Life in the ‘Burbs

I have had two fairly exhausting weeks, so having two consecutive days off work was something I was really looking forward to. Life in retail, eh?

Anyhow, today started at 10:55 when I woke up, followed by lunch out with Mrs P, a haircut, having Kieran and Chris visit us (they’re the subject of today’s Blip here – Men And Boyz), some grocery shopping on my own, with a cheeky Starbucks in between, washing the car, and then taking a few photographs on Ballymaconnell beach. My plans for tomorrow are similarly relaxing. Cinema with Sophie at some stage and another lie in figure highly!

Life in the ‘burbs

 

Right Down To The Wood Please!

 

Victoriana

 

 

Discovering Belfast

Last year, during my world trip for my 50th birthday, I met up with a number of Blipfoto members in Australia when I was staying with Trish and Adele. They were all very welcoming and friendly. Among those Blippers was Christina (Puggle) and this week, she visited Belfast with her friend, Luisa. I was delighted to be able to show them around the city and environs over two days. We managed to include the Victoria Square viewing platform, the City Hall, Queens University’s Lanyon Building, the Botanic Gardens, Sandy Row, Belfast Castle, Scrabo Tower, the Crown Bar, the Europa and the Opera House, Carrickfergus Castle, various political murals in the east and west of the city, Donaghadee (where we ran into Tim Lawrence, Princess Anne’s other half), Bangor, St Anne’s and St Peter’s Cathedrals, the Thompson Dock and Pump House, the Nomadic, viewed the Tesco Metro’s beautiful ceiling and a fair bit more. I think we may have overdone it a little!

I spent most of my time talking rather than photographing the sights, but I have included some of my shots below:

Merchant Banker (Tesco Metro)

 

NOTA!

 

Thompson Graving Dock

 

Scrabo Tower

 

St Peter’s Pews

 

St Peter’s Tiles

 

The Needle

 

Amazing weather too! Hurry back, Christina and Luisa.

It’s Over

I’ve been having a play around with an app called Over for a few weeks. It’s a simple piece of software from a company called Potluck that allows you to add text in many fonts and colours, as well as some artwork. Further fonts and artwork are available to purchase through the app. It isn’t without faults; I have at times found the interface a little fiddly, but it is generally cleverly done. I have enjoyed bringing a few old pictures back to life with it. These two examples have proved pretty popular on my Tumblr account. Grab it from the iTunes app store for £1.49 – Over

Mod Life

 

Wasted Time

 

Over

 

 

Therapy

Once we had our breakfast out and had been to see Mrs P’s occupational therapist this morning, we decided to call with grandson Kieran for a different kind of therapy. Cuddles from Kieran make Mrs P go all gooey as you can see, and cheer her up, no end. The little guy then came home with us and his dad to spend the day with Mrs P while I took off for a few hours to do a few jobs in Belfast and meet with my little brother for lunch. The first picture was taken at Kieran’s house (on my phone using the Afterlight app) and the rest in Bangor, or in Belfast later in the day. Scroll down to see, among others, ASBO Benny on his bike, a classier than usual Belfast busker and symmetrical steps!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bleedin’ Horse

Following an early start for the school run this morning, a gruelling medical interview for Mrs P and lunch out, we headed off south to Dublin for the weekend. The Bleeding Horse, or as it’s pronounced locally, “Tha Bleedin’ Horse” pub is next door to our hotel so I’ll be sampling their Guinness this evening.

On the way down here, I was listening to The Chimp Paradox on audiobook. It’s a management, leadership, lifestyle self-help type of book. So far, my main learning has been that it’s not me that wants to leave Mrs P and live with Kristen Scott Thomas, it’s my inner chimp. Bad chimp!

When out looking for an ATM earlier, I spotted these natives waiting for their bus.