Suburban Lush

Girls' Weekend

Five girls, a whole weekend, and a cottage at the beach: recipe for relaxation!

My friend Eva's parents have a home in the South (aka Ireland), beautifully located in Stroove, County Donegal, walking distance to the beach and local pub. They were going to be away for a few days and so a group of us decided to head over there for a weekend away, leaving straight after work on Friday to make the most of it.

We debated all cramming into one car, but decided that it would be practically impossible to fit 5 girls, luggage for the weekend, and enough booze to last us 2 days into the car and, even if we did manage it, it would be a pretty uncomfortable 3 hour journey. We arrived at our destination at around 9:30 and settled in for a quiet and relaxing night: pizza and wine in front of the roaring open fire.

Saturday dawned clear and sunny so after breakfast we headed off on a walk around the headland. Nothing too strenuous, and only about four miles, but with beautiful views out towards the sea and across to Binevenagh. The afternoon was spent relaxing in front of the tv and getting ready to go out for dinner with some wine and a bottle of bubbles.

The Drunken Duck where we ate dinner was only a short walk away. Since it was located so close to the sea (it had fantastic sea views) we all ordered fish, which was divinely fresh. Each main was served with a choice of a side, and in typical Belfast style we ended up with 4 different potato sides (baby boiled, champ, "Thai" mash (think mashed potatoes with Thai sweet chili sauce) and garlic fried), and one side of vegetables. I'll let you guess who chose the veges! After another couple of bottles of bubbles to wash dinner down we were ready to head to "Michael Johns", the local pub. The pub was very quiet, but we managed to convince the proprietor that he should turn on the radio to drown out the sound of the humming fridges. Luckily we didn't need anyone else around to make for an enjoyable evening and we settled ourselves in a corner for a couple of pints. And then a couple of vodkas. And then staggered back to the cottage wearing hi-visibility jackets as we were walking along the road in the dark.

Never ones to be too sensible, we opened a couple of bottles of wine and continued drinking. My memory of the evening gets rather blurry at this point, but I distinctly remember some dancing and us all singing aloud to Roxette. Thank goodness there were no neighbours to hear us! Deirdre was sensible and headed to bed around 4, and at around 5 my cousin Alex fell asleep on the lounge floor as the remaining three continued to party around her. I think we all rolled into bed just after 6am, but I have no idea how I got up the stairs and into bed.

Sunday morning was rather quiet. Luckily we'd all been sensible enough to drink large cups of water before bed, so once we got up we felt ok. We cooked up a fried breakfast and then moved to the lounge to veg in front of the tv. After a quick walk in the afternoon it was time to head back home, exhausted and hungover, but happy.

Catch-up

The last couple of weeks I've found it really hard to sit down and write. Its not as if I don't have anything to write about, or that I don't have the time, its just been difficult to convince myself to sit at the computer and think of an interesting way to say things. And the times I have sat down to write it feels a bit  boring, and rather like I'm writing a list of "been there, done that".

It might be because I sit in front of the computer all day long, and when I get home the last thing I want to look at is a screen. So instead I read, or head out for a walk, potter around the house, or just chat to John and the flatmates.

So, in order to actually get something down, here is a bullet-point list of information:

• Last weekend my friends Anne, Jen and I headed down to Dublin for the day to catch the matinee of All My Sons by Arthur Miller. It was a fantastic production and a fabulous day. Before hopping on the train we went to the markets in Belfast to get a picnic lunch. We shared a bottle of bubbly on the train on the way down. When we got to Dublin it was pouring with rain, and we made our way to the Porterhouse Brewing Company in Temple Bar for a pint and to have our 'picnic' of bread, three types of cheese, tapenade and hummus before heading to the play. Gin and Tonics were drunk on the train on the way home, and we were off to a party as soon as we arrived back in Belfast.
• I haven't been cooking much lately, but I've found the best lunch ever in Smitten Kitchen's Mediterranean eggplant and barley salad (also an excellent BBQ or potluck dish), and a gloriously sinful desert in her double chocolate layer cake.
• While I've always felt that I'm not much help at the pub quiz (I jokingly call myself the team mascot), I have discovered that I'm the only one who can answer most of the literary questions, which pleases me greatly. Unfortunately there are only two more quizzes before they stop for the summer, so I won't have much opportunity to show off my new-found skills.
• The weather has been fantastic recently, and I've found a lovely walk just near my house. Within 20 minutes you feel like you are far away from the city and, as I walk along, I am truly relaxed.
• For some unknown reason I'm missing my parents a lot at the moment. I don't feel homesick, and I don't want to go home, but I miss hanging out with them. I miss my Dad's martinis and my Mom's cooking, and most of all I miss their fantastic company. I'm really looking forward to when they come visit me in a few weeks' time.

So there you go, a 5 point summary of where I'm at right now.

Leave To Remain

John and I were in the 2008 European City of Culture (aka Liverpool) today so that John could complete his application for a visa to allow him to stay in the UK for the next two years as my partner.

We were rather amused at the concept that we would have to go and prove we are a couple.

There was a somewhat stressful moment when they told us we didn't quite have the correct documentation and they would have to hold on to our passports for a couple days. We pleaded with them and fortunately they agreed to grant the visa there and then, but it was touch and go for a while.

Our appointment was at 1.20 pm, and we finally left the immigration office just before 5.00 - leaving us just enough time to rush to the airport for our flight back to Belfast.

So, we can stay in Belfast for another two years. We're not sure that we'll stay for that long, but it is nice to have the option.

Too Sunny To Post

The weather here has been fantastic. Absolutely amazing. Blue skies and temperatures of 23 degrees. And since we didn't get any days like this last year, and will probably only get these few days of it this year, I've been making the most of it.

The sunny weather started on Friday, so after work John, our friend Warren, and I headed to our local pub and had a few pints in the beer garden. I had thought that nothing could beat a pint of Guinness on a rainy day - turns out its just as (if not more!) delicious in the sunshine.

Saturday was spent hiking in the Cooley Mountains near Carlingford in the South (Ireland to the uninitiated). The walk began at Slieve Foye Wood car park, and from there we headed up a fairly steep incline. I don't usually drink the night before a hike, and I have to admit that I felt all 3 of my pints during the climb! We traversed Eagle's rock and climbed to the top of Raven's rock where we had fantastic views of Carlingford lough, up the Newry canal, and even across to the ever familiar Mournes. We continued along the plateau to Carlingford mountain where we stopped for lunch before descending towards Carlingford Town via the Colwyn Gap. We bypassed the town (much to the despair of all those who wanted to head straight to the pub) and cut through Slieve Foye Wood and back to the car park.

Distance: 11kms/ 7.5miles approx.
Time: Approx. 5 1/2 hours
Terrain: mountain paths and open mountain,forest tracks
Highest point: 579m
Map: OSI 1:50,000 Sheet 36.

We enjoyed a post-walk pint in the beer garden at the lovely O'Hares Pub in Carlingford before heading back to Belfast, sunburnt and happy.

On Sunday, a few of us from the hiking group decided to revel in the sunshine at Mount Stewart, a National Trust property comprising of house and gardens. The last Sunday of every summer month they put on a "Jazz in the Park" afternoon, and we headed there with a picnic of french bread, brie cheese, olives, strawberries and champagne. While the jazz was not very good the atmosphere was fantastic, and we managed to while away the entire afternoon relaxing on the grass, taking the odd stroll around the gardens, and climbing on statues.

Monday night was again sunny, and my cousin Alex had kindly offered to drive me down to White Rock to visit my Gran. We had a lovely visit with a bottle of wine (why is it that summer weather always means more drinking?) before Alex and I walked along the shore for dinner at Daft Eddy's, a fantastic pub on the shores of Strangford Lough. We sat outside and enjoyed the view while eating divine food (sea bass with salsa verde and slow roasted cherry tomatoes for me, salmon with grilled aubergine and a mint and yogurt dressing for Alex) and sipping a lovely red wine.

There is no rest for the wicked, and on Tuesday night I headed to my usual pub quiz at The Dirty Duck. I restrained myself and had only one pint, but we again enjoyed amazing weather and stunning views, even if we didn't win the quiz. Although seeing that the prize is 4 bottles of wine, that might have been a good thing!

Resolution Redux - May Eddition

Here we are at the beginning of June, and time for another update. I know posting has been slack here recently, and I'll try to fix that. I do have plenty to tell you, I'm just too busy to bother!

See more movies: I saw Star Trek, which I enjoyed immensely, even though I hated the series, and John and I watched Speed Racer the other night, which was truly awful. I also watched Hunger, a movie about the hunger strike in Northern Ireland back in 1981 which, while horrible to watch, was an excellent film.

Read more non-fiction books:  I'm still working my way through (and still enjoying) EB White's letters.

Try two new recipes a month: I tried out my first ever pancake recipe, and finally managed to make my stir-fry with oyster sauce turn out successfully. I also tried a new chocolate cake recipe and made a (recipe-less) seafood chowder for the first time, which I must get round to telling you about!

Explore local sights: I went to a play in Belfast, and yesterday attended Jazz in the Park at Mountstewart, a National Trust property. I also took a long walk along the river near my house, before catching the train back to Belfast.

Do more hiking and work to improve my overall fitness levels: I have been hiking quite a bit lately. We walked in the Mournes early in the month, had a weekend away in Donegal, and did a long hike in the sunshine on Saturday at Carlingford, just over the boarder in Ireland.

Say yes more and take all opportunities presented to me: I been pretty darn busy this month. A couple of pub quizzes, plenty of quiet drinks with friends, a play and a jazz festival, and the odd dinner out. The last three days have been gloriously sunny, and I've been making the most of it.