Trip round Belfast

SUNDAY
We collected Mag from his friend's house in Carrickfergus this morning. He had a blast -movie which was Ghost Town, a pizza hut feast and sleep over.
We had decided to kill two birds with one stone so to speak and head into Belfast to see the Christmas lights and head to the continental market. We didn't make the market in the end but we still saw plenty.

The tree at the Victoria Square Shopping Centre. This tree was impressive, apparently the tallest in Belfast. I had to stitch the photos together as I couldn't get it taken in one go.

This is the Belfast Wheel, we didn't go on it this time as we just ran out of hours in the day, the children were tired and hungry by the time we made our way round. We had gone on it last year and it boasts an impressive view of the city.

Belfast City Hall Christmas tree.

Toni ended up with her hair done! There was stall in the Castle Court shopping centre promoting Babycurls curlers. One of the staff took a shine to Toni, he offered to do her hair, after a few minute of shyness she agreed! The result was beautiful, she sat so good while she was having her hair done and although it took a couple of hours it was well worth the wait. The hair designer (apparantly different to a hair dresser) said her hair was astoundingly good and in the last year and a half had never done such lovely hair. Well of course what made Toni grow to ten feet tall.

DOWN TO THREE

I took an unexpected drive to Carrickfergus today. Mag got a birthday party invite to go to the cinema followed by dinner in Pizza Hut with friends. I had no problem letting him go and staying at their house over night so we only had to make the journey once today. We need to go to Belfast tomorrow so it will work out well for collecting him.


The afternoon ended up a bit rushed though, we headed off at 1.45 to leave Mag off at chess club. The plan was to use the hour he is in chess club to go pick up a thing I had got off Freecylce then pop in the back door of the Flagship Centre and pick up a little present for the birthday boy. Well best laid plans and all that ... Bangor town was a nightmare, it took me ages in the shops and by the time Mag had finished chess club at 3 o'clock I was only just getting my way out of the town. Anyways - long story short we made it to Carrickfergus just in time for the party.

Seb and I stopped off at a parking area by the shore on the way back - we were able to see right across Belfast lough as it was so clear, we walked for a little while and watched the world go by until the light dropped.

I had to laugh, when I arrived home the strong smell of paint hit me as I walked in the front door. Roy had only gone and done the kitchen ceiling with gloss paint.

Castle Park

Friday morning - it is very cold today so much so the car was covered in a film of ice! We love the crisp mornings, when it is dry and the autumn leaves are on the ground. I got the children wrapped up warm and off we went to Castle Park, in Bangor. We had a good long trek among the trees and then went up to visit Bangor Museum at the Heritage Centre. It was nice to get back in the heat so the museum was welcomed greatly, The children did the quiz in the museum but we ran out of time to see everything so we are going to have to return another day.

I took a few photos along the way!

We found two Geocahces also wich makes our Geocache score 7 now!

Not Good News

The news this week.

It is not good. My grandmother died early on Monday morning, she had been ill for a while but to be perfectly honest I think no one expected it to happen when it did.

This itself has caused upset to our family but also there are some underlying problems too. The burial is on Saturday and I am not sure I can go. There will be an ex family member there and I am afraid she can be a little bit unpredictable. After her, earlier in the year, vicious tirade against me and my family I have seen what she is capable of - I cannot risk putting my family or myself in the path of her very erratic behaviour again. This person tried to destroy my family and my life (she did not suceed), and after a lot of soul searching and questioning myself as to what was so bad to make her hate me so much I realised that she herself needs to love herself before she can love others. Myself and my family are greater than she will ever be, and one thing I can be sure of is that our popularity and position amongst our friends and the village where we live is good testimony to ourselves.

My grandmother would understand if she were here as she also faced the wrath of the above mentioned, I am not sure others would understand but I dont have to live with 'others'.

I will always remember my gran, she was special to us and no body can take our fond memories away.

Christmas Dinner!

What do you do for Christmas dinner? We don't have a Christmas day dinner as such, come lunch time the children are done in. You know how it is they just cant sleep with excitement then up early to peek and see if Santa has been. Earlier years half asleep children and frazzled parents do not compliment the Christmas menu. The last couple of years we have cooked our main Christmas dinner on boxing day and I have to say it is so much better that way, everyone has enjoyed their meal and it was far more relaxed.

Last year I decided to try something different - Nigella Lawson Christmas! I have always enjoyed baking and cooking over Christmas, and have always enjoyed the main meal, but I was suitably impressed with Nigella's recipe I shall be making it again this year. The beauty about her recipe there is no exactness - just adapt it to what you like. Oh and the turkey was juicy just like she said!

SPICED AND SUPER JUICY ROAST TURKEY

You need to start two days before the big day - it is so easy too.

Ingredients
6 litres of water (approx)
1 large orange quartered
250g Maldon sea salt or 125g of table salt
3 X 15ml tablespoons of black peppercorns
1 bouquet garni
1 Cinnamon stick
15ml spoon of caraway seeds
2 x 15ml tablespoons allspice berries
4star anise
2 x 15ml spoons of mustard seeds
200g caster sugar
2 onions unpeeled and quartered (which I missed out and suggest you do too)
1 6cm piece of ginger unpeeled and sliced
4 x 15ml tablespoons of maple syrup
4 x 15ml tablespoon runny honey
stalks of parsley if you have any
and of course 1 turkey 5.5kg/12lb (ish)

for the glaze
75g goose fat
3 x 15ml spoons maple syrup


put the water into the largest lidded pot you can find - or a clean bucket with a sealing lid. Squeeze the juice from the oranges then throw the skins in too. Stir in all the other ingredients and make sure the salt and sugar is dissolved. Put your turkey in minus the giblets and allow it to sit in the spiced water for up to two days - store it outside in the cold.

an hour before cooking lift it out the water and allow it to warm.

Preheat the oven at 200degrees

melt the goosefat and male syrup together gently in a pan - this is your glaze. Paint it on the turkey with the glaze and baste it now and again.

For a 12lb bird you need to cook for about 2 1/2 hours - this is shorter than what you would expect because you allowed the turkey to rest for an hour before you put it in the oven.

Add an extra half hour if you do stuff your turkey. Why don't you wrap your stuffing in bacon and cook it in foil separately - I do this and it is so much nicer.

I also made my own cranberry sauce which I will try to post the recipe for later.

It Wasn't Me!

This is Sol, moments after she emptied a bottle of baby powder on the bathroom floor. I walked in to catch her and she said "It wasn't me!"

RANDOM FLOWER PHOTOS - camera practice!

I am just playing with my camera - nothing more!