Tour Coming to a Close

Somehow, it's almost time to go back to Canada. Life gets busy when you either have company or are company for two months straight. It has been fun albeit a whirlwind adventure and the overall experience here leaves me torn about departing. Gypsy that I am though, I will surely become excited about the next phase and city! The question is: "Do I return to Belfast, or try another base?" We will see...

I know I'll miss the city and all its live music, the mild temperatures, the quality of the produce and Harry's. I may even miss driving on the left. I'll miss my fellow knitters and I'll undoubtedly miss the craic. Mostly though I'm going to miss my best friend I've made here, but maybe we will be reunited in May wherever we end up deployed.

To embrace the winter I'll be returning to I'm planning cross country skiing and skating.  With more time spent indoors I should have more time for studying various non-aviation related topics as well and that is a never ending list. Life is just so interesting!

I know I'm going to enjoy having my computer back, a room mate, my dryer and the library. Oh and did I mention, my ever so comfy bed!

The next few posts should serve as a kind of speedy review of the past month or so...

Cable Yoke Sweater in Use

Well it's not quite that cold out yet... It's still summer! But I'm just getting myself prepared for winter. Who knows when the cold weather will hit? When it does, I want to have warm clothes to slip on! In the meantime I managed to wear it for the photo without sweating.

                                  

I'm quite happy with the outcome. Another Vogue Knitting pattern. The fit is good... Some changes in the torso included shaping and honestly I could have reduced the width further.  The sleeves are short like the original pattern which I like and I'm guessing will make me wear it more often as my hands will be free. The yarn is from Knit Picks and is a pretty colour and I like the tweed, but I don't really love the texture. Kind of rough.  

 

My favourite part is the cable pattern as its complex and pretty, yet clear and has a Celtic influence. Of course when I cast on I couldn't have known I'd be here in Belfast to finish the project, but it is a pleasant coincidence. :)

Tiramisu Assembled

The result was good (and disappeared very quickly), as pronounced by Joe.

My opinion... Next time I'd make that cake just like Sprinkle Bakes because it looked so good. 

And since I'm saying next time, you can tell I'd make it again!

Yes quite yummy, but best if it sits assembled overnight.

 (I know because my fridge held the leftovers)

Counterclockwise, or CCW for those crazy abbreviators out there,
or anticlockwise for these Northern Irlanders from the top left:
 Some rum meringues I made from the leftover egg whites for decorationWhipped Cream
Zabaglione
Pastry Cream
Marscapone Cheese
Homemade ladyfingers
The coffee/sugar/rum liquid for dipping the ladyfingers

Tiramisu from Scratch

My friend Joe, who doesn't cook or bake, but who does eat with discerning taste,

 is who inspired me to create this dessert.  No he did not help me. In case your wondering.

I will take full credit, besides that given to my muse:

I took direction from Sprinkle Bakes (I LOVE her website and baking/desserts mmmmm....!) 

and through her, KeyIngredient (their app is rather handy) to create my cups of yumminess.

As it turns out this was a lot of work, more than I really anticipated, but each step is relatively simple, clearly described in the recipe and doesn't take too long.

I was somewhat disappointed I couldn't find any Ladyfingers to purchase, but the homemade result was pretty much a perfect representation and asking for them provided a funny moment with the girls who work in the little Spar in Templepatrick. 

 Ladyfingers before baking...

 ...and after :)

 Zabaglione 

Pastry Cream, not lumpy :)

Londonderry Night-Stop

Thanks to work I had the chance to visit Londonderry for a 24 hour night-stop as the crew refer to it over here. We arrived in the late afternoon by taxi from Belfast, very tired from our early morning. I intended to nap so I could stay up late to prepare myself for the following work day, but instead I went exploring. Luckily we stayed right downtown. No matter what other people may have said, Londonderry or Derry, I loved it! The center is so old and steep and interestingly laid out. It is also well cared for and covered with flowers...

There were many restaurants to choose from, many with fantastic menus, many close by, though we chose to eat at 'The Exchange' mostly because it is the closest to the hotel and by then it was raining (and my company, Captain-doesn't-like-to-get-wet, didn't, understandably, want to get wet).  My food was good - I had steamed salmon in a puff pastry shell with watercress and spinach sauce - and there was plenty of choice at reasonable prices, but what I was most impressed about was my Planter's Punch.  Afterward I went shopping because occasionally I do enjoy that sort of thing and do require new clothing from time to time... Lol you say? I know, I am a woman but actually the last time I went clothes shopping was April 2012, unless you'd like to count the wee sweater I bought in January or the raincoat in March. So there! ;)

I would have loved to take a black cab tour there, but that excursion must be left for a time when I have visitors as I'm sure it would be better shared.  

"Perfection is...

...an interesting place, but I don't think it should have a place of honour in the creative process."

Here's a glimpse of what I'm making now:

(Finished sweater pictures on the way)

I think perfection should be left to Mother Nature, although I would consider her a great artist!

A little Ireland for me

I said I was going to Dublin, but technically I was never there...
In actuality I went to Malahide, which is a town just north of Dublin, and Limerick, on the hottest days Ireland has ever experienced. Okay, maybe not. But I didn't bring enough summer clothes and it was sweltering! The locals looked like they felt hotter than me.

But it was beautiful!
Once again I'm sorry I didn't take enough photos, however I was busy enjoying the experience :)

I took a three hour bus ride to and from Limerick which is a pretty good way to get around.  Good system, good price, possibly wifi and definitely air conditioning. Just outside the city (by taxi) I went to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.  See photos below of the castle, a phone booth and a pub.  It was a gorgeous evening sitting out on the picnic tables of the pub in the sunshine with a small river flowing nearby and view of the castle, made oh so much more sparkly with Champagne. Two bus loads of wedding guests, bride and groom too, emptied out into the pub, but we preferred the outdoors.

Malahide was my favourite though. It is to Dublin what Sidney is to Victoria, except better.  People of all ages were enjoying the pretty village; its shops and restaurants and park along the seaside are quaint and welcoming. The large park that surrounds the Malahide Castle is precisely what I'd like to find behind my house if I really lived in Europe. There are trails for running or walking, grass for games and picnicking, ample space and well established grounds, even tennis courts and golfing! I even took a few jogs around the circumference myself... As in one per day, not two at a time! ;)

We ate out at a Thai restaurant on The Green (that's a street alongside a park) which was really rather delicious... Isn't Thai always the answer to Asian cuisine when you desire the flavour and the warmth that sushi just doesn't bring and do not desire the feeling you're about to go into cardiac arrest following your meal? Yes, Thai wins, never ties. I wish I could recall the name...
We also ate at Sale e Pepe, which sounds more Italian than it is in fact, but does boast locally sourced ingredients and certainly offers choices to the palate-restrained of the british isles. I wonder though... Am I just so used to Italian foods they have become ubiquitous in my culinary awareness?