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Northern Ireland 2023
  • Norman Graham

Northern Ireland 2023

A short trip to Northern Ireland with my grandchildren Read more
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  • Trip start
    April 10, 2023
    Norman GrahamNorthern Ireland 2023Norman Graham

    On the way

    April 10, 2023 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    We are heading off to Northern Ireland for a few days with the grandchildren who are off school for the easter holidays. We have to be at the ferry in Cairnryan for 10 am so we decided to have the boys stay last night, but it was an early rise for us, the smart move was for us to get up and get ready then get the boys up. Fortunately we are smarter than we look, and it worked perfectly.

    The journey to the ferry was uneventful, with minimal traffic (it was easter monday so it could easily have gone the other way), we actually arrived at 0930, the new bypass at Maybole took about 15-20 minutes off the journey.

    The ferry was on time and we were the 2nd car on, the plus side was that we got a decent seat, the downside was that we would be one of the last cars off the ferry. The sailing was one of the smoothest we have ever had, and it didn't take long to get to the house Groomsport. The house is lovely, and just 5 mins walk from the beach, we're not sure how much time we will have on the beach as the weather forecast for the week is not great, but we will just see how it goes.

    we were all tired by the time we arrived so had nothing planned except a quiet night in. Gill had made bolognese and left it for us, Luca declared that it was the best bolognese he had ever tasted.

    the evening wa spent, reading, playing games, watching TV, at bedtime the boys were asleep in seconds.    Read more

  • Norman GrahamNorthern Ireland 2023Norman Graham

    On the Beach

    April 11, 2023 in Northern Ireland ⋅ 🌧 8 °C

    The weather forecast was for a dry morning and wet afternoon, so we took the chance despite it being windy, to go to the beach, which was basically all that the boys had wanted to do. we were there for about 2.5 hours, and they had an absolute ball. TBF we had warned them not to walk into the sea, but concentrated on exploring rock pools looking for crabs etc. We had just made the decision to head back to the house when it started to rain.

    After lunch, we headed into the Tesco in Newtownards, (other supermarkets are available), then we went over to Roselawn to put flowers on Barbara's parent's grave. Luca (6) insisted on going to the graveside with her in case she got sad and started to cry, looking after nanna.

    we had a good night in with the boys playing games, reading etc until they dozed off on the sofa, then it was bedtime for everyone.    Read more

  • Norman GrahamNorthern Ireland 2023Norman Graham

    Sunshine and Surf

    April 12, 2023 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    The weather forecast had been for torrential rain but when we got up it was blue skies all the way, so we quickly got ourselves organised to make the most of it. Suited up with welly boots and armed with bucket and spade we set off. We decided to start by walking along the coastal path, it was a bit boggy in places from last night's rain, but it was a nice walk. At one point I heard Luca saying that he needed help to get up a rocky incline, Zachary (10) responded immediately with "wait i'm just coming to help you" which he did. Once up the incline Luca told him he was the best big brother in the world. It's small moments like that you wish you could bottle and keep forever,

    The walk was nice but Barbara and Zachary eventually disappeared in the distance as Luca kept stopping every 2 minutes to investigate something on the path, but we eventually caught up with them on a small beach where they started digging their way towards Australia. Barbara went on ahead to see if the seals were visible, and took so long we went to look for her, we found her talking to someone who had been out walking their dogs, as was probably predictable, Barbara knew her. It turned out to be the sister of Gill (Barbara's sister in law). It's a small world in Northern Ireland. We went back to the main beach and the boys continued to dig and look for crabs and generally have a lot of fun together. It was getting near lunchtime and so Barbara headed back to put the coffee on, and we followed about 10 minutes later.

    Whilst the boys helped barbara bake some fabulous scones, I went to Newtownards to get supplies. Driving in Northern Ireland requires care and attention. In my experience drivers here tend to drive fast and close. The dual carriageways and motorways are excellent but apart from that it is mostly narrower, twisty roads. when i drove to Newtownards, I had to go slow for a couple of miles because I couldn't safely pass a cyclist on the twisty road, not long after i did pass him I had the same issue with two horses, a road closure and then a lot of traffic. A good SatNav is essential if you are going to be driving whilst here on holiday.

    Adrian and Gill arrived mid afternoon and we spent the rest of the day and evening with them. We took the boys out to the funfair in Bangor which they really enjoyed and just as they were on the last ride the heavens opened and the promised rain made its appearance, so we quickly headed back to the cars and home. We had an evening of good food, board games and laughter and the boys went to bed exhausted but happy, it had been a really good day.    Read more

  • Norman GrahamNorthern Ireland 2023Norman Graham

    The olden days

    April 14, 2023 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Today was our last full day in Northern Ireland, we had a slow, lazy start and for once the boys didn't want to go to the beach. After checking the weather forecast we decided to go to the Ulster Folk Museum just about 15 minutes drive away.

    The museum is a real mix of indoor and outdoor. Buildings from the 18th to the early 20th century from all over the province have been relocated to the site, rebuilt and furnished as they would have been for their time period. Shops, houses, schools, a jail, a coal yard and different kinds of farms, some of which had staff dressed in period costume to explain spinning, blacksmithing etc. Overall it gave a real sense of what life was like in Uster 100+ years ago. Zachary and Luca were not impressed with the idea of chamber pots (as the youngest child it would have been Luca's job to empty them), or the fact that both of them would have had to work a full day in a shop or factory.

    We were struck by the fact that ordinary working people today generally have a much higher standard of living than people who might have been considered well off 100 years ago.

    The mock village had a cafe and the service and the food were very good and reasonably priced. The boys were able to play some traditional games in the village square, a sack race, an egg and spoon race, all overseen by the town constable.

    We left the mock town and wandered around one of the various walks that ambled past different types of farm and then back into the village where we stopped at a dressmakers shop, next to an old fashioned sweet shop. whilst the boys got their sweets, Barbara stayed in the dressmakers chatting to the lady playing the part of the dressmaker, and inevitably after chatting for 5 minutes discovered that the lady knew Barbara's parents and they had various friends in common.

    We made it back to the car just as the rain came on. It had been a really interesting day and I was surprised by how much the boys had enjoyed themselves, by the time we got home they were all tired so we had a quiet night in, and began the process of packing for the ferry tomorrow.    Read more

  • Norman GrahamNorthern Ireland 2023Norman Graham

    The end

    April 15, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Today would be mostly spent travelling, we were booked on the 15:30 ferry and so there wasn't time to do much more than make sure everything was packed, then clean and tidy the house etc. Once we all had lunch we set off for the ferry in Belfast. The ferry left on time and it was absolutely packed. we had a delay driving onto the lower deck so all the foot passengers and the drivers on the upper deck were quick to get most of the seats. Getting a decent seat is always a hassle on the ferry especially at peak holiday times like Easter.

    Once again we had a very smooth crossing and arrived in Cairnryan just before 1800. The boys were surprisingly well behaved on the journey considering the restrictions of travel and we dropped them off with their dad ay 2030. Our daughter had put our heating on so we arrived home to a warm house which was nice (apparently I now owe her some chocolate).

    we were all tired but pleased to have had a good holiday, the boys really enjoyed themselves, which was the whole point. However, there's no place like home and your own bed...until next time.    Read more

    Trip end
    April 15, 2023
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