Spring Time and Home

Springtime seems to have been here a long time coming and winter is still trying to hold it back a bit.  We had daffodils in December and it would seem that spring was going to happen early and winter was going to be a mild one.  However, it is still coldish and the temperature has not warmed up very much.  So we live in hope that warmer days will come soon.

Being home as I am right now, is a blessing.  I'm so enjoying the blossom on the trees and the bluebells that seem to be everywhere right now.  The colours are so glorious and the newness of the green leaves appearing on the trees is something that I really love.

I do so appreciate the area I live in.  There are so many lovely places to take a walk.  One of my favourite places is by the sea.  It's not a very good place for a swim as the water isn't very clear and a bit muddy, but it is certainly a good place to walk.   We live right opposite the Isle of Wight, with Southampton Water to one side and Portsmouth is in the other direction.   

The sea is often full of sailing boats and dingys racing, especially at the weekends. There is never a dull moment here.  When it is windy, there are Kite surfers leaping and then flying over the waves.  Tankers, ferries and cruisers are often either coming into port, or off to warmer climes.  Then there is Cowes week (on the Isle of Wight) in August, where there is even more racing.  At the end of Cowes week you can watch the firework display across the water.

It is certainly a place to come and reflect on life with the waves lapping along the shoreline.  Perfect.

Snookery Travels - N. Ireland

N. Ireland

And so our travels continued in February.  We had only been back from Florida for four days and then we were off again continuing on to N. Ireland for 2 weeks.  

It would seem that we only ever go to Ireland in February or when the weather could possibly be bad, especially going across the Irish Sea on the ferry which takes 8 hrs.  However, this time the weather was cold, but calm.

Here once again we were working in communities with the drama at two different churches.  It was a wonderful time with them and we met some amazing people.

It was certainly frosty and cold at times, but we did manage to see some more of this beautiful country in our spare time.  

Ireland is certainly a green and pleasant land.  I so enjoyed driving along the coastline, along tree lined lanes with green fields where new born lambs were enjoying the sunshine.  Then there were the communities and little white cottages which are so typical of the scenery here.  The colours were so vibrant in the sun everywhere you looked and blossom and flowers were appearing everywhere.  

You do get some surprises too.  We were told about a little harbour in a village called Downpatrick, where many fishing boats are moored.  Sometimes you can see seals swimming in the harbour we were told, hoping for a few fish from the catch that the fishermen had caught.  We were not disappointed either, sure enough we saw 3 following behind one of the boats as it came in to moor.

Coffee shops are always a favourite place to visit, and we have certainly visited quite a few over the years.

There is still much to explore and I'm sure we will see more on another occasion.