I'm leaving....

....on a jet plane, I don't know when I'll be back again, oh babe I hate to go....tra-la-la (all sing along!! haha)

Yes today we leave. Winnie and Sara have already left. At 7am this morning they took the bus to Dublin and very soon will be on their way to their homeland. They have had a terrific time. Winnie soooo enjoyed being here so I don't think it will be her last time in wee Norn Iron!

Leah and I just have to pack, shower and do a bit of cleaning before we are also on our way to Dublin. We too have had a brilliant time! It was just too short!!

So to end my stay in Ireland I want to share a joke with you. Those of you who saw me when I was home have already heard it. I told it everywhere I went. The funny thing was to see Sara, Winnie and Leah's face when I told it - they didn't understand it but everyone else in the room would burst into laughter. They would sit looking amazed that people could think that this joke was funny. So here goes.....

Mia Farrah and Susan Boyle went to see the Pope. Mia Farrah went in first and when she came out Susan Boyle asked her nervously what you had to do when you went in. Mia explained that you go in, kiss the popes ring, accept a blessing and then give him a gift. Susan looks worried. "I don't have a gift for him" she said. Mia hands her a scarf with silver fringing that she had been wearing and tells her to give this to him. Susan goes in, kisses the popes ring, accepts the blessing and then drapes the scarf around his neck. "What is this?" the Pope askes to which Susan Boyle replies..........

.......wait for it.....................................

"IT'S THE SASH MIA FARRAH WORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" HAHAHAHA

anybody reading this who doesn't get it, don't worry, it's not because you're thick, you just have to have grown up in Northern Ireland to understand it.

Yesterday Leah and I.....

.....had a day out together. Sara and Winnie went off with my brother for the day. They had a fantastic day. Leah and I headed out together to town. We met my cousin Lorraine in town and went and had a bit of lunch. It was lovely to see her and catch up.

Then it was off shopping once again. Leah went to Primark and I headed to Bargin Books, followed by Easons, Faith Mission Bookshop and ending in Family Books. It was wonderful but the time went by too quickly so I think another visit is needed today!

I bought a few books to keep me going over the next few months. One being the follow up book to the one I read in the summer by Francine Rivers.

It was then home, late afternoon to spend time with dad. We made dinner and then headed out to get the girls and head down to my sister-in-laws house. We had a great night there. Ate far too much as usual!!! Gillian (my sister-in-laws) aunty was there. She and I did CEF camps together over 20 years ago. It was great to see her too.

All in all, another great day.

A full day

Yesterday was a full day!


We started off heading down to my old church. It turned out that my old minister, Mr Anderson, was back as the visiting speaker for harvest. The church was looking lovely with all the flowers, vegetables and fruit around the place. It was great to see lots of "old" friends.




After church we headed to KFC for lunch. While eating lunch Sara asked how Winnie and Billy were. Winnie and Billy are dads good friends, I grew up with them and Sara remembers them too from her visits home when she was small. She hasn't seen them in years, so since we were heading out their direction we decided to pop by their place and see them and their family. It was lovely to catch up but we only stayed about 15 minutes as we were heading out to other friends for afternoon coffee and tea.



At Sharon and Jeff's place, friends were gathered and we had a great afternoon together, talking, laughing and eating delicious cakes!!

So after taking the traditional "family photo" for the blog we discovered that Jeff had grown horns!! How we laughed!

I just had to get a close up! hahaha

We were home 15 minutes and then out again to church (and Sunday is meant to be a day of rest?!!!) After church my brother came by for supper. We got out the old hymn books and had a bit of a sing song, like the good old days in the mission hall! It was a full but lovely day:-)

A broken down record....

...is what I sound like everytime I come to Ireland!! I only seem to have the same thing to report - and that is," WE WENT SHOPPING IN PRIMARK!!" and guess what? This time is no different!

One thing that is different is that Sara's friend Winnie is here with us. It's her first time in Northern Ireland and she is really enjoying herself.

Sara and Winnie arrived on Wednesday afternoon and have been enjoying themselves shopping, visiting family and visiting the local area to act like two posers!

Leah and I arrived on Friday evening 10pm! We flew with SAS and had a lovely flight. However just before boarding they announced that the flight was over booked and they needed 2 people to stay an extra night in Copenhagen.

The two unfortunate souls that would have to give up their seat would receive a free night in a hotel, free taxi service there and back, plus a 500 euro (about £430) voucher that could be exchanged to cash! (and I believe it was each person that got a voucher!)

Well, I was sooo tempted to take it but with only having 4 full days in Ireland it would have meant even shorter time here. I stood weighing up the pluses and minuses and at the same time, trying to work out in my head how much 500 euros actually was in kroner or pounds. By the time I finally realised what a good deal it was the couple in front of us had spoken up and had taken SAS up on their offer.

Leah and I have been kicking ourselves since!!! All day walking around Primark we were talking about what we could have bought with £400 in our pocket!! (or could that have been £800!! aaarrrghhh) hahaha

Ah well, it wasn't meant to be.

Anyway, it's great to see dad again. He is looking really well and doing really well too.

So today we got up and headed into town. We shopped in Primark, and didn't make it anywhere else! No, I tell a lie, I got about 20 minutes in HMV and a walk through Boots.

At lunchtime we met up with some of the family.I got to try mussels for the first time......

...they tasted good. Really rather yummy and delicious! I was surprised.

So we were in town from 11am to 5.30pm with a small break for lunch.

But all you who follow this blog could have written this post yourself! You always know what our first day is like when we come to Belfast. Like I said..."a broken down record!"

By the way, anybody who wants to see us while we are here - just hang out at Primark in Belfast! hahaha

Let´s make a date mate....

...well that´s the advice I`m always giving to others!

"Keep romance alive!" "Make dates!" you will hear me say. Well, last night I decided to listen to myself and I put into action some of my own advice!!I arranged a date with hubby!

We started the evening by going out to eat. We needed a place that was cheap but we also wanted somewhere nice, so the chinese restaurant won. Value for money, cosy and delicious food as well!

It was sooo great to be out together. Even after 20 years of seeing each other day in and day out, I still enjoy going out on dates and just hanging out with Kristian. We always have fun. (Ok you can now go get a bucket and throw up!!haha) But it was especially nice to be out last night as the last few months have been crazy for us both, so it was nice to take time out for each other.

When dinner was finished we headed to the cinema. Our mobile telephone company do special VIP film nights. Two people can get into the cinema for the price of one. The film we went to see was called "The Town". We didn´t know much about it, (just that it was cheap ticket night!!) I actually thought we were going in to see some spy/action film, but I was wrong!! It turned out to be a good film. Some action and a little love. Not one I would watch again but it was ok for our evening out. ( I enjoy funny movies or movies that make you feel good when they are over.)

So now I think I am going to take my own advice a little more often and make more date nights, more often! Anyone else up for the challenge?!!

Time out....

....it´s "time out" week at school so I have no teaching this week. The classrooms are all locked and we are all spending time outside the classroom! (and I´m not complaining!)

So far it has been a great week. The day starts with all the children gathering for Assembly. We sing a song, listen to a Bible reading and thought and end with prayer. Then 400 children do a morning warm up dance. Now that´s an amazing sight seeing 400 children stretching and dancing together. (and what energy you get from doing it!)

So yesterday I was together with 3 other teachers and 49 children. Our group were making kites before heading out to the beach to fly them. The weather was gorgeous and everything went according to plan. (I couldn´t believe I was getting paid for a day at the beach!!) We had a great time with the children. It really was time out!!

Then today the children were divided into different groups. They had to visit different workshops around the school. The workshop I was involved in was Zumba. (Zumba is an aerobic workout that uses Latin dance moves mixed with a little hip hop - it´s great fun and a great way to keep fit!) A student at school is fantastic at Zumba, so we had her teach our Zumba class today.

We had three different sessions and I was involved in all three sessions along with my two colleagues. I had to laugh at one of my colleagues. Just twenty minutes into the first session she looked at the clock and sighed,(it was only 9.20am and we were doing Zumba until 1.30pm with just a few short breaks inbetween!) her face said it all! It was going to be a loooong morning for her! hahaha

I must say I really enjoyed it! It was fun but it was hard work too. My legs are absolutely killing me even though I stretched out after each session!! I know, I know, it must be old age! :-(