Look what I found.  A little out of season

An Orange March!

7 ozs Self Raising flour
5 ozs caster sugar
4 ozs butter
2 eggs (large)
grated rind of an orange
2 tablespoons orange juice
4 ozs sultanas
2 ozs mixed peel

Place the flour, sugar and butter into a food processor.  Break in the eggs and process for 5 seconds.  Add the orange rind and juice and process for 3-5 seconds.  Add dried fruit and peel and mix.  Turn into a greased and lined 1 lb loaf tin.  Bake for 45 - 60 minutes.  Test with a metal skewer, if it comes out clean the cake is done. Cool in tin on a wire rack.

The Albert Clock

The Albert Memorial Clock Tower in Queen’s Square at the foot of High Street, is often referred to as Belfast’s, Leaning Tower of Pisa because the monument, completed in 1869 is slightly out of plumb.

In 1865 a competition was held for the design of a memorial to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s late husband and Prince Consort.  The winner was  W. J. Barre, who had earlier designed Belfast’s Ulster Hall. Alas, following some shenanigans  W. J. was not awarded his prize and the contract was secretly given to Lanyon, Lynn, and Lanyon, who had come second.  The decision maker for the prize was one of Lanyon’s partners who just happened to be a Belfast Member of Parliament! We think these antics are a modern phenomenon!  The construction cost £2,500 and was raised by public subscription, so following Occupy Belfast Mark 1 a public outcry, the contract was eventually awarded to the rightful winner Mr Barre.

Designed in “German Gothic” style, the 30-metre tower features a base of flying buttresses topped off with crowned lions clutching shields, above them a gigantic, full-length statue of Prince Albert in his garter robes. He is looking up the High Street. A two tonne bell is housed in the tower and the clock was made by Francis Moore of High Street, Belfast.

Back View of the clock from Meeting House Square

It was built on wooden piles on marshy, reclaimed land around the River Farset, which ran along High Street.  Over time these foundations moved and the top of the tower was leaning four feet off the perpendicular. Due to that movement, some ornamental work on the belfry was removed in 1924 along with a stone canopy over the statue of the Prince.

To prevent the tower leaning further and to repair damage caused by the elements and heavy passing traffic, a multi-million pound restoration project was completed in 2002. During the project the wooden foundations were strengthened, the majority of the decaying carvings were replaced and the entire tower was cleaned.

It has been beautifully restored, and the sandstone tower made pristine by having 3 inches shaved off each side, thereby removing the unsightly shrapnel markings inflicted by German bombs in WWII and IRA bombs in the “Troubles” of the 1970s.

It has been the traditional gathering point in Belfast for over a century on New Year’s Eve.

Crown Entry connects Ann Street to High Street. I suddenly realise I have few photos for this one but the story holds even without them.

Each of the entries now has a sign like the one above, with a red marker to show where you are. As you can tell this poster belongs one entry over, at Wilson’s Court.  Crown Entry does not have such a sign.

Crown Entry

Robert Read started the family letterpress printing business at number 12 Crown Entry around 1840. His brother Patrick was at that time a writing clerk.

In 1843, another brother Daniel, joined in the partnership and as the firm grew so also did the premises and it soon extended into number 10.

They became Letterpress Printers and Lithographers, by 1850 they had become publishers and in 1855, they founded The Belfast Morning News a tri-weekly newspaper.

It changed title to the Morning News in May 1882 becoming the Morning News and Examiner two months later. In January 1883 once again became the Morning News and remained so until August 1892 when it was incorporated with Irish News.

The newspaper has continued to evolve and modernise with an online version today.

I wonder what Robert would think of the journey his dream has taken?

While researching for this post I found a link to The Criobh Ruadh Club, which was in Crown Entry, popular for more than Irish dancing classes and billiards!

May I be the first to welcome back The Old Fossil, an old member of our fold of Loose Bloggers.  The term ‘Loose’ allows for members to drift off (as many have) when issues of family, health, love, work or ailing computers require extra attention.

Tee O, Foss, Old Foss or TOF (you have more handles than Ganesha has hands!),  may your words run free bringing fun and wisdom for all of us to share.

Our topic this week, chosen for us by Ramana is:

Perceptions

When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. ~ Mark Twain

Granny Biscuits ran a corner shop. It was the gift she longed for, and received from her new husband to mark her marriage in 1909. She continued to work in the shop for thirty eight years. The hours were long and the days busy. Unlocking the door well before 7 a.m. in order to catch and serve the men folk on their way to work in W.D. & H.O. Wills, a tobacco importer and cigarette manufacturer, Jameson’s Whiskey Distillery, Guinness Brewery or Jacob’s Biscuit Factory.

The purchases were regular and Granny Biscuits soon knew who wanted a newspaper a packet of Gold Flake or Woodbines. She was first to hear the local news of hatches and dispatches from the night just passed. Each hour had regulars, right through to closing time at 10 p.m. Quite often there were knocks to the door after business hours if a family ran short or unexpected visitors arrived.

There was Thomas who only came to the shop after hours, he was quiet and shy and as regular as the local church bell. The list never varied, so in a quiet moment at tea time Granny B weighed the butter, sugar, and potatoes before putting them with the other items in a box under the counter. It saved time and pleased the silent shopper. Thomas paid up front, there was no need for tick. How he earned his money or spent his time was never discussed or known.

Johnnie on the other hand was well known in the neighbourhood, if only for the fact he carried his violin case everywhere. He would duck into the shop when there was nobody about. Once the groceries were weighed and wrapped Johnnie would put the violin case on the counter, open it and set in the various items. Going out through the door he carried the case like it contained a Stradivarius and whistled his way home once more.

Mary was four foot nothing and neat as a new pin. She was a good baker in her day, but her family were all away – three to America and two to London and she was resigned to the fact they might never return. The hat that she always wore hid large areas of alopecia areata. Now a widow with no pension, the letters from America were important to help pay the bills. If the post was slow, the groceries were listed in the book and bill would sit until the dollars came.

Noisy Nelly never liked to wait. She bustled in as if the whole world depended on her, her ample bosoms edged other customers out of the way. She never bought more than a couple of items. The regulars let her away with it, they were glad to see her go and return to their chat. Noisy Nelly became a mouse once inside her own door, her husband lashed out not alone with him tongue but with arms and feet when he was upset, it didn’t take much.

Granny Biscuits knew all the names and back stories and kept them close to her chest. She had a generous heart for her hard working husband, seven children, friends and customers.

Years later she was blessed to see another generation with her 28 grandchildren. The early children visited the shop and a treat was to select a biscuit from the large glass topped Jacob’s tins. They called her Granny Biscuits and the name stuck.

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Run along to see the other treats available today from our active members: Delirious, Maria/Gaelikaa, Magpie 11, OCD writer, Padmum, Paul, Ramana, Rohit, The Old Fossil, Will Knott.

Maria SilverFox may not join us this week as her computer is away for repairs.

One of them was known as Sister Mathematical, and the other one was known as Sister Logical. It is getting dark and they are still far away from the convent.

SM: Have you noticed that a man has been following us for the past thirty-eight and a half minutes? I wonder what he wants.

SL: It’s logical. He wants to make love to us.

SM: Oh, no! At this rate he will reach us in 15 minutes at the most! What can we do?

SL: The only logical thing to do of course is to walk faster.

A little while later…

SM: It’s not working.

SL: Of course it’s not working. The man did the only logical thing. He started to walk faster, too.

SM: So, what shall we do? At this rate he will reach us in one minute.

SL: The only logical thing we can do is split. You go that way and I’ll go this way. He cannot follow us both.

So the man decided to follow Sister Logical.

Sister Mathematical arrives at the convent and is worried about what has happened to Sister Logical.

Then Sister Logical arrives.

SM: Sister Logical! Thank God you are here! Tell me what happened!

SL: The only logical thing happened. The man couldn’t follow us both, so he followed me

SM: Yes, yes! But what happened then?

SL: The only logical thing happened. I started to run as fast as I could and he started to run as fast as he could.

SM: And?

SL : The only logical thing happened. He reached me.

SM : Oh, dear! What did you do?

SL : The only logical thing to do. I lifted my dress up.

SM : Oh, Sister! What did the man do?

SL: The only logical thing to do. He pulled down his pants.

SM: Oh, no! What happened then?

SL : Isn’t it logical, Sister? A nun with her dress up can run faster than a man with his pants down.

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And for those of you who thought it would be dirty,

Say two Hail Marys!

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Thanks Ello for this weeks contribution.

It must be about forty years since Adam asked his father, “What does a tickle look like?”

What a wonderful question!

It became the inspiration for his father Roger Hargreaves to invent Mr. Tickle.  After initial rejections from publishers, Mr Tickle made it onto the bookshelves in 1971, and was soon followed with Mr. Greedy, Mr. Happy, Mr. Nosey, Mr. Sneeze, Mr. Bump, Mr. Snow, Mr. Messy, Mr. Topsy-Turvy, and Mr. Silly. The books cost 20 old pennies each, and sold a million copies within three years.

Mr Tickle and all his friends in Mr. Men Land found their way into our home and our hearts when Elly was a toddler.  They brought fun and an early love of books to her, as I am sure they did, for many a young child.

My story goes back to those precious toddler days.  Miss Elly was fourteen months when she first walked.  Why would she try any sooner, when she could cross a football field faster than flash lightening? She moved like a crab using her two elbows and right knee to pull and push herself along.

She certainly didn’t want to stay in one spot for longer than two minutes when there was a myriad of wonders to explore.  I soon discovered that anything with pages held her attention. Books, magazines, colourful catalogues and advertising leaflets all played a part when I was potty training her, and later, while teaching her to sit on the throne.

The Mr Men Family were her favourites, so much so, that a stack of those books soon built up in the bathroom always at the ready to while away the time.

One evening Jack and I attended a fund raising dinner and dance for some charity. Our group filled a table.  As the evening was drawing to an end, we were still full of fun and conversation, nobody wanted the fun to end.  Since we were the only couple with a young child and needed to return and relieve our babysitter, I suggested we adjourn to our house for a nightcap. Everyone agreed.

Soon we were home, the fire flickered brightly and our glasses were charged, the party and the stories continued. One of the men slipped out of the room, he was rather fond of his pints and a bladder can only hold so much…

It was a good ten minutes before he rejoined the group.  His hands were full with the stack of Mr Men books. He announced to all that you got good value in our bathroom as he handed round the books to all our friends!  His children were all at various stages of university life, so perhaps they missed out on these wonderful books.

When Elly moved into her own home I half expected to find the walls of the downstairs bathroom to be book-lined.  Oops! George will kill me for reminding her of another job she might like him to do.  Please don’t tell her.

In 2011 an anniversary edition box set became available with the first ten Mr. Men books in hardcover: Mr. Tickle, Mr. Greedy, Mr. Happy, Mr. Nosey, Mr. Sneeze, Mr. Bump, Mr. Snow, Mr. Messy, Mr. Topsy-Turvy, and Mr. Silly.

I am surprised that Elly has not mentioned it – she could always put them in the bathroom!

I was aware that in German “Liebster” means dearest, or favourite.  Here I become confused – I will return to this point later.

Having learned in the past by my mistakes while using the German language, I thought I better check on the meaning of the word “Liebster”.

This is what I found:

German     English

liebster        beloved
liebster        boyfriend
liebster        dearest
liebster        sweetheart

Now my mind is more than a little addled and who can blame me?
Sudden declarations of love on my blog.  His beloved.  His Dearest. His Sweetheart.  Any one would be enough to bowl a girl over, if she heard it in a romantic situation surrounded by soft lights and sweet music….

But to be his BOYFRIEND! That shock was more than enough to set my heart going.  It took half a can of my spray to get it back on even keel.  I didn’t think he swung that way.

Where were my Toyboys, my protectors when I needed them.  Ashok, Nick, Magpie, Conrad, Mayo, Paul, Will and Tee O, I need your help.  What am I to do?

As for the first point… The Bounder; the Rascal has conferred the honour on FOUR other women:- Gaelikaa’s Diary, Padmum, Delirious and Silver Fox.

The Cad.

I should have listened to my mother!

I am off to lie down in a darkened room…..

I can’t even offer the award to my Toyboys listed above because their wives might not appreciate having me around for extra curricular distractions!

4 large sticks of celery, diced
1 large carrot, diced
1 onion, diced
300 ml stock
rind & juice of 1 orange
5ml coriander
25g butter
seasoning
Dice celery, onion and carrot. Heat the butter in a pan, add the vegetables, cover with a layer of greaseproof paper and sweat for about five  minutes.  Add the stock, orange rind & juice, coriander and seasoning.
Place all the ingredients in a casserole dish and braise for 45 minutes or until tender.

Not far to go….

I found it!

Anne ~ Slate resin figure on Mirror polished stainless steel
Sculptor ~ Lucy Glendinning

A 7m high mirror polished stainless steel column with internal lighting a laser cut pattern with coloured perspex insets and a life size figure cast in slate resin. The figure faces Saint Anne’s Cathedral.

On Lucy Glendinning‘s website, not alone can you learn about her but, see her commissions, exhibitions and read her poetry.

Anne is a commissioned sculpture for Saint Anne’s Square, the new city centre piazza behind Saint Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. The sculpture was installed in November 2009.

A multi £million leisure, commercial and residential development on redeveloped land in the Cathedral Quarter, it was partially open when I visited. This elegant scheme will comprise of ground floor bars and restaurants with turnkey offices at ground and first floor level.

Rising over four floors from the second level will be residential apartments. The focal point of the development will be a new 14,000 sq ft piazza creating a new public space with potential for performing arts and events. An hotel is already open on one corner of the scheme.

The Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC) is set to open in early 2102.  The venue, will be six storeys high with two theatres, visual arts space and dance studios.