Welcome to my world JanMary

My weekly trip to Tescos [Flickr]

2012-01-31T02:32:27-08:00

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Morning cat [Flickr]

2012-01-31T00:24:22-08:00

janmary posted a photo:

Finished knitted cuff for www.janmarydesigns.com #whatimadetoday #iphoneography #p366 #jewelry [Flickr]

2012-01-30T03:53:08-08:00

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What I'm knitting/creating today for www.janmarydesigns.com [Flickr]

2012-01-30T01:14:34-08:00

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Another Sunday, another #window in our #church [Flickr]

2012-01-29T06:25:44-08:00

janmary posted a photo:

Easy Chocolate Ginger Truffles

2012-01-27T09:54:00.002Z

This recipe is so easy, that is not baking, more just crumbling, mixing, shaping and dipping! It is really a cake pop recipe (if you are familiar with them) without the "pop"!

Crumble a ginger sponge cake (I recommend McVities Jamaica Ginger Cake)

Stir in about a third of a tub of chocolate butter cream icing (I recommend Betty Crocker's)

Mix well. Add more butter cream icing if needed.

Roll into small balls.

If you have time chill them in the fridge for 30 mins or so, but not essential.

Melt chocolate.

Dip balls in chocolate

Sprinkle with "sprinkles"!

So, to summarise - crumble, mix, stir, roll, chill, melt, dip and sprinkle!!!

Finally ....... enjoy!

And if you are a Pinterest Fan/Freak, maybe you could pin it (Hint!)

A drive through the Titanic Quarter in Belfast

2012-01-25T21:12:00.001Z

Today I spent the day at "Focus on Finance" as part of Invest NI's Boosting Business programme.

Some of it was more relevant to my Janmary Designs jewellery business than others, but I came away with lots of information and I will be able to apply for 5 days of financial consulting.

OK, enough of the boring business bit, on to the Titanic Quarter.

I hope to shortly spend some time exploring and photographing this exciting area of redevelopement of this historic part of the city of Belfast. It is here of course that the Titanic and many other of the White Star Line ships were built and launched. 2012 is the 100 year anniversary of the Titanic's demise, so there are lots of events planned.

Finally we will have our own Titanic Visitors Attraction- about time too!

So.....today I just spent about 15 minutes driving through the area, occasionally stopping to take some photos with my iphone.

This (I think!) is the Drawing Office, and I believe it is stunning inside. Can't wait to see around it.

This is the new Titanic Visitors Experience - each of the 4 sides are the same dimensions as the bow of the Titanic (think Kate Winslet and Leonardo de Caprio).

You can see how the ships must have towered over the rest of the shipyard buildings.

This is one of the two large cranes are very symbolic of Belast and it's ship building heritage.

They are known as Samson and Goliath (although I don't know which one this is) and I remember as a child watching them loom closer as we drove past them on our way to visit our grandparents in north Down.

I also snapped this photo with my iphone of a traditional terraced street in East Belfast.

Finally, have a wee look at this new ad for Northern Ireland, and all we have going on this year.

Belfast was named by National Geographic Magazine as one of the top 10 destinations for 2012 - it's all happening!

What are you looking forward to this year?

Happy (Chinese) New Year and Womens Business Networking in Northern Ireland

2012-01-23T17:23:00.000Z

Today is the first day of the Chinese New Year. I know this for two reasons

1. My son came home from school and declared as it was almost the Year of the Dragon in China and he immediately needed to create lots of dragons.

He proudly brought in this page to school today to show his teacher, and his picture was put up on the "Good Work Window" so he was very chuffed!

2. I also know it is the Chinese New Year, as Marks and Spencers had it's "Dine in for £10" meal deal with a Chinese theme. You could choose 2 main courses, 2 sides and a bottle of wine for £10. There was quite a selection to choose from, and I am sure that they aren't exactly authentic, but here is what we are having for dinner tonight.

What are you having for dinner?

In other news, root canal treatment continues (ouch!) and I attended another meeting of Mums That Work in Newry this morning. It was great to connect, network and support other mums who are also balancing family and business.

After almost 3 years running my own business I can testify that networking with other business women has been the greatest boost to my business. It is inspiring, we share what works, we recommend reliable service providers and we support and encourage eachother. I am involved in several womens networking groups (the others being Women on The Move and Digimumpreneurs) and until I joined them I did not appreciate what a benefit they would be - both personally and professionally. Are you involved in any groups?

Finally, as it is Monday, it was swimming lesson afternoon for my son - he is working well on his back crawl.

Here are 3 photos from my iphone captured today.

What have you been up to this Monday?

Sunday summary

2012-01-22T20:54:00.000Z

Another week of daily photo taking. I am sharing my Canon DSLR photos here, and my daily iphone photos on Instagram. Are you using Instagram on your iphone? If do, I am Janmary, so please follow me and let me know so I can follow you too.

Here is this week's digital scrapbooking summary

As you can see, sometimes it the the bigger occasions I record, sometimes it's the little everyday moments of life.

Remember last week I shared a Youtube video made by a friend of ours, Matt Good? Well it has certainly gone viral - after being on local news, local radio, and then the BBC One Show, it now has over 300,000 hits! If you haven't viewed it or shared it yet, check it out!

I'll be back soon with another post.

You can follow me on Instagram HERE

Take care until then.

Shall we dance?

2012-01-19T20:29:00.000Z

Yesterday, as part of our church's new Damask community outreach programme, there was a Tea Dance held for the more senior citizens in our church and local area.

I went along to take a few photos for the Church website page.

I wasn't too sure what to expect, but was very impressed by the attendance, enthusiasm and skill of the dancers.

There was no reluctance to take to the dance floor - they were up like a shot.

I thought perhaps there would be someone demonstrating the steps and teaching everyone - but no-one needed any help!

Everyone stopped for the tea, scones and traybakes. It is funny how cake stands are now back in fashion, as for these dancers I don't think they were ever out of fashion!

There was plenty of chat, and the scones with fresh cream and jam were very popular.

Suitably refreshed it was back to the dancing for another turn or two on the floor.

I really enjoyed the energy and enthusiasm of everyone who attended, and maybe I'll manage to attend next month too!

Money, money, money!

2012-01-18T10:44:00.001Z

Like everyone else, I am really noticing the prices rising, particularily in the supermarkets. The credit crunch is persisting, there is much less job security, pay freezes, and everyone is feeling the pinch.

The cost of our weekly "big shop" just keeps increasing.

In our family, we use credit cards for our grocerices, petrol and incidental expenditure for the kids. We always pay off the bill in total each month, but still are on the look out for the credit card provider which provides the most incentive.

In the past we used our Tesco credit card which gave us additional Tesco Clubcard Points which we redeemed towards restaurant vouchers and magazine subscriptions.

Recently however, we have switched our petrol and supermarket food spend to a new credit card which pays cash back for grocery and petrol bills in specified supermarkets. As all our usual supermarkets are included, we have been able to earn cash back each month, without needing to change where we shop.

You can compare credit cards at this comparison site which gives details on a wide range of cards which provide cashback and rewards for spending.

This featured post has been brought to you by CompareTheMarket.com but all opinions expressed are my own.

This afternoon I am helping at a Tea Dance in our church, so looking forward to having some photos to share! Watch this space......

Cousins, digital scrapbooking, a baptism and a viral video

2012-01-15T22:30:00.004Z

I can't think of any way to cleverly bring all these 4 topics together - so the title says exactly what this post is about!

Last night we met up with my brother-in-law and his family for a meal. On the way to the restaurant my 7 year old commented he was "sleepy tired" but not "tired tired" - the logic of a 7 year old!

Later he enjoyed playing with his Ninentendo DS with his 2 cousins. My eldest daughter took this photo with my camera and I love it - especially with the glow of the screen reflected on their faces.

Another digital scrapbooking page to share - this weeks photos for Photo A Day in 2012.

Today baby Benjamin was being baptised. It was a lovely celebration for the church family, and a chance to take lots of photos too of course.

The gown he was wearing has been passed down through his family - his great grandmother was the first to wear it.

This is Benjamin with his big sister.

Finally, a teenage family friend, Matthew Good, has been the creative 18 year old behind this YouTube video which has gone viral.

Created to promote the school, it was made with over 1000 pupils in just over an hour and a half.

With interviews lined up on BBC and UTV this evening and the next few days, I am sure this will only be the beginning for Matthew.

Here is a link to a feature on the BBC news website.

So, how has your weekend been?

Family treasure - Jane Speers, who are you?

2012-01-13T21:42:00.000Z

As long as I can remember this framed sampler hung on the wall of my Granny's house in Co Down, N Ireland.

I have always thought it was beautiful, but never knew much about it's origin.

Now it hangs on my wall, and I still don't know much about it!

My mum remembers that it came from Jeannie's house (pronounced Jinny). The lovely piano we have also came form Jeannie's house. She lived with her brother, and neither of them married. She was related to my grandfather, but not closely. So far we think they were perhaps 2nd cousins.

The lady who had this in her home had the middle name of Spiers (according to the 1901 census when she was aged just 3). It looks like she and her brother were adopted/raised by someone other than her parents as by 1911 her surname has changed to the name of the family she and her brother are living with.

I am assuming that Jane Speers was perhaps the mother of Jeannie? As Jeannie was living with another family aged 3, this might have been one of the few things she had from her mother?

Now, opinion please - is this 1837 or 1887?

It appears to be written on the fabric in pen (presumably that is how she followed the pattern), and although most of the rest has all be covered in beautifuly neat cross-stictch, the August and the year have not been sewn over.

It also would appear that the letters "Y" and "Z" were not seen as priorities in the 19th century! Or else someone thought the symmetry was better with only 24 letters!

It really doesn't matter I suppose the actual date it was completed, or who Jane was. It is a beautiful piece, and part of my family history.

And as someone who has done a few crosss-stiches myself, but NEVER on this scale, I can appreciate the skill and patience it must have taken.

It is also lovely to have the sampler and the piano back under the one roof.

As I have a daughter called Jane, someday it will hang in her home when she is older. Maybe by then I will know more of the story behind it - I may visit our Public Records Office and do some investigating. In Ireland all public records were destroyed by fire in Dublin in 1922, so there is very litte information available before then .... but this just makes it more of a challenge.

Do you have anything you have inherited, that has a story behind it?

Back to Digi Scrapping and a new lens for my Canon Camera

2012-01-12T21:48:00.000Z

It has been quite a while, apart from gifts for friends, since I had done any digital scrapbooking.

However, as I AM doing Project 365/366 this year (note my determination to make it this year) and I saw Weeds and Wildflowers new kits for helping to "scrap" my pages, I purchased and downloaded the kits Every {day} Life 365.

So here is week 1 - 1st to 7th January 2012.

I must admit it has been enjoyable to get back to scrapping! Do you scrap? It is through digital scrapbooking that I discovered blog-land ..... so it has a lot to answer for!!

Continuing with my daily photos - so far each day I have taken photos both with my iphone and also my Canon (500D).

Talking of my Canon (note the smooth transition there!) I treated myself to a new lens (a Canon EFS 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II Lens) with some of my Christmas money.

So here is my photo for yesterday

In other news, I have my order for Jennifer Kelly ready to deliver tomorrow. Here are a few of the items (and one will be my photo for today).

Do you have a favourite? Available, from tomorrow, at Jennifer Kelly Image Consultant, Bangor, Co Down ..... or order your own bespoke item directly from me - email me!

I promised I would be sharing an inherited item today .... sorry, it will have to wait!

Take care til my next post.

Thoughts on Valentines Day

2012-01-11T12:08:00.001Z

I know it is still January, but I have been challenged to write a Valentines Day post in January, so here goes!

It seems to me that how Valentines Day is celebrated here in N Ireland seems to be evolving.

When I was a teen it was all about annonyomous cards with SWALK or HOLLAND written on the envelope - can you remember those?

In my twenties, and before I was married, I remember we used to go out for a meal on Valentines Night - the prices would be doubled, every course would be heart shaped/themed (heart swirl in the soup, shortbread heart with strawberries for dessert etc), and you would be rushed through so the next romantic couple could be "processed".

After one particularily rushed meal on Valentines Night, we made the decision to NEVER eat out on Valentines Day, but instead we would cook our favorite meal at home. We still do that, 20 years on!

Of course once kids come along, the cards I usually get are from my kids, and these are the sweetest. Here are a few from years past to share.

This was my son with his card for me when he was 3!

What about Valentines gifts?

Chocolates, flowers and teddy bears were the norm back in "my" day (which according to my kids was before electricity, colour, and most importantly the internet!)

These days anything goes - perfume, cupcakes, balloons ..... what about you?

Although many of our holiday celebrations are now much more "americanised" as we would say - trick or treating, Easter Bunny etc, as yet we don't (as far as I know) send cards to all the other kids in the class and give sweets (candy). However, I can imagine it won't be long before that starts here too.

Home decor? Through blog land and pinterest I have seen some amazing Valentines themed ideas for the home.

While I don't usually decorate our house other than Christmas, I have started to add something for Easter and Autumn, and I confess this year I held back some of my Christmas tree hearts to maybe create something for our hall table. If I do, I will be sure to share.

I do also appear to already own quite a few "heart" shaped accessories - photos of which have been liberally sprinkled through this post with love!

Do you decorate for Valentines? You know the drill.....please share!

So, how do YOU celebrate Valentines Day?

For the men who read this blog you can find some inspiration for gifts for her over at Interflora.

I am aware it can be a tough time for some on their own, who may be single through choice or circumstance - not because they necessarily want to be part of a couple, but because everyone assumes they must WANT to be a couple, and must be miserable if they aren't!

This post has been brought to you by Interflora, but all opinions expressed are totally my own!

Come by tomorrow, I have something special to share which I have inherited!

Photo a day for 2012

2012-01-10T17:28:00.000Z

Day 10 of 366

The plant on my cloakroom windowsill.

(short and sweet post today - pounding headache)

Resolution for 2012 - week 1 for Project 52

2012-01-09T20:14:00.000Z

I like a challenge, and signed up to take part in a weekly photo challenge hosted by My 3 Boybarians.

Each week we are given a theme, and although I am late posting mine, here is my photo to represent the theme for 1/52 which is RESOLUTION

My rather grubby trainers represent my goal to get walking and moving more.

You can check out a link-up post with lots of other bloggers sharing there image for Week 1 HERE

(Hopefully I might be on time with Week 2!)

As well as a personal resolution, I have one for my blog - which is to use my blogging for good, so I am excited to share Mom Bloggers for Social Good.

I was one of the founding members, so get this wee badge to show off! :)

Please check out the website, and maybe join in too if you are a blogger. I will share more about this as the year progresses.

Have you any resolutions for this year? Please share, I love your comments, and where possible I reply.

The Best Camera You Have is The One You Have With You

2012-01-07T20:23:00.001Z

"The best camera you have is the one you have with you" is a quote by Chase Jarvis, who wrote a book called "The Best Camera" all about his iphone photography.

The other day I stumbled upon a workshop being held by Jack Hollingsworth about iPhoneology.

Can you see a common theme here?!

I have already learned lots, and have not viewed it all yet, but I did pay to be able to download all the workshop and pdf's but am already feeling inspired and looking at my iphone camera differently!

Here are a few photos I took today using my iphone, so these are also part of my photo a day Project 366.

I am experimenting with different apps to take the pics, edit and share them. Most end up on Instragram and you can follow me there - I'm Janmary!

http://followgram.me/janmary

My son was heading to a friends party, and this was the present ready to go with him.

Took a pic of some eggs at lunch time.

In the afternoon I worked/played with these beads

and here is the crocheted necklace I was making

And just to prove I have not abandonned my Canon althogether, here is a DSLR pic too.

Thanks for visiting my blog, what have you been up to today?

Day trip to Bangor

2012-01-06T21:03:00.000Z

As the song says .......

"Didn't we have a lovely time,
The day we went to Bangor!"

(although this folksong was not about Bangor in Northern Ireland, but the Bangor in Wales)

HERE is the link to YouTube - enjoy!

And HERE are the lyrics

Today I headed east of Belfast to Bangor, which is at the top of the Ards Penninsula, as I had a meeting about Janmary Designs.

Both my parents are originally from this area, and my parents now live nearby, so as I drove to Bangor I was remembering some childhood memories.

One of my earliest memories was falling into the Bangor duck pond. Dad was looking after my brothers and I while Mum was at the hairdressers I think. It was only a few inches of smelly sludgey water that I toppled into and although the ducks were rather alarmed, no harm was done. My memory is of a lady "fishing" me out with the end of her umbrella, and I don't remember what Mum said to Dad on her return!

As a teen in the eighties I went to a Radio One Road Show in Bangor, on a glorious sunny day with some of my cousins.

As I arrived early for my appointment, I was able to spend some time taking photos (of course!).

Following the first part of the iPhoneology workshop I watched yesterday, I purposely took more photos with my iphone, using some of the techniques that were suggested.

Maybe it will be obvious to you - but can you tell which 3 images were taken with my iphone 4S? The rest were taken with my Canon DSLR?

Bangor was a popular Victorian seaside resort especially with day-trippers coming on the train from Belfast. There is a modern marina, still overlooked by some colourful period homes, many of which were hotels or bed & breakfasts. These two properties were built in 1883.

As with most towns, Bangor has it's fair share of closed down businesses and vacant areas ready for redevelopment, but I quite enjoy taking photos of urban decay! The flakier the paint the better!

On to my meeting, which was with the lovely Jennifer Kelly Image Consultant in her new premises at the bottom of Gray's Hill, Bangor, just above the marina.

I am delighted to share that as of today Jennifer is stocking my handcrafted Janmary Designs jewellery.

A few more images from Bangor.

After my productive morning, I had lunch with my parents in Newtownards, and brought back something old, handcrafted and beautiful - but I won't share it just yet! You will have to wait a little longer.

So that was my day ..... how was yours?

At Home with Janmary!

2012-01-05T21:07:00.000Z

Today I had a lovely "at home" day. The day when all the kids are back to school, and husband is back to work, I love the silence! Just me, the cat, and maybe Radio 5 Live. The house and I seem to physically sigh with relief......and we relax.

Not that I did nothing all day, but I do enjoy being able to get on with things! That makes me sound really anti-social! I love it when everyone comes back home again, but I do confess, I enjoy a bit of peace and solitude too - the joys and privilege of being my own boss and working from home.

So, as the blog name says "Welcome to my world" here is a little of my world from today.

First George and I (George is the cat!)

He loves this perch on the back of the sofa in the mornings.

But this is his "Feed me ALREADY - what's taking you so long?" look

Later in the morning I "cleansed" my sideboard in the hall so I could finally finish putting away the "good" dinner service.

Do you have a "good" dinner service? Ours is a Royal Doulton one, and if we hadn't been bought it as wedding gifts 20 years ago, I certainly wouldn't have one.

I feel guilty not using it more, but it would not have survived so long otherwise.

Another task of my "to do" list was to take the plunge and book my next blogging conference. I am now going to BritMums Live in London in June.

I also discovered another Northern Ireland mum who is also going - so that will be two of us with our norn iron accents.

My 7 year old had some Christmas money burning a hole in his money jar and we ordered a couple of new Skylander figures. He has loved his Skyland Wii game. (No this is not a sponsored post .... I wish it was!). My son has been eagerly been awaiting the arrival of these figures, so we were both delighted, and I was relieved, when Zap arrived today.

In fact this is a photo of Zap and I waiting at the school pick up! (Taken on my iphone of course)

Tonight we had shepherds pie (by request) for tea - I was "allowed" (daughters!) to share pics of it on my blog, but not on facebook!

While making tea I stumbled upon a live iPhoneography workshop by Jack Hollingsworth - it's free to listen to it live, and I am finding it fascinating. It is on today and tomorrow, check it out if you can.

Tomorrow I am heading to the seaside and Bangor on business, so hopefully I will have a few photos from there to share soon.

So - what's been happening in your world. today?

Easter Eggs in Tescos in January - it's just wrong!

2012-01-04T20:58:00.000Z

I know that Christmas may seem like a distant memory to some, and I love the fresh start of a new year, and am happy to see diaries, wall calendars and the like.....but........

Easter eggs? There were Cadbury Creme Eggs and Mini Eggs too.

I found this article that Mr Tesco is just "simply responding to customer demand"

What do you think? Too soon, or is there never a time when you should not be able to have your fill of Creme Eggs etc? Do you have any other supermarket horror stories to share?

Here are a few of my other daily photos - another iphone one - shopping trollies

And a DSLR one

This is MY new diary - pink and cupcakey - although before "cupcakes" were trendy we would have called them fairy cakes or wee buns! A can of diet coke also an essential while I am working.

What is your diary like this year?

Connected again, daily photos and the forgotten cottage

2012-01-03T20:59:00.000Z

Finally back to broadband again, I want to thank the engineer who arrived today to help, but not to BT who left us without any internet for NINE DAYS - thank heavens for iphones and our friendly neighbour at our cottage.

I've resolved to try again with Project 365/366 and am using both my Canon 500D and my iphone.

Here are my DSLR pics from the last few days.

On 2 January we awoke to some flurries of snow

Before leaving the cottage at the north coast to return to Lisburn I persuaded my family to let me have 5 minutes to photograph this cottage which we drive past almost daily outside Bushmills.

As you can see it is in a very neglected and dilapidated state and with a tree now fallen on it, I was fearful it would be totally demolished before I got to photograph it. Just using my kit lens, and taking photos from a muddy bank at the side of the road, here is what I captured.

Do you find the images grim and gloomy or fascinating and intriguing?

I wonder who lived here, and what became of them. Maybe I will try to investigate further.

My son started back to school today, but it was such a wild and stormy night, it would have been lovely to have been able to stay inside all day.

I created a few new items for Janmary Designs

As previously mentioned we got our internet back

And this evening we packed away our Christmas decorations.

Are yours away yet?

What have you been up to today?

And I would love your thoughts on the old cottage!

A New Year and a Sunday morning drive

2012-01-01T20:54:00.001Z

We all woke up late, and had a leisurely morning following seeing in the New Year.

We headed out before midday and I tried to capture a few images and some video clips of our drive to Ballycastle along the coast road in North Antrim from Bushmills.

Just sharing the photos for now, will have a go an editing the video later perhaps. Want to come along on the drive with us?

I love this part of the coast, and try not to take it for granted.

Excuse the reflections in the glass and dirty car window! It was just lovely to see the sun after a few days of heavy rain and strong winds/gales.

Our kids however, don't know what the fuss is about. I try to explain that although we are never far from the sea here in Ireland, that some kids never ever see to ocean!

It's the same with the house swapping - they don't understand the attraction of staying in an area like this, and why would someone want to come here!

Nearly at Ballycastle by now, are you still with us?

We were in Ballycastle a bit too early for lunch, so we stopped off at the seafront.

If you want to know more about the Children of Lir statue, you can read THIS POST and follow the link.

In case you thought I was there on my own, my 3 camera-shy kids (Mum being mad about photos is a pain) and my husband who did oblige with a photo.

We headed to Central Wine Bar for a lovely lunch.

On the way out I found my first photo prompt from Capture Your 365 - planning to try to keep up the daily photos this year. I'll let you know how it goes!

Happy New Year .... for the sake of Auld Lang Sang

2011-12-31T19:39:00.000Z

We are settling in for the evening by the fire, planning to see in the New Year with our older two kids and a neighbour. We'll watch a DVD then probably watch Big Ben in London strike midnight on TV.

We don't tend to go out on New Years Eve, and earlier today I was trying to remember a few New Years Eves to blog about - but didn't come up with much!

Compared to Christmas celebrations, New Years Eve is not such a big deal for us - or maybe we are just a bit boring!

I remember as a child wondering how I would spend New Years Eve for the millenium. As it happened, in December 1999 we had a 2 year old and a 3 week old, and just about made it to the end of a party and a New Years Eve church service at Seymour St Methodist to see in the year 2000. I remember all the phones which had an hourly chime beeping, and lots of teens in church started texting their friends! If I was home I would scan in and upload a photo of our family that night - but you will have to use your imagination!

So what about you? Any special New Year plans or memories?

Wherever you are, whoever you are with, and whenever you read this, I pray that for you the next year will be a great one.

I'll leave you wish these Irish blessings for the New Year (none of which I have EVER said to anyone, but the way!)

In the New Year, may your right hand always
be stretched out in friendship and never in want.

May the new year bring
The warmth of home and hearth to you.
The cheer and goodwill of friends to you,
The hope of a childlike heart to you.
The joy of a thousand angels to you,
The love of the Son and God's peace to you.

In the new year,
may Almighty God
grant you happiness,
health and wealth.

May your blessings be more
And your troubles be few,
And may want and worry
be a stranger to you.

May all your troubles during the coming year be as short as your New Year's resolutions!

The Blustery Day

2011-12-30T16:25:00.000Z

Just like a Winnie the Pooh story, yesterday was indeed a blustery day.

Although just a few miles down the road or inland the wind was weaker, the strength of the gusts and squally showers at the front of the cottage would have taken your breath away. It was even hard to shut the front door the wind was so strong!

Of course, being the dedicated ~~mad~~ devoted blogger that I am, I dutifully wrapped up warm and abandonned our blazing peat open fire to record the storm for you.

The first place I stopped, on the far side of Dunluce Castle, was so windy the car was rocking, and I parked in the shelter or a larger car before I attempted to get out. I could barely stand, but took a few photos before returning to the vehicle.

The spray was blowing up the cliffs unto the road and looked like smoke. I was astounded that someone was running IN SHORTS in DECEMEBER in the gale!

I then headed eastward past Dunluce Castle for a few more photos of this dramatic castle in the storm. Ironically the sea was so churned up that none of the waves looked particularily spectacular, but I was glad I was up on the cliffs, not down on the beach or even worse out at sea!

Next stop was Portballintrae.

The coastline was taking a real battering from the sea and waves.

Between showers I ventured to the wall overlooking Runkerry Strand, and that is where I took the rest of these photos.

Again, with so much swell and foam, everything was so churned up, that the waves in themselves did not look that spectacular or impressive, but believe me I have never been out in quite such terrible weather before. It looked a bit like a vanilla milkshake in a blender!

I was glad to return home to warm up and dry out!

How is the weather in your part of the world?

A Year in Review 2011

2011-12-29T17:45:00.001Z

January

We welcomed in the New Year with friends, I had a minor bloggy crisis (but survived, as you can see .... still blogging) and my son lost a front tooth (not major news .... just an excuse for a cute photo of him!)

February

I had a makeover (!), definitely out of my comfort zone, but here you go - a photo of me!

We enjoyed living it up in the Manor in foggy Fermanagh (the county of my birth!) when we took a short hotel break with the kids as a treat for my middle daughter working so hard for her Transfer Test.

March

Despite having surgery (hyperparathyroidism - I'm just proud I can now say it and spell it!) it was a busy and sociable month:

St Patricks Day (went to photograph the parade in Belfast as usual)

the Irish Blog Awards, and then the Taylor Swift concert

meeting up with a lovely blogger from North Carolina

and the first meeting of Digimumpreneurs

April

Over Easter we had our 3rd house swap to Galway, with glorious warm sunshine (better than we had in the summer!)

and of course there was the Royal Wedding

May

I took part in a local photography course in May, and these were a few of my favourite images

June

In June we were uncharacteristically spontaneous and went for an unscheduled trip up to our cottage and enjoyed a fire on the beach with hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows

We had primary school sports day

Our middle daughter had her last day ever at primary school, so lots of excuses for photos!

July

We enjoyed a house swap to France

With a day in Paris

August

We spent some more time up at the North Coast in N Ireland

I spent a day at the Auld Lammas Fair in Ballycastle

And our middle child started "big" school

September

In September we had the Back to School photoshoot (3 fingers for Primary 3 this year)

And a photoshoot from Janmary Designs

and a new logo

October

Who would have thought it, but in October I had a business trip with Lisburn City Council on a trade mission to Atlanta

Followed by the SITS blogging conference

Yes I was THAT close to Mama Kat!

November

We started with some beautiful weather in November

We had a wedding in November

December

My month of daily blogging was back

We had nativities

And trees

Nesting Santas

And crackers

This was our Christmas card

And my favourite photo from Christmas Day had to be this one :

So, that was the year that was!

I'm linking up today to Mama Kat's Writing Workshop and Four Plus An Angel & My Front Porch Swing - which asked for 12 photos or 12 words to sum up 2011 - NO WAY could I cope with either just 12 words or just 12 photos!!!

Looking back I feel SO much better following my surgery, and loved my trip to Atlanta ....who knows what next year will bring.

So how has your year been?

(the storms continue at the cottage - nearly blown away, but went out to take a few photos, and will share them tomorrow)

Back to the cottage and back on broadband!

2011-12-28T22:29:00.000Z

Thanks to our lovely neighbour at our cottage, I am finally able to blog WITH photos, and not just from my iphone. (Still NOT impressed with the customer service from BT)

So, here's a catch-up since my last proper blog post.

Despite my husband being on-call on Christms Day, he managed to be there for the majority of the day, starting with the present opening - at about 7ish.

This has to be my favourite photo of the day!

All other photos from the present opening include my daughters in their PJ's have been banished from this blog.

We spent some times with the neighbours, then my parents and father-in-law joined us for more presents and Christmas dinner.

Inspired by Pinterest I used some fresh cranberries and candles on the kitchen table.

This was our althernative dessert to the Christmas pudding.

And remember this cheeseboard from the Handpicked Collection I reviewed a few months ago?

We didn't manage to get any photos of Granda before he left, but here are Granny and Papa (my parents) with the kids.

So, how was your Christmas Day?

We are now up at our holiday cottage, and there is a real gale blowing outside - we have been wrapped up and close the the open fire all evening, and the electric blankets are on! At least we are not getting the sub-zero temperatures and frozen pipes of last Christmas.

Come back tomorrow for lots more blogging and photos.

Still no Internet - losing patience with BT

2011-12-27T19:55:00.000Z

Grrrrr .... STILL no Internet! I have now spend hours trying to sort out our internet problem, everytime I speak to yet another person in BT they assure me they will resolve the problem - yet here we are still without a working broadband connection. Regretting ever trying to move - allegedly it will be quicker and cheaper but right now it isn't anything! Only able to blog (and rant) due to 3G on my iPhone. Normal blogging service will hopefully return soon. Please be patient...I am trying to be!

Boxing Day in Northern Ireland

2011-12-26T17:57:00.000Z

Sorry - still no internet so blogging from my iPhone. Photos will have to wait. We have had a quieter Boxing Day than usual but it's been lovely. Did a bit of sale shopping with my daughters today - we all bought something ... some more than others! I bought a brown Kipling bag. If you aren't familiar with Boxing Day it's the day after Christmas Day and although I can't insert the link from my iPhone I have bogged about the origin of the day in previous years. Of course we have had left-over Christmas dinner today - some say they get tired of it, but I love another day of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce etc. We still have an unopened Christmas pudding and Christmas cake to be started but I dont like either so I won't be eating either! What about you - is there any traditional Christmas food you love or hate? As always comments welcomed and lover!

Merry Christmas from Northern Ireland

2011-12-25T19:39:00.000Z

Hope you have had a lovely day wherever you are. It's been great here but as our internet connection is down the photos will have to wait. The presents were opened, assembled, tried on and modelled. The food was delicious - all hot and ready at the same time which was my main priority. All 3 grandparents were here so lots of help in the kitchen and playing with the toys. A very mild day so unlike last year no snow and no white Chrisrmas. What have you been up to today?