I do my best to keep promises and this is a trial to see if I can embed photos that everyone can enlarge by clicking on them.
Sinéad wants a Hat so fingers crossed XXXXXXX
We also had
Dulse and Yellow Man
Dulse is dried seaweed…. I think! Yellow man in Honeycomb.
Now I have news for you…. but I am very busy today and recovering from chasing a Toyboy yesterday, so it will have to keep until later 
In August 2005 I fell and broke my right wrist, or should that be the wrong one, since I am right handed! It was certainly a learning experience for me, but it could have been much worse. Another four inches to the right and I might have split my skull on the edge of a flagstone step or broken my spectacles and ended up with an eye full of broken glass.
It was a bright summer day and I fell in the back garden as I was collecting my washing from the clothesline. For once I was wearing a skirt – bad idea since it had no pockets. I am sure I blacked out for a moment and came too as I approached the ground because I landed on both hands. There was no mark on my shoes so I know that I didn’t trip. I have the habit of un-pegging a couple of items from the line before bending to put them in the linen basket on the ground. The sudden movement of my head down and then up again may have been the cause.
Now the first rule of falling is NOT to jump up! The shock of a tumble can hide the pain of injury. Knowing this I rolled over on to the grass after a minute or two. I lay for a few moments and then sat up slowly. Nobody came to my aid, but then nobody knew I was there. If something serious happened I could lie there for days. I live in a frost pocket and for this reason I never use my back door in wintertime. This was summertime and I was wearing a skirt with no pockets. No pockets meant my mobile/cell phone was sitting on my dining table and my GTN spray was keeping it company. That was the end of skirts for me I resolved to only wear trousers with pockets from then on. That way I would have the spray and phone with me at all times.
I was not sure that the arm was broken, but it was very painful. I knew I would not be able to wrap a bandage round it properly so I soaked a face flannel in white vinegar, squeezed the excess out the best I could with my left hand and put it round the right one. I used a couple of rubber bands to hold it in place, no worries they were large enough to hold the flannel yet not interfere with my circulation. This I hoped would stop it from swelling. Since I don’t drink tea I managed to make a weak coffee with plenty of sugar. While I sat drinking this a friend called unexpectedly. She insisted on taking me to the hospital, where we took our turn at A&E.
Examination and X-Rays proved that I had a hairline fracture, it could have been so much worse. I was a very lucky lady. When I returned to the waiting area it was 10.30 pm and I was sporting a cast from my knuckles to my elbow. When we reached home I assured my friend that I would be fine and sent her on her way. I had ruined her evening and didn’t want to detain her any further as she had a days work to face in the morning.
Once home I phoned Elly and she offered to travel up from Dublin there and then. I told her not to attempt to move that night and that I would phone again in the morning to tell her how I was.
I quickly realised that living alone with my ‘major’ arm in plaster was fun. Undressing, showering and washing my hair with one hand etc was interesting… I tossed and turned all night trying to find a comfortable position. Resting my arm on a pillow gave some relief and the painkillers began to take effect. By morning the rest of my body was screaming for attention and sympathy. I needed stronger painkillers so phoned the Health Centre where the ‘On-call Dr’ said he would leave a script at reception for me. That was handy, I couldn’t drive with a plaster on my hand and the thought of walking the mile and a half to collect it, before going to the chemist and then a mile and a half back uphill was not on. Looking out the window I saw a neighbour reversing his car out of his garage. I called to ask if he would take me to the health centre. He did, and waited while I collected the tablets at the clinic before taking me home again. He said that if I needed anything to call on them. I didn’t call nor did he or his wife ever check to see how I was managing.
I knew Elly was worried so I took a photo of myself with the arm raised and emailed it to her. Immediately came her reply ‘I see you managed to put on a bra one handed!’ I did with difficulty, and succeeded in cooking my meals, washing my dishes as well as all the other chores about the house. I missed driving so contented myself at home, my left-handed mouse skills improved quickly and a multitude of other skills with it. I had made a start on Elly’s wedding outfit but had to leave it on hold for the duration.
I bought two sponge balls the size of tennis balls and used them to exercise my fingers every day and I went for walks. I taught myself to use PowerPoint and prepared a presentation for a family gathering. Two ex-work colleagues, one was the girl who took me to the hospital, came a few times and brought dinner clearing away the dishes before they left. They took me grocery shopping and out for the odd evening.
When I was due to return to the hospital Elly insisted in travelling up to take me for the appointment. The plaster was removed and replaced with a splint. The sight of my wrist and palm was a shock the bruising ran from my fingers and half way up my arm. The Consultant repeated over and over that I was a very lucky woman! When we left the hospital we went for a coffee and then travelled straight to Dublin. Elly thought that a change of four walls was what I needed. I stayed 10 days and it did me good, Elly and George took me back up the road once more doing a big shop for me on the way. While Elly packed everything away in one portion sizes George cut the grass and generally tidied up for me.
I appreciated all that Elly, George and my two girlfriends did for me and will never take my right hand for granted again.
A grandparent
A 6 year old was asked where his grandma lived.
”Oh,” he said, ‘’she lives at the airport and when we want her we just go get her. Then when we’re done having her visit, we take her back to the airport.”
0~0~0~0
Grandad is the smartest man on earth! He teaches me good things but I don’t get to see him enough to get as smart as him.
0~0~0~0
It’s funny when Grandad bends over, you hear gas leaks and he blames the dog.”
A little more colour from yesterday.
My FinePix A330 worked hard yesterday so I must recharge my batteries and those of the camera.
On the 16th December 1756 George II granted to the Earl of Donegal the right to hold: ‘Two fairs yearly at the Town and Lands of Ballyclare’.
At first the fairs were markets for buying and selling animals and goods but soon they grew to four in a year. The May and November fairs became the most important as it was there that the farmers hired their labouring men and servant girls for the next six months. The May Fair was traditionally held on a Tuesday in late May but in the nineteenth century such was the demand for horses that the Monday was given over to the trade.
Local farmers needed horses to plough and transport their produce, while Belfast traders sought carriage horses and sturdy animals to pull carts. Any of the bakeries alone would need a hundred animals. The great days of the horse fair ended with the First World War and growing mechanisation.
Old photo thanks to Ballyclare Historical Society.
This photograph was taken in 1907 the Thatch pub on the left was replaced by an Ulster Bank branch. The small cottage on the extreme right is the oldest dwelling in Ballyclare where the Presbyterian minister hid some United Irishmen after the Battle of Antrim in 1798
In the nineteenth century the working day was from dawn to dusk the May Fair day was the only break in the year when young farm hands could be free to enjoy some simple fun.
This year’s Fair began yesterday with the Main Street again echoing to the sound of horses being exercised and dealers shouting, while the area around the Town Hall saw the return of Cullen’s amusements, a Continental market and live music performances. The local football ground at Dixon Park played host to a Shetland pony show, a Teddy Bear’s Picnic and a display by the Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI) Dog Team.
The Fair will reach its climax on Saturday 24th May with the Mayor’s Parade and a host of activities in the Sixmile Park, including a rodeo show by visitors from the borough’s sister city of Gilbert, Arizona, helicopter rides, Trialstars Motorbike Team, World of Owls, a climbing wall, laser clay pigeon shooting and a military vehicle show. The festivities conclude with a fireworks display at 10pm in the grounds of the Leisure Centre.
I keep saying it – Where would we be without our commenter’s?
A ‘Strange but True’ themed day was suggested by Steph, so get your thinking caps on while you read this and then share your story.
One bright September morning when I was aged four, mammy dressed me up and put a large bow on my hair. We were taking my older brother to school. At the time I didn’t realise that she wanted to enrol me for the following September. The school was run by an order of nuns and Sister Patrick the Principal, announced to my mother that she would take then and there that day! I had no time to prepare and Mammy left in shock without (at that time) her only daughter!
My teacher for the first couple of years was called Miss Kierce. Naturally when I came home I talked non stop about her. Daddy said to me that in his part of the country (Co Clare) she would be called Kearse and that I was to tell her. I think it was the first thing I said to her the next day. The banter went backward and forward through me, and we discovered that she was from Ennis in Co Clare, not many miles from Kildysart where my father was born.
Miss Kierce asked if daddy ever went down to Clare and precocious little me said “Of course he did, he went to see Granny Kildysart!” So the message came home: “Daddy Miss Kierce says; next time you are going to Kildysart will you drop her off in Ennis!”
Weeks passed and eventually daddy was arranging to go to Clare, so I again brought messages back and forth. Times and dates were sorted and on the day teacher came home from school with me and she and daddy set off on the journey. Driving from Dublin to Ennis at the mouth of the Shannon in the days before motorways, gave plenty of time for questions to be asked and answers given. Daddy’s first question to all young women was usually “Did I know your mother?” Daddy did not know her mother but discovered that he knew her Godfather!
Miss Kierce’s Godfather was daddy’s Uncle Jim! The same Uncle Jim who came to our house for lunch every Tuesday and stayed all day!
Grand Uncle Jim
When I married Jack back in 1977, I wanted a simple wedding with no fuss. My friends were all well married and at 30 I was considered a very late bride (thankfully that silly talk has vanished)! I settled on a two piece outfit with crochet top and linen skirt in Ecru. It was right for me with my deep auburn hair. Jack as I have said before was older and walked with a slight limp due to injuries he sustained in Burma during WW11. Jack always referred to the injured leg as ‘the wooden leg’! He was a widower when I met him.
Walking up the aisle with Daddy who was ill.
Now we are married!
Several years later my brother was researching our family history. On a visit to Co Clare he spent several hours looking at the archives of the Clare Champion, a local weekly newspaper. He sent me a copy of a cutting. It was a description of a wedding. The date was 30 Jan 1900 and the Groom a widower, was marrying a woman much younger than he was. She had auburn hair. The description of the bride’s outfit told us it was the same colour as mine. The Groom did have a wooden leg. How do I know? The bridal couple were my paternal grandparents. The bride was Granny Kildysart!
Now you must have a strange but true story to share with us. I’m off to buy a horse, I’ll talk to you much later!
Confession time: Grannymar is a disaster when it comes to making pastry. My only success is the version used a couple of weeks ago for the quiche. Now when I need to use pastry for a recipe I buy frozen. At the moment Fillo is my favourite. I use oil or egg white to brush it.
Lemon Meringue Pie
Preheat oven to 190°C
100g Pastry of your choice
Line a 18cm (7”) flan tin with pastry and bake blind.
for the filling
2 eggs, medium, separated
225g caster sugar
1 lemon, juice & grated rind
150ml boiling water
25g cornflour
Reduce the oven to 150°C.
Place egg yolks with 100g sugar, lemon juice, grated rind and boiling water in a saucepan and mix well. Blend cornflour with a little cold water and add to the lemon mixture stirring all the time. Bring to the boil and pour into the baked flan case.
Whisk Egg whites stiffly and gradually beat in remaining sugar. Spread over the flan and bake for about 25 minutes until crisp and pale golden.
Red mum captured this picture last week of a crazy driver having her cereal whilst driving along the Quays in Dublin during morning rush hour traffic.
Then yesterday this arrives by email:
Driving to the office this morning on the M25 (UK) motorway, I looked over to my right and there was a woman in a brand new BMW doing 90 miles per hour with her face up close to her rear view mirror putting on her eyeliner!
I looked away for a couple of seconds and when I looked back she was halfway over in my lane still working on that makeup!
It scared me (and this coming from a bloke….) so much that I dropped my electric shaver, which knocked the bacon roll out of my other hand.
In all the confusion of trying to straighten up the car using my knees against the steering wheel, it knocked my mobile from my ear, which fell into the coffee between my legs, causing it to splash and burn BIG JIM AND THE TWINS, causing me to scream, which made me drop the cigarette out of my mouth, ruined my shirt and
DISCONNECTED AN IMPORTANT CALL!!!
Flaming Women Drivers!!!!!!!
So come on own up, which of my Toyboys was it 
While checking my Calendar, I realise a very special friend has a birthday today. In fact I have reason to celebrate a total of eight birthdays in the month of May and they are all Girls. I light a candle for each one in turn and think about them all through the day. I start on 4th and move on through 6th, 12th,15th, 17th, 21th, 23rd and 27th.
So gather round everyone and join me in the singing as we wish Many Happy Returns to:
Jen, Elly, Alice, Alice, Steph, Charlotte, Rose and Aline. May your day be special and remember that…
It is not how old you are, but how you are old. ~ Jules Renard
;) I have given you a clue… Now who can guess who has a special day today? 
Every week is interesting. The fact that I wake up each day is worth celebrating. Elly may not want to celebrate, but I do. So what was different about this week?
9th May
Ruth from Ruth’s Kitchen Experiments and from Ruth E blog emailed me
I got an email from a man who works for a marketing company who was involved in the Enjoy the Taste of Scotland event I was recently at in Glasgow. He is wanting to meet with some food bloggers in the general area of Ulster or beyond this Thursday evening (somewhere in Belfast I assume). I know you aren’t stricly a food blogger but I thought you may be interested. Are you free to come and meet up? Or just interested in hearing more? Get in touch and let me know. Free drinks included!
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for thinking of me. That meet up sounds interesting and I would love to tag along. All my trips to Belfast are planned nowadays and depend on my energy levels so all invitation acceptances have an ‘if’ factor!
Can you tell me where the gathering will be, ease of parking is a must as some days pain levels prevent me walking any distance. You really can’t judge a book by its cover! Inside my head I am 30, only wish the body would agree!
I look forward to more details.
Grannymar
Hi thanks for getting back to me so quickly!
I’ve still to confirm the details with the guy (Craig) but as soon as I do I’ll be in touch. However he’ll probably ask for suggestions of places to meet - is there somewhere in particular you would prefer for parking etc?
Ruth
I replied suggesting 4 possible venues all with plenty of space and free parking, then sat back to await developments!
13th May
Hi Ruth,
Any update on the meet-up this Thursday?
Grannymar
Hi Grannymar, Proposed location and time:
Kitchen Bar, Belfast at 7pm on Thursday
That suit ok? There’s parking nearby in Victoria Square.
Ruth
Ruth you are rather light on details for the Foodie gathering…
At this stage I only know to look for a lady called Ruth and a Man called Craig. They are both common names in these parts. That might be fine for 20 somethings but I like to know what I’m doing and where I’m going.
Most of the Bloggie meet-ups that I have attended down south, have had a spacific area pre-selected or marker e.g. Helium Balloons to make the link up easier.
I am not familiar with the new Victoria Square or how to reach the car parking, but will try to find out before Thursday. Any further details would be appreciated.
Sorry Grannymar.
People who are going are yourself, myself, Craig McGill (the marketing guy) and Niall Harbison from iFoods. It’s just a meet up for drinks, no meal unfortunately. Not sure what “format” will be other than a few drinks and a chat about whatever Craig is wanting to talk about, sorry.
As for a sign of where we are (good idea by the way) I’m not sure what to do… if I was to say I’ll be wearing a green/blue t shirt with a white cardigan would that help? Or if there was a paper bouquet of flowers on the table would that be better?
My mobile number is 07XXXXXXXXX if you’re lost or can’t find us.
Also I meant to say if you’re wanting to bring Elly (or anyone else for that matter) along by all means do!
14th May
Hi Ruth,
Thanks for getting back to me last night. I have taken note of your number. The idea of a paper bouquet on the table is a good idea or a Helium Balloon or two - visible from across the room. Is the bar on ground floor only or is there more than one floor, if so which will we be on?
Are there no other Foodie Bloggers in NI, or are they just not available? It will be disappointing for Craig if so few turn up.
Elly would certainly love to come But she is living and working in Dublin. You know the routine long hours at work, newly married and preparing for a move to her new home in the next few weeks. Her spare time right now is spent packing boxes, boxes and even more boxes! I only hope she doesn’t fall into one.
At this point I look forward to meeting you tomorrow night.
4.19pm
To Craig, Grannymar, Niall Harbison
Hi excuse this brief email (I’m sending this from my phone) but I’ll
email with more details later tonight.
I’ve had to change the location of tomorrows meeting to Brownes on
Boucher Road. Same time -7.30pm.
I’ll email again tonight with more details but please reply to let me
know you got this email.
Ruth
4.21pm
Hi Grannymar…. just wanted to reply to some of the things you said here too.
The bar is on the ground floor, with lots of parking just outside the door. And as I said in the other email I sent a few minutes ago that I’ll have a red helium balloon to mark the table.
I had emailed about 8 or 9 people, a few food journalists based in Dublin too, most of whom either had something on, have kids that they couldn’t get a babysitter for, or just live too far from Belfast to travel on a weeknight. All of them were very interested to hear what it is about so I will be following up and emailing them on Friday. Craig isn’t too worried though, he’s just pleased to meet with some people about it and get the ball rolling.
I didn’t realise Elly was Dublin based. I take it she’s moving within Dublin?
I also am looking forward to the meet up tomorrow night and meeting some fellow bloggers
Craig McGill to Ruth, Grannymar, Niall Harbison
Cool. See you then on Thursday night. I’m on mobile 07XXX-XXX-XXX as well.
Grannymar to Ruth
So we have a change of time as well as venue.
To Craig, Grannymar, Niall Harbison
its just been pointed out that the time is different from the original
time. Sorry had a ‘blonde’ moment and thought original time was 7.30.
So the time has changed too then
Meeting at 7.30 at Brownes on Boucher Road.
I’ll still email tonight with more details. Ruth
14th May 11:46 PM,
OK to fill you in on the details now…. sorry it’s so late, got home from work an hour ago and just finished dinner.
Well to explain the change in location - I had discovered our original location was having a bit of a gig and thought that may not be the best location for having a conversation etc. So I ended up being in Brownes today and thought it may be good as a new location, close to the motorway, quite central to Belfast and has parking outside.
I’ve also been able to book a table there (under my own name - Ruth Elkin) for 7.30pm. Seeing as most of us have never met I will have a red helium balloon with me to mark our table and help you all work out where we will be.
I’m hoping to be there from about 7/7.15pm in case anyone wants to be early etc.
I’m looking forward to meeting everyone! It’s great to be able to meet some fellow bloggers.
Sorry for all the changes and last minute information.
If you need anymore information or have any other questions please send me an email and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Ruth
Thanks Ruth,
That is all very clear now. I look forward to seeing you this evening. I have a note of your and Craig’s mobiles in my phone in case I have any problems, hopefully I won’t need to use them.
Craig McGill to Ruth, Grannymar, Niall Harbison
Ruth I think you’ve done a fantastic job in pulling this off – and good thinking on the venue change! See you then!
11.16am
HI Guys
Very sorry but have just been asked to record interview with RTE this evening so will have to cancel! Feel bad about that!
Make sure to let me know when the next one of these is and perhaps we could even make it a monthly thing where all bloggers meet up for food/drinks?
Apologies again for the short notice.
Regards
Niall
Craig McGill to Niall, Ruth, Grannymar
Niall, not a worry. If I had *cough* something to send you regarding an event in Northern Ireland coming soon, I take it would go to the address below yes?
Ruth to Craig, Grannymar, Niall
Sounds very exciting niall! Oh the celebrity life! Lol
We’ll make sure you’re clued into whats going on.
Also may have another blogger joining us tonight: coursework depending.
Well I made it to Brownes and met Craig and Ruth, Just the three of us.
We chatted easily with plenty of references to ‘A Taste of Scotland’ in Glasgow, that Craig’s company organised and Ruth attended a few weeks ago. The reason for the meeting was to talk about holding a similar event promoting ‘A Taste of Ulster’ here in Belfast. Balmoral Showgrounds, Tescos, Bloggers, Journalists and Ulster Tatler were all mentioned. Craig treated us to drinks (non-alcoholic since we were driving) and finger food.
Craig gave Ruth and I a DVD of ‘The Taste of Scotland’ so we would have an idea of what it was all about….
My DVD was blank.
I did manage with the help of a magnifying glass to work out the website address:
http://www.denvirgroup.com/home.aspx
Have a look and tell me what you think, I’m not sure if Tesco is a client of Denvir, or Denvir is a client of Tescos.
I am not sure why I was invited; I am not really a Food Blogger or a native of Ulster. I did ask Ruth who she had contacted and apart from Alan in Belfast the names were not known to me. I did ask Ruth if she contacted Deborah, she said yes but had no reply. Deborah please take a look at your junk mail and let me know.
I was also surprised that Ruth had not Twittered or blogged on either of her blogs about the meeting tonight! I never found out what the *cough* was all about in Craig’s email to Niall “If I had *cough* something to send you regarding an event in Northern Ireland coming soon, I take it would go to the address below yes?” Hardly a blank DVD!
Strange!
