Day 2 in which we meet St Patrick and are a little Star-struck

In fact this is Day 3 and I'm sitting in a shower cubicle at 10 to 1 in the morning of Monday 10th May, (I think!) The others are asleep next door, but having had a snooze on the way, and I can't tell you where to as it will spoil Day 2, if you get me! So back to Armagh and Day 2...

Pulling back the curtains this morning revealed another promising blue sky! The shower was hot and forceful, like having a body pummel, bliss, I can't believe I had to turn the heat DOWN, more than enough to wake you up and prepare for the day ahead. P had brought a radio with her and we really, really did hear the man say "to be sure, to be sure" even if Heather doesn't believe me... I can't wait to tell her that people DO say "Top o' the mornin' to ya" but I haven't had that pleasure yet....have to return the "smugness" factor somehow..."I know where you're going" indeed, Mrs MaccaPacca! It had been decided that brunch was on the menu, but first we needed to get P her first coffee fix and then we were off!

Tourist information first stop...Planetarium showing booked for 2pm, then off for breakfast....

Brunch came in the form of a fry up and more coffee, sitting in a sun drenched conservatory where P took off her layers and basked in it's rays. S sorted out my dongle and P and I did a quick Facebook status before moving on to the audio/ visual presentation of the history of Armagh, where St Patrick fitted into it all and how this small city manages to have two cathedrals!

We had 15 minutes to get across town and take our seats for the Pole Position show, which had us all in semi reclining seats awaiting the spectacle of the heavens above to open before us. We were not to be disappointed as the galaxy appeared before us and the night sky was explained in all its glory! Now, I don't know about you but yeah, I get the plough, I can see why it is named thus, however some of the other obscure shapes..is it me? Ursa Major and Minor maybe, cut them a bit of slack but some of the others...maybe star gazing goes to your head and it's just pick a shape, any shape and name it after a crab or an upside down woman with her hair hanging loose. The North star, how to locate it from the plough handle, up a bit left a bit, oh yes how could I have missed it.....So now I know why I have such naff navigation skills! Having taken the mick, it was actually very interesting and I think I learned something...unlike the man just over the way who nodded off and began snoring quietly...but not quite enough to avoid being heard by the entire auditorium...so thankful Adam was not amongst us, he could have "rendered the heavens asunder"! (sorry A, but I did have a flashback and can still hear R trying to wake you because E had thrown up. Everyone else could hear her except you, remember? Anyway, I digress and anyway, who says he's gonna read this anyway!)

It reminded me of these verses from Psalm 8 (reaches for Bible under showerhead..would you believe I'm sitting on a pillow, surrounded by a clock, camera and towel, incase I need to improvise a blanket!) The others are sure they are going to wake me up from in here, when they get up tomorrow/today whatever!!)

Gosh the writing is small....squint..

Verse 3-4

When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

We then had a wander around some exhibitions re Space technology and then went outside to the Hill of infinity (and beyond!) where there were loads of numbers about heat and distances and planets and I made the sign for this is totally going right over my head, and made my way up the head which had regular markings telling me in algorythmns (sp?) that I was equivalent light years from this and that...I plodded up the Infinity hill which thankfully did not go on for that long....the others were obviously more intrigued by this...many years of Star Trek voyager methinks! Although some guy who was looking at the markers at the same time as P said something to the effect of " haven't we got a great God" she was quite stunned by this, not the sort of thing random strangers look up and say to you, but agreed with him!




The Hill of Infinity

After this, a quick tour around Sainsbugs as D and I were on cooking duty. A quick coffee/tea stop outside with accompanying trolley, the waitress, obviously wanted to go home and tried to detach D from his jug of milk....nothing else..just his jug and he was still drinking his tea. There was NO WAY he was gonna be parted from the jug...it was a strange and surreal moment and then she went back to mopping the floor...We continued to sip whilst she semi lowered the barrier thingy, like the one we have in the kitchen at YCC that comes down from on high....but thankfully no decapitations were the order of the day...and S said she DID look tired so we were very gracious.

So back to the hostel where it was agreed that Dr Who was the priority before dinner. I managed to shriek out loud and embarrass myself...a little bit...no one likes to sit next to me in cinemas...

Pasta with salmon and prawn and a Philidelphia sauce with added fresh dill, some garlic bread and a side salad was the culinery delight, washed down with 2 bottles of wine (boys,I only had my usual half a glass...so who drank the rest?) Desserts were microwaved sticky ginger pudding and some other pudding, drizzled with cream.. I had Mueller Light which wasn't quite as interesting!

The evening ended with "View from a bunk" in this case it was S's, straight across to the sunset. D and P took photos at various stages and I tried to write up Day 1 blog whilst they kept switching lights off for a better photo!

I think that sort of sums up Day 2!





View from a Bunk!

Day 1 A Giant step for man...and woman..Armagh goodness, now where are we going?

So having rolled off the ferry, onward we went, northwards. The coastline scenery was beautiful and the roads meandered down through small towns and up gentle gradients clothed in various shades of green. I now know why this is name "The Emerald Isle". S had already asked me what my geology knowledge was like, which lead to our theory that the Giant's Causeway was on the agenda. We were proved right despite the fact that I had thought them to be off the North West coast and therefore miles away....(D rolled his eyes at this point) We almost had the Causeway to ourselves which meant we could clamber up and down the stones without having to dodge the hoards. The sky was totally clear of clouds, gorse in abundant yellow and the sea a deep azure blue, we couldn't have planned it better, or rather S. couldn't! We finished it off with a delicious meal at the nearby hotel and then S informed us that we needed to move on "as we still had quite a way to go."




An hour and a half later (on a faster road), most of which I slept through, oh the joy of being chaffeur driven like royalty, we arrived in Armagh at the Youth Hostel. It was 10pm and we had been awake since 3am. We had a room for 6 to ourselves and an almost empty Hostel! Tomorrow we explore and have a quieter day says he who knows and won't tell.....

Day 1 Away with the ferries!

Well the intrepid party left Yeovil at 04.08 and having let the chickens out, had a small breakfast, making sure my fluid intake was minimal after previous experiences where S likes to get in the car and GO for hours on end, leaving me wanting to "GO" for hours on end! We made our first stop at Gretna Green....(I rest my case...)

It was obvious that time was an important factor as we had a 10 minute stop which included a loo break, petrol refill and a coffee grabbed to take away! S kept his tension well hidden, we were oblivious to the fact that a ferry was booked. However having taken the Stranraer directions, it soon became clear we were heading for a ferry. We reached the check in at 11.30 exactly which was the boarding time on the ticket....S was relief personified!

I am now sitting on a huge Stena Lines ferry, complete with hen party on board, some dressed as leprachauns and, having missed the Captains announcement whilst queuing for lunch, am making a guess at Ireland being the destination today! The crossing is 2 hours long and there is free WiFi!! I can see "the Emerald Isle" in the distance and have taken my "Joy Rides"!

S says he forgot to remind us to pack a plug adapter.....does Ireland have a different voltage?

P has gone to look at the shop as S has made the error (in his tired state) of given her the information that there are reduced handbags for sale.n....I can only think of whether they have plug adapters!

The journey so far, between sleeps, has consisted of newborn lambs and beautiful countryside as we have ventured further North. I get the impression "I aint seen nothing yet!" As I write, the sun is glistening off the water and the sea is various colours of blue and green stretching out into the distance. A TV opposite is debating the results of last night....that's certainly going to continue for some time yet....

I am determined to embrace every moment of our time away, whatever each day holds. I know I will be able to stop and look, listen and learn.

Load a photo is taking ages, so I am abandoning the idea, perhaps another time!

We've only just begun!

To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive?

So..it begins! Last night a message was stuck to the front door it read as follows:


TAKEN (but not stirred)


You are to report to the P****'s drive for 4am Friday

Bring... yourselves plus

Photo documentation (Passport, photo driving licence etc)

One small suitcase (suggest not to exceed 23kg, but not critcal).

One piece of hand luggage (small rucksack/backpack suggested).

Spare pair of shoes.

Please pack clothes suitable for these conditions:

Typical for month...

Record high 23.6 C (74 F)
Average high 13.8 C (57 F)
Daily mean 10.2 C (50 F)
Average Low 6.5 C (44 F)
Record Low -0.9 C (30 F)

Precipitation mm 83.4 (3.28 inches)
Sunshine hours 180.60
% Humidity 81
Avg precipitation days 16

5 CDs per person allocation for CD autochanger.
As there may be a fiord involved here, travel medicine is advisable.

So tomorrow, dh and I plus S and P will leave Yeovil for 10 days for an adventure known only to S, hence the packing instructions! This is now the third time we have "boldly gone" some would describe it differently(!) with the eccentric explorer (whom we love dearly, no really we do!) to places unknown with a "Celtic Christianity theme" attached. We all have our theories as to various destinations that will be visited and much interest has been building over the last fortnight from many of you so that it seems good to bring you along to share the ups and downs, fears and excitements, plus few idiosyncracies that might make you smile! I have my camera, my dongle, my phone and enough leads for recharging and connecting various bits to various bits to tie myself up in knots...

So any ideas where we might be going?!!!!

Gentle pace Saturday

I love Saturdays where the day just unfolds at a gentle pace! Having spent the morning accompanying friends to choose their first chickens and then watching the latter explore their new home, we returned home for lunch and "garden plans".

Our chickens are now all geriatric but all bar one (Hattie) are still laying most days! Mabel now has the Acropolis all to herself and is living in luxury.

Dolly and Gert (in the foreground) not convinced about the camera!


The Cacti were planted out individually having been grown from seed and advised "not to transplant them for a year". D counted 18 definites, quite excited by them as they are a mix and we're not exactly sure how they will look. We're hoping that some will have flowers at soem point! We bought the seeds at the The Smallholders Show in Builth Wells last May. This year we will be on our "Mystery Tour" so maybe next year...

You will also see my Basil basilling...any one wants one, gimme a shout!



D has given the bay tree a "haircut"....again if you want some bay leaves, come and grab them, I have a HUGE pile of branches in the front garden!

The rhubarb crown we bought last year(?) is paying it's rent! We have placed this one in a different position and for the first time have decent crops....so exciting!!!


Okay guys, this is my Slimming World 1 SYN per portion pudding all ready for tomorrow's barbeque with friends....somehow I don't think eating outside will be happening.... The dessert gets great reviews by punters who are obviously impressed, so I'll take my chance. It is SO easy and I am getting to grips with fromage frais (low fat!) It is a blueberry clafouti., well cherry really, but you can choose your fruit. Both the blueberries and the eggs were homegrown so nice feeling...Apparently you eat it cold. Anyway here's the recipe..in faith, you understand!!!

Ingredients:

4 eggs
6-7 Tablespoons (tbsp) artificial sweetener
1 tsp almond essence
1 tsp vanilla essence
500g v low fat fromage frais
400g blueberries (or whatever!)

Preheat oven to Gas 2 , 150 C

Mix everything together except the fruit.

Put fruit in base of large flan dish
Pour over mixture

Bake for 1 hour (mine took an extra 10 minutes)

Allow to cool
Slice



Next was the turn of the mint. Am determined to get organised with this and have our own mint sauce supplies all year!


"drum roll"


I took a photo of the Marjoram hanging up to dry on our kitchen cupboard handles, but it was out of focus so I deleted it..another time!

I have planted "Cut and come again" lettuce and rocket in a car tyre as an experment. We have a few tyres that were left over from last years failed attempt at growing potatoes in them! We have one growing strawberries too. I will get some photos of them at some point. Apparently, you are supposed to line the inside bit so that the rubber doesn't leach out....the thought of "rubbery strawberries" isn't that appetising. It's a bit like lining a cake tin around the sides!
We still have two more tyres, one will grow courgettes, the other has not been decided. Good old Eden Motors...BMW tyres are bigger and better, so they say!!!

Well, the chickens are in bed and I will soon be wending my way upwards!
I still have my "Going with the Flow" 3 month update to write, so will need to get on with that soon...that one needs a bit more thought.

and finally.... a hearty soup made from scratch with everything chucked in (Samar are you reading this?!) Hopefully, in a few months it will be our own veg and even better, it gets an affirming nod from Slimming World. Today I have had to be careful as last night we went out with friends and I had the most delicious ice creams...Couldn't choose healthy as it was a set menu....what a shame! Weigh day is Wednesday and having lost a few pounds last week, I'm keen to repeat the same! The holiday week will be the challenge....


Now I am really signing off, night all!