NorthDownMuse

Not staying put

While mom and I didn't go on our respective trips, we did make the most of our time at home. Friday we ran a few errands then explored the shops in Holywood and had lunch at the Camphill Cafe. We did a big shop at Tesco Extra, the

Best laid plans

Sunday morning another lovely breakfast--salmon for mom--then we visited the People's Park near the hotel. I regret not photographing the food--gorgeous pastries both French and English inspired. I bought a few books (because the stacks of unread books I own aren't high enough) then I had

Dun Laoghaire

Recent highlights: Mom had lunch at the golf club on Thursday with Eddis and Thea, who kept mom well entertained with tales of travelling to Syria, Pakistan and other Stans. While they lunched, I played golf for an hour and 10 minutes--a real luxury as the course was closed last

Seamus Heaney Homeplace

The past week has been a bit busier. Tuesday was our second swim at Lisnasharragh. Wednesday mom had a steakburger at the golf club--meat is something she gets only at restaurants as I would not be keen to buy or cook it. Thursday was lunch at the Stormont Hotel hosted

Settling in

First week of the year is closing. All good so far. Mom spends a good amount of time reading (Richard Osman's third mystery ATM) and at night we watch TV. Graham Norton, Escape to the Chateau, Love it or List it among the selections. I worked Tues-Thurs, however

Homeward bound

Dec. 30 was heading home day. After more phone chats with Emily, Bobbi, Dara, Julianna and Lola in recent days and lots of packing/repacking and cleaning and prepping a house for 2.5 months of vacancy... we hit the road. Mom's wonderful friend Janey not only drove

Parkersburg, WV

The trip over was unremarkable. I always am amazed when I reach my final destination on queue because so many things can go wrong. Not long after I traveled, 2000 flights were canceled due to cold weather. I wrapped one batch of presents for nephews and nieces and took it

Pre-departure

One of my pre-departure accomplishments. From this: To this: New cozy bedding for mom, quilt hung to cover thin wood doors into crawl space, and black plastic behind the doors. I have insulation left over from the big attic that will go into this smaller crawl space when I can

Dizzy December

It is full on. Today is 13 Dec. Since last I wrote--a lot of golf, a lot of Christmas shopping, 30 Christmas cards written, visits with friends, on and on. I visit city centre more in December than I do the rest of the year. I now have 15 of

D-i-v-o-r-c-e

Dolly--you have to love her. No really, you HAVE to. Everyone loves her. So today was the day. David moved out in July 2020, which meant we could apply for divorce two years later. It then took five months to get a court date--today. David had already signed the papers.

Losses, gains

Lately my focus has been on making the house warmer. Partly due to a November heating bill of 222 pounds. My monthly bill was 48 pounds two years ago. Thanks Russia! But I also need the house to be cozier when mom visits in January and February. To that end,

Black Friday

I've been getting black Friday sales ads for weeks, which is annoying b/c it isn't black Friday yet and we don't celebrate Thanksgiving here. But this weekend my Christmas shopping began. I leave for the US in less than a month and I&

Joe North

My old friend Joe Hand visited this week and, when Friday arrived, we headed north to Donegal. We unloaded the car at the house in Creeslough then went to Downings beach. On the way we stopped for a photo of Doe Castle, renamed Joe Castle this weekend. It is barely

Derry Girls

Friday morning I played golf at 8:30 a.m. by myself--my first time using the mats that are required throughout the winter. I'm in a winter league--actually I'm captain of one of the 7 teams–and I have to get in a minumum of 8,

Clowning around

In advance of Shandon Park Golf Club's Halloween party, I had a group of friends to the house on Saturday. Which created a frenzy of cleaning and decorating. My dining room centerpiece was courtesy of my back garden--three different kinds of hydrangea, maple leaves, and a small pink

Endless song

There's a UU hymn I love that begins: My life flows on in endless song, Above earth's lamentations... Hence the headline. After work on Thursday I drove to Derry for the International Choir Festival. On Thursday night in the Guildhall I heard the Polish Radio Choir,

The Lyric

Thursday night I bid successfully online for a painting in the Bangor auction. So I picked that up Friday then took Paddy to Crawfordsburn to give him a good run. You never know what you're going to see in the woods, like a fat mouse and his nibbled

Plan B

I was meant to go to Derry on Saturday and to play golf in a foursome on Sunday. Mary wasn't available Saturday, so I canceled Derry, and we got rained out Sunday. With lots of unexpected free time, I went to Mount Stewart on Saturday and to IKEA

Gone to the dogs

In more ways than one. For one thing, my neighbour's dog Crumble stayed the night with me on Saturday night, after Paddy had stayed at Crumble's for the previous two nights. She got bed privileges, like Paddy, and didn't stir all night. She slept

Shandon Ladies @ Lough Erne

Thursday morning my friend Patricia and I drove the two hours to Lough Erne for an away golf weekend--55 women from Shandon Park Golf Club in attendance. We stayed in a 3 bedroom lodge with four other women. Our tee time was 2pm and off we went to play 18

Helen’s Bay Organics

I played golf Thursday, Saturday and Sunday to get my game up to speed before going on a golfing weekend. Friday morning I went swimming at Helen's Bay with Ann (water temp. 57 degrees F), then we went to Helen's Bay Organics, where I bought a

Jared

I didn't watch any films on the way back, I wanted to sleep as much as possible given that I was to work the day I returned--after arriving at 8 a.m. Wednesday in Dublin. I caught up with work emails during a long layover in DC Tuesday

Memory Lane

Friday morning we checked out of the BnB after another massive breakfast. We drove to Margate, passing my Uncle Bill and Aunt Dana's home--unchanged since my childhood. We visited Longport and Ventnor Heights--lots of new development along the bay. I regret not getting a photo of mom on

5 nights, 5 beds

Saturday night I was in my own bed. Sunday night at the Columbus airport hotel. Monday night at mom's in Parkersburg. Here was lunch after I arrived on Monday: I love fresh corn, so I was thrilled. Mom spends most of her days on her porch in good

Ready for departure

Friday and Saturday were all about buying presents for mom's friends and family at St.George's Market, cleaning the house, mowing, packing, and having the house ready for the housesitter. I wanted to go swimming at Helen's Bay and play golf, but I kept