Oh yes, what I'm actually here to do...!

I love my job!!!

It's the best :)

The picture could have been taken at almost any airport but I'm in Palma here,

Known to the rest of the world as Mallorca or Majorca. 

A Few Nibbles

Grilled Swiss Cheese and Ham on Olive Bread

&

Enormous Stuffed Mushroom Caps with Goat Cheese and Fresh Basil





I'm delighted to have found enticing places for groceries because cooking is becoming more exciting. My kitchen is not as ideally bright as I'd like so I'm enjoying the ingredient motivation instead. There are some larger stores I like such as Sainsbury's and Mark's & Spencer's, however it's the little places I love. The High Street of Antrim has the usual bakeries but also has a Polish store with a deli. Next to investigate will be Ballyclare. 

Also my neighbour introduced me to a local butcher who also carries fresh eggs, dairy and numerous other delectables such as local honey! His name is Harry and by the looks of the line ups in the middle of pretty much no where out in the country, he's well known for quality and selection. The sausages even put Canadian Bacon to shame... Speaking of bacon, maybe he does that, too! :D

Rea's Wood

The nicest, closest walk I've found so far is just on the other side of the Town of Antrim. It includes Rea's Wood, which is pretty much a forest by Irish standards I'd reckon, the shores of Lough Neagh and a river to walk along which winds its way past sailboats nearer the lake and past the grounds of an old castle which is now a lovely garden, right into the heart of Antrim. 

There's music in the garden on Sundays and if its not raining tomorrow I'll be going to check it out :)

Woolen Gem

When I arrived in Belfast, the kind man who runs the accommodation complexes gave me some information on events in and around the city. I found a wool event hosted by a museum and decided I would attend. Unfortunately I unexpectedly worked until 4am in the morning, but I went home and slept my eight hours and drove off to the Folk and Transport Museum in high spirits.  I wasn't sure what I would find, but I certainly liked it. This museum, if you could even call it that since its outside and covers a fair area, had much more to see than I saw because I was quite short on time starting out so late in the afternoon. Basically it is a village and little farms run as if we were living 100 years ago with a great amount of interaction from knowledgeable guides. 

I wish I had a photo of me helping to shear a sheep. I was delighted the farmers let me try! 

The sheep they keep are an original breed to the area which all have horns. I thought the horns a little menacing at first, but soon saw their horns are certainly an advantage to people when sheep wrestling (okay so just getting sheep into position for sheering and holding them there!) The fleece comes off like a vest and is so warm I figured the sheep was pretty glad to be rid of it. It's also full of lanolin, which I was expecting but it's much oilier than I predicted.

From there I watched some ladies spinning and I even spun myself a yard of two ply wool yarn. Pretty neat. Maybe I'll use it some day as a small detail.  Sadly they do not spin the fleeces from the sheep there as they say the yarn is just too rough and the only useful purpose would be to make a mat.  What about felting? Ladies did you think of that??? 

Now I wonder what they do with the leftover fleeces? 

Last I visited a small home where I had a very nice chat with the woman inside on natural wool dying. Very interesting indeed. She was dying over an open fireplace, so I'm quite certain this is as real as it gets. There was a little guessing game with previously dyed skeins and small jars of commonly recognized plants to contemplate as we waited for her dye bowl concoction to reach its completion. Madder I knew had to be the tuberous little root giving a lovely strong red colour, but I was surprised about the others, particularly the beets! They produced a lemony colour!!! There was a skein of a very vivid green which came from the lupin plant - flowers, stem and roots. 

Then she asked me what colour the yarn would be when she removed it from the bowl. It was pretty pale looking, possibly greeny-yellow. When she allowed it to contact the oxygen in the air it began changing colour and became a beautiful strong blue! I was impressed. It was like magic!  

Lovely Liverpudlians - Beatles Included

I missed out on Saturday during the day, due to some very frustrating EasyJet experiences, 

when I had originally planned to wisely visit Purlesque, a knitting and craft shop that 

will be closed as of the end of the month. Rather sad.

A view from the south side of Albert Docks downtown Liverpool 

I attended a wedding party on Saturday evening and enjoyed myself thoroughly with 

the long lost family, drinking much more than necessary and dancing and singing the night away. 

I was so busy having a riot I didn't even take a single photo. 

The location was the Hillbark Hotel in Wirral. 

City center area

Sunday I visited downtown. Initially I walked around somewhat aimlessly in the nearly abandoned city feeling doleful and glum, particularly because I was alone as usual... 
but after drinking a liter and a half of water and visiting a small museum with Egyptian antiquities, 
I felt quite dramatically recharged when I returned to the sunshine outside 
with all the city-goers who finally emerged.

I ate a scrumptious lunch and dessert at a bakery 
called Patisserie Valerie which was founded in 1928. 
I would certainly recommend this sweet spot and 
if I am in Liverpool again I will be looking forward to an encore. 
It is French in all the right ways - chances are its more than proved itself over the years. 

The highlight of entertainment was certainly the Cavern Club, though I cannot assure you the same excellent experience I was lucky enough to have in what looks like an underground mausoleum, though everyone was, I can assure you, quite lively! This is of course the home of the Beatles and it continues to host well celebrated artists regularly as well as play tribute to the Fab Four. I met a group of locals who were very fun and welcoming and we danced for four hours until I had to leave. I'm not sure if they drank or spilt more beer while I was there, but I'm quite certain that is why my clothes and shoes as so sticky!  I stayed long enough to catch two bands which were both excellent, long enough also that all shops were shut by the time I emerged and I missed out on post cards.  

I stayed in Bebington at the Bebington Hotel, a very sweet mini old fashioned version, but with all the amenities of a modern room and bath, plus a full English breakfast in the morning. Find it here. Very reasonable and close to transit. I must say I was impressed with the public transit; the information agents were more than helpful and kind. Should you need it Merseytravel

Right, next time: Take photos and buy post cards, or at least one of each ;)

Belfast Castle & Cave Hill Pathways

The castle isn't really a castle, is it? 

I suppose it is, but I like castles to have castle features like rounded or lengthy turreted sections and moats and some kind of weathered appearance which would encourage me wonder about its history. 

Belfast Castle as seen from the Cat Garden

It does have a cat garden which warrants a little stroll if you are in the area, 

and if you need to nosh there's a cafe inside the castle. The lower section of the property is reminiscent of the drive up to Mont Real with its winding drive, grassy slopes, pretty trees and slightly manicured mini gardens, and it certainly invites lolling on a blanket with a picnic.

 

The hillside above offers plenty of trails of varying grades. 

I climbed up into a cave on my way to the top 

but it's blocked off and not nearly as exciting as I'd hoped. 

The top is windy but gives a lovely view if Belfast harbour and beyond. 

Booties Revisited

I've made a number of pairs and variations of this pattern for wee booties. It's a quick and cute FO, 

if you can get past the finishing, as it requires a fair amount of needling to get them looking so perky and sweet. This pair was started just before I flew over to Northern Ireland and I was without the necessary tools to complete the project so they were a little delayed... But they don't have any feet to go on yet. Originally they were cast on for a particular yet to be born baby, but she was born so early and soooo tiny I may have lots of time to make a bigger project such as sweater and bonnet... Baby projects are high on my list because they are cute, admired and usually get worn.  They are also completed within less time than an adult counterpart. 

And one more

The stones are so large I felt as though I were part of a game board!

    We are enjoying the absolutely splendid weather - as you can see I'm looking quite happy :)

And More Causeway Photos

More Causeway Photos

The colours were so brilliant. It really is this green!!!
None of the photos have been altered from their iPhone original. 

Giant's Causeway

This may be the most well renowned area of outstanding beauty 

in Northern Ireland and is on the North Coast. Scotland is visible on clear days in the East 

and is actually much closer than I had anticipated. 

I was quite surprised to be going on this outing especially when I was informed 

approximately half way there. I was wearing flip flops and a very light shirt.  

Luckily for me it was perfect weather and I didn't need anything supplementary to what I had. 

I'm so glad I went on such a glorious day! 

Taken from the tall cliffs above the causeway.
Both the walk along the cliffs and clambering on the hexagonal stones - a must. 

Happy Birthday!!!

Once again, it's my birthday!!!!

I decided to make a cake I'd made before... The delicious Autumn Delight Cake. 

It's a spice yam cake, dense but not rich,

Vanilla brown sugar butter cream frosting,

Topped in candied pecans. 

This was actually quite a success in the ill-equipped kitchen.

Look what I made - no spatula!!!

Star Wellingtons, my gift to myself! 

Autumn Delight Cake

Binevenagh/Castlerock/Downhill Day Tour

Alas, another solo journey over the fields of lush green and fluffy, wooly sheep...

(Everyone else is really missing out!)

The Belvedere

This particular destination actually happened somewhat by accident. You see I have yet to buy a map so I am basically driving by guess.  Before I leave the house I look up where I want to go and take a picture of the map.  The roads here have names but they aren't actually signed, so often you are just at the whim of the roundabout arrow signage.  Usually I do well until I am approximately half way to where I want to go and then referencing the picture I took there is a great lacking of any detail from which to make good navigational decisions.  At this point I am saved by brown signs 

pointing the way to (an I totally love this expression) 

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  

Not that they are pointing to the specific area you had intended to see in the first place.  I was originally planning to go to the Giant's Causeway, but since I figure that's probably the only place I'll ever get any company on my outings, I was quite happy to go elsewhere, so happening upon wherever I might end up was just fine; and that place was the lovely Binevenagh/Castlerock/Downhill area.  

The Bishop's Gate is one way to enter.  

I did not end up going this way myself, but rather by chance through Castlerock instead.  

Castlerock was apparently made famous by the two train tunnels (the longest in Northern Ireland, 

and maybe all of Ireland, too) but it is it's charm and character today that 

attracted all those who knew where they would end up arriving ;)

Just look at the beach!  

The sand was soft and fine, but the water, frigid.
In the distance is Mussenden Temple perched upon the outcropping.

I walked the beach and enjoyed the little streets of the village while licking 

a delicious honey comb chunk ice-cream cone.

I couldn't resist such an intriguing flavour!

An Easterly View

There were even surfers albeit the waves weren't worth it while I was there.  

I spoke to a surfer who was leaving to try another location and he seemed quite miffed 

I did not know that Northern Ireland was well enough renowned for surfing.  

But then again he'd never heard of surfing in Canada either.  So there.

Although I have my eyes peeled for leprechauns, 

this area really had me hoping for gauzy white cladden princesses with flowing red locks adorned with a wreath of leaves being carried off by knights in battle-worn armour on horseback.  

I didn't see any of course.

The Downhill Demesne, is nearly a castle and quite in ruin.

For some reason I did not take any photos of the mansion... (nor did I count the windows - 365 - one for every day of the year it's said) maybe because I was just enjoying myself as I passed through the roofless rooms imagining what may have happened within years ago.

The house met it's fate with a fire sometime after housing RAF ladies and gentlemen during WWII.  

It seemed much older than that to me though...

Mussenden Temple - Library of Dreams!

My favourite building was the Mussenden Temple, which was not a temple at all but a library.  

What a fantastic idea to have such a building with it's walls lined with books right at the edge of a cliff high above the crashing waves of the sea.  What a perfect location to read or study or think!

 

I did note that sadly it does not seem to possess any way to be heated, which is not surprising since it's modelled after a roman building where chances are the ambient temperatures are quite pleasant, but what an ommission in a cool and wet climate!  

It is now occasionally used for weddings.

People should sing is here since just my footsteps had lovely acoustics!

As I was getting sand all over my own car I overheard a mother saying irritatedly to her child 

"Watch out now, I did just finish hoovering the car yesterday!"  

Oh how I do love the vocabulary around here!

I did find my way home easily enough.

A sea cliff covered in nesting birds with caves down below.  

While lying on my stomach on the cliff's edge, with my head peeping over, 

views of caves took me to the marvelous world of Enid Blyton and the Island of Adventure, 

and I almost wondered if I'd see Kiki or be told to wipe my feet.  

Then I remembered with a wicked grin, how my mother would shriek if she saw me stretched 

out like this so close to the precipice!

P.S. Demesne is pronounced 'demain' and means just the same as domain.