Muddling Through Monday.

My goodness me – it’s a hot, hot day today, which is following on nicely from the hot weekend that we’ve just had. It seems like summer’s here although there are storms due here over the next few days so I guess we’ll have to enjoy it whilst we can!

Nothing exciting to report at the moment, I’m afraid, but here’s a update with my exciting life…

Had a nice quiet weekend in the house as opposed to going to the Solid. Managed to tidy up the garden on Saturday and then sat out in the garden for a bit - but didn't manage to get a suntan. I actually only cut the grass as it was just too nice to do the hedge, then I went for a drive in the car after deciding that the hedge can wait till next weekend. Saturday evening was mostly spent watching "The Girl Can't Help It" (a film starring Jayne Mansfield with Fats Domino, Little Richard, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran) which I've always wanted to see but didn't ever manage to! Very enjoyable as it happens!

Watched the new Ringo Starr DVD (available from the link at the bottom of this entry – Buy your copy now, right?) which is just great!! I know it’s two years old, but it’s nice to have something new to add to the collection – plus there’s a few tracks on there that I haven’t seen him perform before. If you do watch it, look out for Ringo rockkkin in a cracking sparkly Def Leppard t-shirt. Also managed to squeeze in watching Sir Paul McCartney MBE palying Anfield stadium - excellent!!

I’m out on Wednesday night this week, as Colin Spaull (who appeared in the old and new series of Doctor Who) is up in Glasgow doing a voice over for a commercial. I met him in May at a Doctor Who thingy in the Central Hotel (the same weekend I met Karen) and he said he’d get in touch if he was ever back in Glasgow, which he is a fair bit. Nothing too exciting – just a couple of beers and a chat, but it should be fun. On the subject of Doctor Who, the Proms show is available on the BBC Website (for those in the UK only, I’m afraid) at the links below:

Part 1: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00cq3vg/
Part 2: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00cq5lt/

Booked up to go back to see Karen, Matthew and Rebecca in early September. It’s Rebecca’s birthday on 31st August and she did ask me if I could come over for it. It’s suppost to be a secret – but we’ll see how long it actually stays a secret! I'm guessing - not very long! I head over there on the 29th August to Belfast City Airport (as opposed to the International) and head home on the 6th September. Hopefully the weather will be as nice then as it is now!

The new Ringo Starr DVD: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ringo-Starr-His-Band-Live-2006/dp/B0018ODY00/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1217255715&sr=8-1

Diary of a Northern Ireland Tourist.

So, like I said yesterday, I am back from my wee trip to Northern Ireland. I was actually staying in Newtonards (east of Belfast and about 20 minutes drive from Belfast City Centre).

Sunday 13th July:
Got to the Airport nice and early for my check-in but whilst in the check-in queue, realised that despite packing my case earlier in the week, I’d forgotten to pack one important item – my passport! The check-in staff were really helpful and changed my reservation to the next flight whilst I made a quick dash home to pick up my passport.

Whilst at the house, I met Simon and Shirley Maxwell who had just returned from Gran Canaria and had stopped off at my house to pick up some stuff that they had left there the previous week. After a quick chat to them, it was back off to the airport to make sure that I didn’t miss the next flight. I called Karen to tell her that there was a change of plan – which she was fine with, and she said that she would still meet me in Belfast city centre when I eventually got there.

The next flight was delayed by an hour but I eventually arrived at Belfast International Airport and jumped on a bus which took me straight to the Bus Station in the city centre in about 30 minutes, where Karen was waiting to meet me. We decided to go for a quick drink before heading over to Newtonards, where Karen had made a pot of Irish Stew for tea.


Monday 14th July:
Woke up on Monday with a swollen eye, which meant that I couldn’t see very much out of my left eye. I had previously warned Karen about this problem, but it was well hidden with the addition of my sunglasses! Karen had arranged to meet her friend Lillian (who I’d already spoken to on the phone a number of times) for lunch so we headed out to a Restaurant called Romas (http://www.romas.co.uk/AboutUs.htm) which was very nice. It was such a lovely sunny day that after lunch, we all went to Scrabo Tower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabo_Tower) which has a great view from the very top.


Tuesday 15th July:
A quiet day was had, with a quick trip to Tesco’s in the morning, followed by a trip to Bangor which is situated north of Newtonards and then back home for Tea.


Wednesday 16th July:
With my eye back to normal, Karens’ children, Matthew and Rebecca, were dropped off at the house by their dad. I’d spoken to them over the phone lots of times, so it wasn’t too much of a worry for me to meet them. Matthew is 12 and likes Doctor Who, The Simpson’s and supports Liverpool FC. Rebecca is 11 and likes David Tennant and anything that’s pink! We decided to visit Karen’s mum, Joan, and take her out for lunch. I was slightly worried about this, but Joan is, like the rest of the family, very nice and friendly and we had a fun lunch in Donaghdee. It was a bit of a windy and rainy day, but we made the most of it walking around Donaghdee town centre stopping at a few pubs for refreshments.


Thursday 17th July:
Karen had to work in the morning but came back to the house at about 2:00pm. Nothing was really planned for the rest of the day, so I suggested that Matthew and Rebecca decide between them what we should do. After a lengthy discussion, it was decided that we go Ten Pin Bowling and then have a Games night in the house after tea. Matthew and I tied in the first game with Rebecca winning the second game. Quite a good bowling alley except for the fact that there was no bar there! J Back at the house after Tea, the board games came out - which was a lot of fun.


Friday 18th July:
Karen had to work again, so I was looking after Matthew and Rebecca. We watched Matthew’s Simpson’s DVD, and after Karen came back we again let the kids decide what to do. They chose a video night in the house so we rented a couple of movies and stocked up on some wine and had a quiet night in the house.


Saturday 19th July:
With Karen working again, so I looked after Matthew and Rebecca until she came back. We took a trip into Belfast in the afternoon before dropping Matthew and Rebecca off at Joan’s house whilst Karen and I went into Newtonards for the evening. We ended up back at Roma’s for a meal where I had Champ (mashed potatoes and onions) and Sausages before visiting a few pubs and having a thoroughly enjoyable evening.


Sunday, of course, I came home after saying goodbye to Joan, Lillian (and her husband John), Matthew and Rebecca. Everything went well, and I’m already thinking about going back over at the end of August.

Back from Ireland.

Well, that's me back from Northern Ireland and back to work as normal.

I had a good week, and will update the details of my trip over the next few days. :)