Promenading around Norn Iron (and John's knees girls!!)

The Norn Iron life got busier and busier. First of all, we were invited to an evening BBQ in Belfast by Keith and Julie, who we met earlier this year in Dunstaffnage. Aided by Bailey, the dog, they cooked up a real treat and their daughter then delivered us back to Bangor.

On Friday, John (yes ladies, he of the swoon inducing knees) and Tina arrived by hire car, having flown out to join us for Saturday night’s BBC Prom in the Park event on the Titanic slipway.

We showed them a little of Belfast, using the typical tourist bus so they sampled Stormont (the parliament building), the Shankill and Falls areas (the home of the diehard Loyalists / Nationalists and the many murals on the “peace wall”. Seeing gates that are still closed at night to divide the communities is another reminder of how far there is to go.

The concert was excellent, headline act was Alfie Boe. Anton and Erin danced a bit too:

                

A great, very sociable evening in company with other Bangor marina folks (especially David and Caroline who arranged it all).

Sunday was a slow to start day. Very slow. Still, we did make it into the city and visited the Harbour commissioners' offices which were open as part of a cultural weekend. Wow – those guys knew how to look after themselves:

The "meeting room" was most grand:

John had a moment trying to photograph us using his mobile phone in a coffee place – as you can see he eventually gave up trying to work the thing:

As recompense for his embarrassment ladies, here are the famous knees. In widescreen and glorious colour for your delight:

 

Please remember that any marriage proposals that you want us to forward on will be ignored – Tina gets upset.

We finished our time in Norn Iron with a car trip out to Mount Stewart, the National Trust country house:

Even at this time of year, the garden was full of butterflies:

And the day was rounded off by lunch at Daft Eddy’s after crossing Strangford Lough on the car ferry.. Have a look at Daft Eddy's website – amazing setting and views out of the dining room.

Monday afternoon Andrew (yes, the Welsh one) arrived by plane. He had negotiated with Linda, his very understanding better half, a few days away, afloat and alone. The fact that Linda was collecting her mother for a two week stay with them was of course, nothing to do with his desire to come boating. So, we ended Monday saying bye to John and Tina, hello to Andrew and preparing for some sea trips again. Time to burn some diesel and head south ready for the winter perhaps?