guys perched on the railings were getting impatient though and none of the swans seemed to know why they had to "stop"!

365:052 0710am

2010-02-21T14:17:00.003Z

Lovely surprise this morning when I had a look out the bedroom window - a fresh snowfall - unusual when we're just yards from the beach.

365:051 Down time

2010-02-20T23:19:00.004Z

It's been a long run of panto, but at last I've reached the end. Now for some serious down time and when I'm too tired to "read", one of my favourite ways is to mosey through a pile of cookery books. Not the most inspiring pic today - but I'm so out of energy to even think :o{

365:050 Tomorrow's menu

2010-02-19T23:50:00.005Z

Saturday's coming... and so are "the kids" - looks like finger lickin' fried chicken on the menu.

365:049 Crush hour

2010-02-18T22:22:00.003Z

Every time I go to London for the day on work business, it takes an average of five minutes on the tube to remind me why I chose to work back in Belfast. Looonnng day.

365:048 Early start

2010-02-17T23:27:00.004Z

So maybe I should be in bed already?

365:047 Ah Bliss

2010-02-16T23:43:00.005Z

My favourite kind of "radio" therapy - BBC Radio 4, a mug of tea and peace and quiet. Perfect end to the day.

365:046 Harlem moment

2010-02-15T18:20:00.004Z

So a new camera - seems sharper than the other one - and a tea break out of the office with Mark. Perfect for the first photo in the camera - almost as perfect as the apple tart... Cheers McC!

365:045 Love is...

2010-02-14T23:27:00.002Z