I had a wonderful New Years Day.
Sundays are always 'friend' day, I usually end up spending around 8 hours with friends on a Sunday and it always sets me up nicely for the week. I can go into Monday knowing that whatever happens that week I have amazing people around who will be there for me! Today began with an amble around Helens Bay and lunch in the Crawfordsburn Inn, which is beautiful. Then a trip to see the 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' which didn't disappoint, followed by a delicious dinner of lamb with dauphenois (sp?) potatoes and red cabbage cooked by the glorious hand of our friend Matt.
I was never a really big one for resolutions, but i've been looking forward to 2012 for a long time... from the 6th July 2005 to be exact. I was 16, doing a summer mission, sitting in a church hall, eating lunch on the Cregagh Road (little knowing i'd be living there in 5 years) when I heard the news that London had won the 2012 Olympic bid. To say I was excited was an understatement. Some people like trains, some people like birds or chess or pressing flowers... I like the Olympics! I think I ran around the room a few times and jumped up and down, I was planning my summer 2012 way back in 2005.
I can't quite believe the year is here, back when I was 16 being 23 seemed ancient, and here I am, still feeling some days that I am still 16! So what do I hope for 2012, the year I've been waiting for?
There's so much I can't really even begin to blog it! Maybe i'll make a list, because that’s what you do at the end of years, and then you make a list for what’s going to happen in the next one. I like lists. I find myself making them quite often. Top 5 films, books, songs, foods... I could make a list of lists I like to make! Because I don't really like resolutions here's a reflection list
what i’ve learnt about myself in 2011
1. People actually like me and I shouldn't be afraid to be myself.
2. I can play the violin, badly
3. It's true when they say Latin is very hard to learn!
4. I don't really like Barrys in Portrush (I went for the first time)
5. I found a group of people in church who really 'get me'
6. I am getting better at writing- I had a piece of my work published
7. Joining a gym isn't hard, going as often as you should is!
8. Nothing can ever prepare you for the death of a child, and there is nothing that can be said to make anything better.
9. God is eternally faithful and even though I don’t always understand, or even know exactly what I believe, he is a good God.
10. Radio 4 kicks ass!
11. That end of term feeling is even better as a teacher than a pupil
12. Life isn’t always simple, but it’s much too short to live in bitterness or regret.
13. Love is complicated
14. I really like chilli cheese fries from Bens Chilli Bowl on U Street in Washington DC
15. Nothing makes a school more than a friendly staffroom!
16. Say no sometimes- otherwise you will be standing by the side of a swimming pool in Ballymena on a Saturday morning with a stop watch at a gala!
17. A whole bottle of wine will give you a headache the next morning!
The thing with lists is ending them, this one could go on for a while. So I will finish on 17.
My hope for 2012 is that I would be happy, that I would be employed and the one challenge I am setting myself (it's a tall one) is to read 100 books this year. Hopefully this will give me some blogging ammunition
Monday, 2 January 2012
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Reflections at the foot of Slieve Donard
This week I spent a heavenly day relaxing in the Spa at the Slieve Donard in Newcastle. It’s been a long time since I stayed in the hotel, and as a child I remember loving going there because everything was so big and grand. I was looking forward to a distraction free day, but I shocked myself by how much I craved sharing what I was doing digitally!
So i got to thinking, how reliant am I on technology? I always was a pretty serious texter but I must admit, since I got a smartphone (something I swore I would never do) I am a Facebook addict. Not only that but I tweet, I check-in and I hashtag my #thoughts and #actions. As I lay in the darkened relaxation room after my treatment (an excellent facial) I was reading my new Kindle (which, by the way I am in love with) I had to resist the urge to check Facebook (because apparently you can do that on the new Kindle 3G, who knew?!) Why am I so obsessed with being connected? I was perfectly content in that room, reading my book, relaxing music in my ears. Why was I being tempted by Facebook? Why was I not content to live my life in real time? I wanted to live it online too- to share it with cyberspace
I think it lies in some of my own insecurities. I feel like I need others to give myself worth, but I have often felt like I am not seen. Not the funniest, not the prettiest, not the most intelligent. I think it’s the curse of being a woman, we all have our little insecurities that we know are completely unreasonable, but we indulge them anyway! It’s not as if i’m afraid of my own company. I don’t mind being on my own, in fact I actually quite enjoy solitude and space to be alone with my thoughts, however if life is not shared with others what joy is there in it? It’s like playing an award winning one man show to an empty theatre. Having an audience there doesn’t make the content of the show better or worse, but sharing it with others is what makes the performance worthwhile. The things that I do in my life aren’t going to be more spectacular just because there’s someone there to tell about them, but it does make life a bit more fun. And lets face it, a play of my life would be award winning!!
When I was in Ibiza with 24/7 prayer this summer I got to meet a lot of new and interesting people. As a way to get to know each other we each got to ask a question every time we were at the dinner table (mainly because that was the easiest place to get everyone together at once!) The questions ranged from silly things like your favourite colour, to the deep stuff like your greatest fear. My favourite question, which I still don’t really have an answer to was;
‘If you were a stick of rock, what words would be written in your core’
You see there are a lot of things I like; cricket, Holby City, cheese, violin, my friends, literature, skiing, chutneys, shooting, excellent food. All good things and all part of who I am, but I don’t think any of these things are what makes me ME at the core of my being.
Two things that make me tick are community and conversation. I love people, especially interesting people and save my old history teacher I have yet to meet an uninteresting person. I love hearing peoples stories and I love just being with people, it lifts my spirits and makes me feel like I belong somewhere, which I think is important.
I find nursing homes the most wonderful and depressing places on the planet. Wonderful because of all that life experience, all that knowlege, all those stories in one place and depressing because they are just sitting on wipe down armchairs with birds in cages waiting for the end. Whenever I think about how I would like my life to turn out, I never see the perfect house, the dream wedding, the wonderful husband and the 2.3 children and a dog. Instead I think about the places i'd like to go, the people I would like to meet and the things I'd like to discover. When I'm old and I look back at my life and the person i've become I want to think 'yea, I had a great time on this wonderful, awe-inspiring and diverse planet.'
So i got to thinking, how reliant am I on technology? I always was a pretty serious texter but I must admit, since I got a smartphone (something I swore I would never do) I am a Facebook addict. Not only that but I tweet, I check-in and I hashtag my #thoughts and #actions. As I lay in the darkened relaxation room after my treatment (an excellent facial) I was reading my new Kindle (which, by the way I am in love with) I had to resist the urge to check Facebook (because apparently you can do that on the new Kindle 3G, who knew?!) Why am I so obsessed with being connected? I was perfectly content in that room, reading my book, relaxing music in my ears. Why was I being tempted by Facebook? Why was I not content to live my life in real time? I wanted to live it online too- to share it with cyberspace
I think it lies in some of my own insecurities. I feel like I need others to give myself worth, but I have often felt like I am not seen. Not the funniest, not the prettiest, not the most intelligent. I think it’s the curse of being a woman, we all have our little insecurities that we know are completely unreasonable, but we indulge them anyway! It’s not as if i’m afraid of my own company. I don’t mind being on my own, in fact I actually quite enjoy solitude and space to be alone with my thoughts, however if life is not shared with others what joy is there in it? It’s like playing an award winning one man show to an empty theatre. Having an audience there doesn’t make the content of the show better or worse, but sharing it with others is what makes the performance worthwhile. The things that I do in my life aren’t going to be more spectacular just because there’s someone there to tell about them, but it does make life a bit more fun. And lets face it, a play of my life would be award winning!!
When I was in Ibiza with 24/7 prayer this summer I got to meet a lot of new and interesting people. As a way to get to know each other we each got to ask a question every time we were at the dinner table (mainly because that was the easiest place to get everyone together at once!) The questions ranged from silly things like your favourite colour, to the deep stuff like your greatest fear. My favourite question, which I still don’t really have an answer to was;
‘If you were a stick of rock, what words would be written in your core’
You see there are a lot of things I like; cricket, Holby City, cheese, violin, my friends, literature, skiing, chutneys, shooting, excellent food. All good things and all part of who I am, but I don’t think any of these things are what makes me ME at the core of my being.
Two things that make me tick are community and conversation. I love people, especially interesting people and save my old history teacher I have yet to meet an uninteresting person. I love hearing peoples stories and I love just being with people, it lifts my spirits and makes me feel like I belong somewhere, which I think is important.
I find nursing homes the most wonderful and depressing places on the planet. Wonderful because of all that life experience, all that knowlege, all those stories in one place and depressing because they are just sitting on wipe down armchairs with birds in cages waiting for the end. Whenever I think about how I would like my life to turn out, I never see the perfect house, the dream wedding, the wonderful husband and the 2.3 children and a dog. Instead I think about the places i'd like to go, the people I would like to meet and the things I'd like to discover. When I'm old and I look back at my life and the person i've become I want to think 'yea, I had a great time on this wonderful, awe-inspiring and diverse planet.'
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Spiced Parsnip Soup
My house smells divine! I have just made the most delicious spiced parsnip soup... If I do say so myself
from
to...
RECEPIE
300g of chopped Parsnips
150g chopped Potato
2 medium onions
2 cloves of garlic
50g butter
1 Tablespoon Curry powder
1.2 Litres of vegetable stock
1 block creamed coconut
Method
1. Melt butter in a saucepan and add chopped garlic and onions. Cook for 5 minutes without browning
2. Add the stock, chopped potatoes, parsnips, creamed coconut and curry powder
3. Simmer for 20-25 minutes or until parsnips are tender
4. Blend the soup until smooth
I garnished mine with a little double cream and some tobacco onions (fry a thinly chopped onion coated in flour and paprika)
It was YUMMY! A real winter warmer treat!
from
to...
RECEPIE
300g of chopped Parsnips
150g chopped Potato
2 medium onions
2 cloves of garlic
50g butter
1 Tablespoon Curry powder
1.2 Litres of vegetable stock
1 block creamed coconut
Method
1. Melt butter in a saucepan and add chopped garlic and onions. Cook for 5 minutes without browning
2. Add the stock, chopped potatoes, parsnips, creamed coconut and curry powder
3. Simmer for 20-25 minutes or until parsnips are tender
4. Blend the soup until smooth
I garnished mine with a little double cream and some tobacco onions (fry a thinly chopped onion coated in flour and paprika)
It was YUMMY! A real winter warmer treat!
Christmas Shopping
I like Christmas shopping- don't get me wrong. But sometimes It just feels oh so very monotonous!
I have had a ridiculously unproductive week this week. It's been awesome! I've been to some great local gigs, drunk mulled wine with good friends and had new adventures. I'm pretty happy right now sitting in bed, typing this! However, i'm simply delaying the inevitable. At some stage in the next hour I will get out of bed, brave the cold and the crazy shoppers and make my way into the city centre to do my last bits of shopping.
Wish me luck
Monday, 19 December 2011
The Global Coffee Establishment
On days when everything I love about this city vanishes, when grey skies erase Harland and Wolf, when Napoleon and his nose appear to never have existed, I like to go somewhere that feels safe. Somewhere that never changes, a place that appears in countries the world over. Indeed it is only when claustrophobic skies erase the identity of my city that I am happy to pay a visit to the global coffee shop.
Coming from the rain into the embrace of a myriad of roasting aromas is heaven. The finest Columbian and Ethiopian blends hang in the air, the familiarity of them like walking into a full bodied hug.
An unexpected but pleasant chat with friends reminds me of the warmth of the heart of this city, even on the very cruelest of days. When you consider it, this is really quite a homely establishment, once, of course, you see past the furniture and decor that is recreated in 17,000 stores in 55 countries. I am unsure if my rudimentary google on my smartphone has produced figures that would stand up in a court, but I am reasonably sure that they are more transparent than George Galloway’s quest to reinstate capital punishment. (A topic of conversation from earlier spontaneity.)
The music transports me to a Speakeasy in Chicago surrounded by a jazz band, friends sipping rum cocktails and ladies with pearls, possibly diamonds hanging from their necks. A burst of cold air from the opening door reminds me that I am not.
Behind the coffee bar Stu works his magic. The hiss and steam and froth transform solid and liquid into little drops of heaven poured from his hand. The green apron worn by thousands of employees the world over tries to hide his closet ghetto obsession, but it can’t quite erase the green in his eyes as he considers the feelings his girlfriend Emma holds toward Rihanna. Nor his conviction that all this country needs to kick start the economy are a few more R&B superstars annoying local farmers and filming in our ‘ghettos’.
As the minutes tick by people trickle in and out, a near constant stream of customers all escaping the driving rain. My coffee, now as cold as the rain outside, declares that it is time to move on. And as I step outside into my city again I leave the bustling coffee shop to it’s global work.
On my journey home I spy Sampson and Goliath peeking through a tiny patch of blue.
Coming from the rain into the embrace of a myriad of roasting aromas is heaven. The finest Columbian and Ethiopian blends hang in the air, the familiarity of them like walking into a full bodied hug.
An unexpected but pleasant chat with friends reminds me of the warmth of the heart of this city, even on the very cruelest of days. When you consider it, this is really quite a homely establishment, once, of course, you see past the furniture and decor that is recreated in 17,000 stores in 55 countries. I am unsure if my rudimentary google on my smartphone has produced figures that would stand up in a court, but I am reasonably sure that they are more transparent than George Galloway’s quest to reinstate capital punishment. (A topic of conversation from earlier spontaneity.)
The music transports me to a Speakeasy in Chicago surrounded by a jazz band, friends sipping rum cocktails and ladies with pearls, possibly diamonds hanging from their necks. A burst of cold air from the opening door reminds me that I am not.
Behind the coffee bar Stu works his magic. The hiss and steam and froth transform solid and liquid into little drops of heaven poured from his hand. The green apron worn by thousands of employees the world over tries to hide his closet ghetto obsession, but it can’t quite erase the green in his eyes as he considers the feelings his girlfriend Emma holds toward Rihanna. Nor his conviction that all this country needs to kick start the economy are a few more R&B superstars annoying local farmers and filming in our ‘ghettos’.
As the minutes tick by people trickle in and out, a near constant stream of customers all escaping the driving rain. My coffee, now as cold as the rain outside, declares that it is time to move on. And as I step outside into my city again I leave the bustling coffee shop to it’s global work.
On my journey home I spy Sampson and Goliath peeking through a tiny patch of blue.
A welcome return
Over the past few years I have neglected any kind of regular blog. I've put things up on blogs here and there, and used 'notes' on Facebook a lot, but I'm going to try and make a return to regular blogging. Stay tuned for an assortment of oddities
Monday, 16 February 2009
Our hearts are heavy and light
On Saturday 14th of February we learned of the death of a good friend.
Cliff Magill was a rough sleeper, homeless, destitute, down and out, whatever you want to call him. But he was our friend. Late last year he got a house and we loved him. My friend wrote this in tribute:
Today one of the great men passed away,clifford magill, cliff, weecliff, cliffy boy, santa claus, uncle clifford. He meant so much to so many people, though he was estranged from his family, he made new friends he found new families, he touched people's lives.
He was always so full of joy, never failing to say a "what about ye kid?" "how ye doin girl" "Any change (just for laughs)" there was no pride with cliff, no airs and graces he made himself vulnerable, he made himself real, he let people into his life and people in turn responded to the love he gave. His love was agapé love, unconditional. Even when he was sometimes "over the rainbow" on alcohol it made no difference cliff was cliff. He was raw and unashamed, as one of my friends described Belfast as having grotty charm..i think cliff embodied this, sure sometimes he smelt but who cared his gentleness, and joyfulness overcame and you soon too picked up the Jesus aroma.
This guy had barely any possessions, his riches lay in his character and sincerity, that cheeky toothy grin, the big hoarsey laugh, his bluesy voice singing the fact that out of his nothing he'd want to get you a coffee.
And yet I just smile when i think how he now is living in a mansion of gold, free from the temtation of drugs and alcohol, free from people's sneers, free from depravity, he's richer than any of us on earth now. I can't wait to get up there to see him and to here that what about ye kid once again and get a big huge hug.
I also just want to give thanks too for his beautiful heart, his willingness to stand up for other homeless people, to see that no girl was harmed, too see people done right by. How many of us are seeing these simple things through? Cliff happy birthday, I cant wait to party with you in Heaven, i just hope there are plenty of Bishops chip shops that we can sing badly out of tune beside!somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, there's a land that i dream of, once in a lullaby, cya there kid.
I have my own special memories too:
I remember the first night I met you, I sat down and you offered me your blanket because it was freezing
Your presence gave the street character
Even though you had nothing, you were not short of things to give us
You gave us your love, your heart, your failures and your hopes
Your singing and charm made you endearing to everyone
You tried to get me to 'tap' the passers by and sent me to buy you cigarettes. I teased you about it being uncool to smoke these days.
The patch was not merley a space, a location or a bed it was Our church
Ours to hope, to dream and to see love in action
You bought me a cup of tea, and told me Halowee'n was the best night to be out because it was entertaining to see the 'Young ones having fun'
You told me off for walking without a boy and always made me smile.
I never tasted the coffee and I guess it wasn't the best, but half an hour with you always taught me imeasurably more than the numerous classes you made me late for!
I guess what i'm trying to say is thank-you. Thank-you for the things you taught me, the good times, and the hard times, your smile, generosity and all round amazing character. I hope you've found your place 'over the rainbow' and I can't wait to get to heaven and spend time with you again, maybe i'll even try the coffee!
You were loved. I'll miss you Cliff
Cliff Magill was a rough sleeper, homeless, destitute, down and out, whatever you want to call him. But he was our friend. Late last year he got a house and we loved him. My friend wrote this in tribute:
Today one of the great men passed away,clifford magill, cliff, weecliff, cliffy boy, santa claus, uncle clifford. He meant so much to so many people, though he was estranged from his family, he made new friends he found new families, he touched people's lives.
He was always so full of joy, never failing to say a "what about ye kid?" "how ye doin girl" "Any change (just for laughs)" there was no pride with cliff, no airs and graces he made himself vulnerable, he made himself real, he let people into his life and people in turn responded to the love he gave. His love was agapé love, unconditional. Even when he was sometimes "over the rainbow" on alcohol it made no difference cliff was cliff. He was raw and unashamed, as one of my friends described Belfast as having grotty charm..i think cliff embodied this, sure sometimes he smelt but who cared his gentleness, and joyfulness overcame and you soon too picked up the Jesus aroma.
This guy had barely any possessions, his riches lay in his character and sincerity, that cheeky toothy grin, the big hoarsey laugh, his bluesy voice singing the fact that out of his nothing he'd want to get you a coffee.
And yet I just smile when i think how he now is living in a mansion of gold, free from the temtation of drugs and alcohol, free from people's sneers, free from depravity, he's richer than any of us on earth now. I can't wait to get up there to see him and to here that what about ye kid once again and get a big huge hug.
I also just want to give thanks too for his beautiful heart, his willingness to stand up for other homeless people, to see that no girl was harmed, too see people done right by. How many of us are seeing these simple things through? Cliff happy birthday, I cant wait to party with you in Heaven, i just hope there are plenty of Bishops chip shops that we can sing badly out of tune beside!somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, there's a land that i dream of, once in a lullaby, cya there kid.
I have my own special memories too:
I remember the first night I met you, I sat down and you offered me your blanket because it was freezing
Your presence gave the street character
Even though you had nothing, you were not short of things to give us
You gave us your love, your heart, your failures and your hopes
Your singing and charm made you endearing to everyone
You tried to get me to 'tap' the passers by and sent me to buy you cigarettes. I teased you about it being uncool to smoke these days.
The patch was not merley a space, a location or a bed it was Our church
Ours to hope, to dream and to see love in action
You bought me a cup of tea, and told me Halowee'n was the best night to be out because it was entertaining to see the 'Young ones having fun'
You told me off for walking without a boy and always made me smile.
I never tasted the coffee and I guess it wasn't the best, but half an hour with you always taught me imeasurably more than the numerous classes you made me late for!
I guess what i'm trying to say is thank-you. Thank-you for the things you taught me, the good times, and the hard times, your smile, generosity and all round amazing character. I hope you've found your place 'over the rainbow' and I can't wait to get to heaven and spend time with you again, maybe i'll even try the coffee!
You were loved. I'll miss you Cliff
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