As you know we have been on holiday to Northern Ireland. We went for 10 days and stayed in a cottage about a 5 mins drive from Pauline's mum. We could not believe how glorious the weather was, normally you need to leave the house with your umbrella because you need to prepare for rain. We met up with my sister Maxine the day after we arrived, as she was going on her holiday to Florida that weekend. She's blowing out a birthday candle on a sand birthday cake!!!On the Friday, Stuart, Alice, my mum and I went to Belfast Zoo. Stuart has been wanting to go ever since we met, so he finally got to go. I think he enjoyed it more than Alice did.
The obligatory picture of a pig for Stuart.
Grant's zebras, so we needed to take a picture of that.
If you click on the picture itself you'll see the view from about half way up the hill at the zoo. This is looking out towards Carrickfergus, over Belfast Lough.
On Saturday we met up with some friends of mine at Lady Dixon's Park, on the outskirts of Belfast. Thanks all for coming, sorry I didn't get any pictures, it was a bit disjointed, as there were rather a lot of children to run around after (at least the blokes ran around and left the girls on the picnic blankets to chat!!). Perfect!!!!
My friend Elaine arrived a bit later with her girls. We went round the rose garden. The three girls ran around after each other, with us shouting after them, when we couldn't see (or hear) them any more. The girls had their scooters with them and rode up this hill. Alice waited at the bottom for them and as they arrived at the top, Alice ran about half way and they scootered down the hill with Alice chasing them. They did this for ages. Alice really enjoyed playing with them. Again you can click on the picture to get the full effect.
Monday we went up to another sister, Jacqueline's allotment. The view was spectacular. She's up on a hill and you can see right across Belfast Lough on one side, Stormont Parliament buildings in the middle and then Strangford Lough on the other side. No wonder she spends a lot of time up there. We had a lovely picnic and then round to see some chickens on a neighbouring plot.
Stuart and Alice at the allotment.
Then we all went round to Streamvale farm, which is just down the hill from the allotment. It was a really great wee farm. We fed some chickens.
Alice bottled fed a lamb.
Jacqueline cuddled a rabbit. Then we went in and had some ice cream, which is made on site from the milk from cows on the farm. The ice cream was the best I have tasted in a long time. Sooo creamy and full of flavour!!!!
On Tuesday we went to W5 in Belfast. It stands for who, where, what, where and when and is a science interactive place. It was fantastic and we all really enjoyed ourselves here. This is Alice and my mum sitting outside along the River Lagan before we went in for lunch.
Alice and Stuart playing at the cafe.
Alice spent ages playing at the cafe and then was in the middle of doing something, when she looked up, took a sharp breath in, pointed and shouted "there's a car!!!!". Then ran off over to it. Poor Stuart was stuck in that car for about 45mins because we could not get her away from it. She would go to the Tescos, get her shopping and then put it in the boot. She strapped Stuart in to his car seat and then put CDs on etc. She loved it. While they did that my mum and I played with the water.
You put the balls in this shoot and they are sucked up and then fall into a tube, then floated down in the water. We had a race to see who could get all their balls down first. I think Alice won, of course!!!
Wednesday, we drove up to the North coast and a wee seaside town Portstewart. We left quite late, so didn't have a great amount of time there. We went to Morelli's for lunch (famed for its ice cream) and then had ice cream on the sea front. Have to say we were disappointed with the ice cream, barely any flavour at all. Streamvale farm was definitely the winner for ice cream. Alice then spied a park and we spent the rest of the time there. There's a wee paddling pool, so paddled for quite a while in her pants and T-shirt.
This is Alice and Stuart sitting on the stairs in her make-shift car. Everything behind them is in the "boot".
On Thursday we went to Bangor on the south shore of Belfast Lough. I had remembered there was a wee paddling pool there, but didn't know if it was still there or not. They have now got a wee fun park there. So we spent the day at Pickie Fun Park. Alice played in the park initially, then we had lunch under a tree on a hill. Then on the train and then Alice spent the rest of the time paddling in the pool. She had a great time, chatting away to the other children.
Then into the cafe for ice cream. Alice spotted this "shark" and wanted to go for a ride in it. Stuart did correct her and told her it was a space shuttle. I think shark is better.
I could not believe how beautiful Bangor marina is these days. It felt like we were in the south of France or somewhere. Just gorgeous.
Thursday night my niece Claira came round. It was fabby to catch up properly, just a shame that her Stuart couldn't make it too. Friday we went swimming with mum and then met up with Jacqueline and my brother-in-law Ricky. Then I met up with a friend Lisa that night (as we hadn't been able to meet before that), so it was really great to meet and chat properly.This a picture of the cottage on the last day, yesterday.
This was the view out the back.
These are the horses that we watched every day. They even came over a couple of times to the gate to say hello to us.
We all had a great time getting out and about, but more importantly spending some proper time with family and friends. Will put together a video in a day or two and post that separately.
