NorthDownMuse

Illumination

Derry has had an Illumination Festival on for two weeks, so I decided this was a good time for an impromptu visit. I drove down Saturday afternoon after ticking off a long list of chores in Belfast. I looked around the shops in city centre, although my main destination--a group

Toy

I don't lavish Paddy with toys because they don't last. Feb

A record!

It's been more than a month since I posted! Partly because I've had difficulty uploading photos from phone to Google and then downloading onto my laptop. But also maybe winter doldrums. I am pretty listless at night. Although now the days are starting to get longer

Full gallop

That's how it feels since I've been home. I got home Monday morning (10 Jan) after 20 hours of travel. The first 1.5 hours of the drive to DC was in and out of heavy fog. Most of the next 3.5 hours was during

Time warp

When I'm at mom's I fall into a time warp. It's such a different life to Northern Ireland--no 9-5, no dog to walk. It's a bit disorienting. But I stay very busy and the time slides by too quickly. The largest categories

Very vegan Christmas

I was in charge of Christmas dinner. Which was a 'meatloaf' made with lentils, mushrooms, nuts, sweet potatoes and Worcestershire sauce. With a side of Brussel sprouts, butternut squash, nuts and crainsins with maple syrup and cinnamon. Big hit. And Sainsbury mince pies. This is the 8th Christmas

Killer muffins

At 7 a.m. I catch a shuttle to the airport and immediately another shuttle to the rental car agency. I'm in my car and exiting the airport by 7:30 a.m. I had stressed a lot the previous night over the first half hour of this

You can count on me

"I'll be home for Christmas... you can count on me..." and Aer Lingus. Taxi arrives 7:05 a.m. and I take very sad leave of my dearest Paddy. I'm well early for the 7:45 a.m. bus to Dublin. Talk to an

Pre Travel

Monday: Take boxes to The Larder from me and a neighbour. Putting me a wee bit behind at work. In the evening, book a car to get me from Parkersburg back to Washington, buy car insurance for the rental car and travel/health insurance for three week trip to America.

Crimbo

Good thing I have the house decorated--I had two friends over for wine and nibbles on Thursday and I had 16 people over for coffee and treats after our weekly walk at Stormont. Here is the table laid for my two friends; I didn't have time to take

That festive feeling

I definitely got in the festive spirit in London. How could I not? (Pictured above, a hall in the Royal Academy.) This weekend, it continued. Saturday morning, after walking Paddy with the neighbours, I went to an artist/craft fair with Fiona and Ann. It was very festive and we

MOTB

In the context of today's post, that stands for Mother of the Bride. This is a photo of the Climate Action 100+ team at the party. Marshall, Jasna, Kerri-Ann, me, Ben, Rosie and Livia (six nationalities represented). I feel like we look like we're at a

Shop until you drop

I left the hotel around 10 a.m. and spent more than 4 hours walking around London (with two, and then three heavy bags). I took this photo because it cracks me up that even temporary hoardings have window boxes in London. From this building I descended Cockpit Steps, then

Party time

I began the day with a walk to Parliament, passing Westminster Abbey on the way. Here are three British icons: Westminster Abbey, a double decker, and 007. Two more icons. I worked Friday, but also took a nap in preparation for the big night. I took a selfie after getting

Thanksgiving @ La Clique

Thanksgiving week was festive. Monday I had bookclub (via zoom), when we discussed Giver of the Stars. However it was my 5th zoom meeting of the day, so I was a bit screen weary. I've read three books recently: Olive Kitteridge, the aforementioned, and Midnight Library. I'

Spencer

The week commencing 15 Nov. included a walk with Paddy's new dogsitter, so she gets to see him off lead--he's a very good boy. Thursday's highlight was a film on the rights of nature, done by law professors at Queen's. It was

Lisnabreeny & Cregagh Glen

I spent a lot of time during the past week on travel. I have booked airfare to go to the US Dec. 19 to Jan. 9. And I'm going back to London for a big year-end bash that is also a farewell for our CEO. I have a

Dublin, London, Belfast

I took mom to Dublin Airport Oct. 25. The following week I was in London. PRI's back to office policy has different teams in the office on different days. Communications is Wednesdays. So I was in the office Tuesday afternoon and all of Wedsnesday, but flew home Thursday.

Best for last

When I have visitors, I take them up the Antrim Coast road--a gorgeous drive. I've never taken mom on it because we usually do a big trip somewhere else (Ring of Kerry, Wild Atlantic Way, Fermanagh Lakes, Powerscourt). By the time we get to Belfast for the second

Mom’s social calendar, cont'd

My friend Ann O'Dwyer was meant to come over on Thursday and take mom out for the afternoon, and then have us both for dinner. She had developed a bad cough so cancelled, allowing me to add Helen Miskelly to mom's rota. Mom went to Helen&

Mom’s social calendar

Monday night I hosted book club at my house--eight women who are in their mid 60s and upwards and all very careful about whom they hang out with. When I wasn't working Monday, I was moving furniture, hoovering, and cleaning wine glasses, platters, etc. Mom is in the

The boring part of the trip

So the fun part is over, and now we are just acting normally. I worked Thursday and Friday while mom read. We got out for a walk each afternoon, as the weather has continued to be kind. We watched Strictly Come Dancing at night and an interesting documentary about Michael

Homeward James

Aelish collected me at 7:30 a.m. and took me to Murlough Beach. I find the Slieve Donard to be very picturesque, in case that wasn't already obvious. Aelish and I watched her little dog Lily run circles on the beach as we caught up on family

The good life, part 3

I went for a longer walk this morning while mom slept. I find the morning light mesmerizing. And constantly changing. I wanted to walk to Murlough Bay but it was too far. We are on a tight schedule this morning--down for breakfast in time to get to the spa by

The good life, continued

Morning was lovely. We enjoyed a sumptuous breakfast sitting in the bay window at the front of the hotel, looking out to sea. Then we drove into town and visited a few gift shops, then walked along the promenade, which reminded mom of the boardwalk in Atlantic City (but without