Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Belfast and Bake Sale


Friday, 25 Nov 2011

Jen, Deirdre, Pat, Bebe
A day in Belfast!! Jen drove the minibus so we’d have plenty of room for any purchases! It was only Deirdre, Bebe, Jan and me. Cynthia had plans to meet us there. A few others were invited but the date just didn’t work for everyone. Our first stop was IKEA. We had coffee and croissants, then tackled the store. Jen and Deirdre were buying for Murlough House kitchen and Christmas decorations. I had a small bag and a long wishlist of things I might get when I’m back home. Again, my credit cards were “not authorized for use” ---I’m using up my cash too quickly! Our next stop was Craft World, it’s a nice shop, perhaps ¼ the size of a JoAnn Fabric and a limited array of supplies. But it is far greater than anything else I’ve seen in N. Ireland. After a stop for lunch at Brown’s (a 4 star sandwich shop) we walked 6-8 blocks to City Hall where dozens of tents were set up with vendors from all over. It was the Continental Market. The big focus was food….kangaroo, springbok, venison, or ostrich sandwiches, Bailey’s hot chocolate, pancakes, German beer, hot dogs, roast pork, fudge, fudge and more fudge. There were also sweaters from the Kichwa tribe in Equador, silver jewelry from Holland, Kisii stone carvings from Kenya, beautiful amber jewelry, lots of pashminas and scarves and purses and Christmas decorations, soaps and candles. The City Hall building is quite beautiful with statues and Roman columns. There are small gazebo type structures made of stone on top of the tall building. We went inside to see the blue lighted Christmas tree.

We left the market, returned to the carpark to retrieve the minibus. True to his word, the same attendant was on duty. It’s a small lot with many spaces. When we pulled in, Jen made several futile attempts to get the big “mini” bus parked. The attendant offered to park it for her and we all were grateful. Too  much stress! He also offered to fetch it to the exit which we also gratefully accepted!

Cynthia’s plan to meet us didn’t work out. She had taken the bus to Belfast for an earlier appointment. She forgot her cell phone but knew our approximate agenda. She left Craft World about 20 minutes before we arrived. She walked around the Continental Market but also left it just before we got there. We were disappointed that we didn’t get to spend the afternoon with her.

Leaving Belfast in Friday night rush hour traffic was a challenge but without incident. We dropped Deirdre at a large mall outside the city. She would catch a bus home to Banbridge/Waringtown. We were back at Murlough House shortly after five so Jen didn’t have to drive in the dark very long. It was a good day but a long tiring one. We were at it (shopping) for over five hours! There was raining, cold and damp but also much walking on cobblestone streets and slate sidewalks. I took 3 Aleve and lay down with the hot water bottle. After a three hour “nap” I can truly say, “my knees only hurt when I’m awake and when I’m asleep”.  

The second book ordered from Amazon arrive today. The battery from Dell did not.

Saturday

The Irish seldom use paper cups/plates...so nice!!
As Leonard would say, it was a "usual morning." I was up at 7:30, made coffee, put away all the dishes left in the drainer from the previous evening, and then I read and journaled until others were up and about. Bebe and I went to the Newcastle Methodist Ladies Bake sale at 10:30. There were also a few crafts. The admission was 2.50 £ but tea/coffee and traybakes were served at no charge. I think it was a good deal!

The wind was fierce! We had parked a block up the street near the sea’s edge. The whitecaps were beautiful to watch…from a warm spot. The wind and temperature show the other side of that beauty.

A stop at the Wool Shop for more supplies. I told Frances that she will miss her best customer! Bebe went to find a hole-in-the-wall (ATM). Then we headed home.

Deirdre had brought in the DVDs of Downton Abbey. Bebe and I settled in to knit, eat and enjoy a Downton Abbey marathon and that it was. It was nearly midnight when we turned it off!

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