Blogs from County Down, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, Europe - page 3

Took yesterday the 6.40 from Haymarket to Glasgow Central and had a connection to Stranvaer at the same station at 8.07.At Stranvaer the ferry of the Stena line is next to the station. The trip Glasgow Stranvaer takes about 3 hours and you see a lot of green, hills, meadows and a lot of unknown stations like Perswick international airport an hour from Glasgow. A small airport however with huge parking lots .The day started with rain but slowly slowly it became dry. On the way there are also meadows with only completely black cows. When these are the Angus cows the meat tastes better than it looks like when still alive. Other small stations like Maybole and Barhill where people get on and off the train and finally Stranvaer.Was able to take an earlier ferry ... read more

Hi everyone We're still in Northern Ireland having a wonderful time. The temperature is supposed to be around 20 degrees today ..... heatwave! Needless to say it's warm and balmy and very pleasant. Lots of birds about for the birdwatcher on our trip! On Sunday morning, Peter and Barbara made the 20 minute trip into Belfast to attend a Choral Eucharist at Belfast Cathedral. It is a splendid building and like much of Belfast was Blitzed 70 years ago this week. In the afternoon we spent some time with David and Barbara and their family Karl, Bronagh, Claire and Jack. It was a lot of fun and way too much drink was taken. Instead of a movie on the BIG screen in the lounge room we played games using X Box and Connect. This technology allows ... read more

The controversy astounds me. At first glance driving along the interstate my overwhelmed senses strain to take in all of the city -- the rich sense of culture found in the simplicity of a tall glass building situated just steps from a gothic stone cathedral whose mast stands high in the skyline leaves my mouth gaping. The mountain-top crowned with the name Napoleon's Nose for it's striking resemblance to a human nose (Napoleon's or not I couldn't say!) and the giant yellow cranes that hang triumphantly in the distance are only some of the distinguishing factors. Driving through the city on the freeway I'm reminded of how I once heard about a city under duress here. But like the international news in America, we are through the city and onto a new place before any of ... read more

Last Day of Summer? Bank Holiday Mondays are usually spent nursing hangovers or staring at the pissing rain. Today was different - superb blue skies, roasting sunshine and everyone up early enough to get amongst it. With our new National Trust membership in the bag, we got out of the house and on the road to Killinchy for lunch at Daft Eddies. Situated on an island in the Lough alongside the ruins of Sketterick Castle, it is always fairly good but on a sunny day really comes into its own. We got a table outside and began with oysters. As usual I stuttered on my first but it was really good. Leanne wasn't so impressed but Shannon seemed a convert. Angela threw hers down coupled with a shot of Bloody Mary. That's the way... Afterwards, we ... read more

Felt like a home coming of sorts.... read more