Just a few weeks ago, we took a short break to the western shores of Strangford Lough in County Down, an area of outstanding natural beauty dotted with pretty villages en route. One such village we visited was Strangford itself, (from Old Norse meaning 'strong fjord'), nestled at the mouth of the lough. We were…
The weekend has delighted us with hours of lovely May sunshine and time to potter about our little plot. These past few weeks I've made several trips to the local garden centres, picking up some alpines and cottage garden plants to add to the borders, after the harsh winter took it's toll on some longstanding…
Yesterday, we took a drive along the Antrim coast to Glenarm, a picturesque village and home to Glenarm Castle and it's walled Garden. It's a beautiful spot at any time of year and this weekend the garden is hosting 'Bloomfest' - an event held over the May Day weekend with craft stalls, music, food and drink,…
On Sunday we drove into Belfast to watch a movie at Queen's Film Theatre. It's located in University Square, a pretty row of academic houses adjacent to Queen's University itself. The university quarter is one of the more photogenic parts of town, and being popular with students and tourists, it can be a challenge to…
Waking up on a Saturday morning to sun streaming through the bedroom window must surely be one of life's great pleasures. Knowing that a day of glorious weather beckons and that you have the working week behind you, bestows a lovely sense of freedom, a lifting of the spirits. It's so much easier to get…
Situated in the university area of the city, Belfast's Botanic Gardens have long been popular with locals and tourists alike. The gardens have been a public park to the people of the city since 1895, forming an important part of it's Victorian heritage. It's home to a rose garden, a Palm House and a Tropical…
Unusually for me this year, I had a whole week off at Easter. It's been lovely - catching up on sleep, Easter Sunday lunch with family, a touch of spring cleaning and some sweet treats for good measure ! The weather has been far from kind, but in between the April showers, I've been out…
