A few weeks ago I reached my 50th birthday. My husband has asked me what I would like as a present - a new handbag perhaps, or maybe some jewellery. I replied that the only thing I wanted was a new camera. Not the most obvious choice you might think for a woman turning 50,…
Nestled at the end of a secluded lane, deep in county Fermanagh and not far from the border, lies the picture perfect Geaglum Cottage - our home for a few short days last week while we took some much needed time off work. Believed to have been built around 1914 and constructed of wood with…
The late Doris Day once said ' Well I do find the beauty in animals. I find beauty everywhere. I find beauty in my garden'. And, despite the extremes of weather that have left my little garden battered and rather bruised around the edges (and myself a little downhearted), I still find beauty in my…
Hillsborough Castle, in the pretty village of the same name, is the residence of the Royal Family when they visit Northern Ireland. Originally built in the 1750s, the running of the castle and the one hundred acres of garden that surround it was taken over in 2014 by the charity Historic Royal Palaces who then…
At the approach to the picturesque village of Glenarm lie some derelict buildings - namely, an old pottery and what looks to have been a showroom of some kind. Situated next to the marina, they are, I guess, prime real estate and would make the perfect venue for a restaurant or a small hotel even.…
Whether you're a fan of golf or not, you might know that this year The Open has returned to Northern Ireland and the town of Portrush on our north coast for the first time in 68 years. If you've seen any of the coverage on TV, you may have caught a glimpse of our beautiful…
Can I just say quietly, at the outset, that I have relationship issues with roses ? In my head, I see these beautiful flowers as the preserve of 'proper gardeners', and I don't fall into that category (being slightly more haphazard in my approach and infinitely less knowledgeable). And so I don't have any in…
