Hi there

I decided to take a leaf out of Nanny's book and post some of the dishes we had in our recent holiday in Ireland.



this is a starter (prawn cocktail)



this was stir fried Italian vegetables served with a ball of boiled rice, trust me it looks better than it tasted, not my favourite meal



this was one of hubbies choices, lamb cutlets and new potatoes, he loved it



this was one of my favourites, potato wedges covered in bacon and cheese, with salad garnish, my mouth is watering at the memory

love n hugs, Chris

Hi Everyone

Its been too long since I caught up my blog, I read yours everyday but rarely get the time to write my own. Well its Sunday, I went to early mass (a miracle for me) so now I have time and here I am. The last time I blogged I mentioned the new car and my first long drive to Walsingham, there was the three of us, hubby, me and our good friend, the holiday went very well, so we booked some more. We have just gotten back from Ireland and Eire, all the same physical island but to very different countries.

We began with a weeks stay in Co. Mayo, Eire. We got there by driving to Holyhead, staying overnight and getting the ferry at a very early hour to Dublin. The cottage we had was very close to Knock, which is where I particularly wanted to go, and on the Sunday after we arrived I went to services, first the healing service, then the laying on of hands and anointing followed by the mass. I wandered into the Basilica for a look and sat down on a chair, there were a few people praying and when i looked up from my own prayers the Basilica was full and I thought I had better move but was gently asked if I would like to remain in my seat or move to the area set aside for those seeking healing. I stayed where I was, walking can be painful so it was easier for me. I got up at the appropriate moment in the first service again gently seated and the priest came to me, this was the way all through the three services. When the elderly priest had laid his hands on me and i lifted my hands for anointing he held my left hand and with a twinkle in his eye and a smile he commented, 'not much room for more' alluding to the fact that four of my five digits had rings on. I smiled back and thanked him for noticing.

As is the way of most things, the services came to an end and I had to walk back to the car park where I had left hubby more than three hours earlier. This seemed to set the tone of the holiday and we visited the shrine a couple of times after that. We went out each day with a destination in mind and enjoyed ourselves. Then we spent the second week in Co. Antrim on the coast called the Causeway Coast, we did go and see Finn McCool's end of the causeway and listened to the story. We had fun that day. For the following week we travelled the coast road, found a lovely restaurant where we ate each night.

Everything has to come to an end and we travelled from the causeway coast above Belfast returning to Dublin to catch the ferry home. By the time we arrived home late on Sunday evening I had driven nearly 1500 miles, here are a selection of the photo's.

GBU all, love n hugs to all, Chris













Picture 1 is the Giants Causeway, the structure of the pillars was fantastic
Picture 2 is a view from the Pontoon Bridge Hotel situated on a land bridge between two Lough's in Co.Mayo
Picture 3 is the roadside shrine where we turned off the main road onto the back roads to get to our first cottage
Picture 4 is the chapel of the Apparition in the Knock complex
Picture 5 is the Basilica
Picture 6 is our first cottage

Hi Everyone

I know its a while since I blogged but have kept visiting with friends. Hubby went to see the big boss cardiologist in London last month and as we suspected they have signed him off back to the local cardiology team. It seems that his heart is in a fairly stable sinus rhythm and the fast pace is fairly well controlled with drugs, its just maintenance now as he doesnt need surgery and they cant repair what damage has already been done by years of atrial fibrilation, still he is as well as he can be and we are making plans to have HOLIDAYS. We are going to go to southern Ireland for a short stay around May/June, Norfolk for August bank holiday weekend so we can go to the Eye Country Show, we are staying with our daughter and her family. Then we will be going to northern Ireland in October for a full family do, hubby and me, our son and our daughter and her family, all eight of us!!

I parked my car in our disabled bay while I had lunch, intending to take hubby shopping after we ate. A car came round the corner too quickly and too wide and hit my poor baby. He had the decency to admit responsibility so within a few ours mine had been collected by the garage and I had possession of a hire car (not disabled friendly - but transport). My insurance wanted to write the car off but when (and I am not too proud to bed) I explained that I was disabled and needed my car for getting about, they agreed to let me 'buy it back', in effect they paid me book price (not a lot) and I had to have the repairs done myself. My baby is back home and looking better than ever and I have banked the insurance cheque, all within 10 days, it must be a record.

Saw my GP this morning and we agreed a plan of action, as the arthritis is on the downward slope I have to increase my pain pills, if that doesnt last very long then he will review the type of pain pills, I hate the periods when things seem to be going downhill fast but as I have been stable now for over 7 years I really shouldnt complain, my friends and hubby have broad shoulders, thankfully.

Ok no more depressing thoughts, think of all the holidays we have planned and be happy. Thats my motto of the day. Oh one good thing, I bought myself an iPod Touch for Christmas, you know the type from me to me, so its wonderful. I showed my parish priest the free Bible I downloaded complete with an original Greek translation, which, bless him, he began to translate. It is a fantastic reference tool and a pretty awesome plaything too!!

Thats it for now, God bless everyone and love and hugs to all, Chris