Friday, January 22, 2010
"How did you find that?"
No. I did not lose anything. This was the question several people who attended last night's dialogue in Coleraine asked me. The answer is, I was very impressed. Kilcranny House and the Coleraine Borough Council hosted a dialogue on the topic of Hate Crime. The guest speaker was Chief Superintendent Alan McCrum, a very articulate and personable man who seemed to respond openly and honestly to all questions and comments. It was very well attended by the local population even though it was a cold rainy, windy night. Kilcranny staff, Conn and Rachel facilitated the dialogue and Lisa and Paul took expert notes. I observed, listened and met and chatted with some local people, continuing to be impressed with the friendliness I encounter every day in Norther Ireland.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Friendly Northern Ireland
After almost a week in Northern Ireland, I see the snow and ice has melted away. Kilcranny House is drying out, and I hope to move there in the next couple of days. I have been the recipient of the most generous hospitality. And I have been enjoying the friendly Northern Irish people. Here is an example. A few days ago, I had a coffee at a local shop in Portrush. My next stop was the library, but I couldn't remember which way to go. I asked the young woman who came out just behind me. She said, "Just a minute." Instead of giving me directions, she signalled to the woman who was parked by the curb, her friend, and said "We're going to give you a wee lift." So I held a Pekingnese on my lap and they drove me all of 200 yards to the library.
I took the train the Belfast yesterday and took in the newly renovated Ulster Museum. I struck up a chat with two women headed for Londonderry and a day of shopping. They made sure I made the transfer in Colraine smoothly. At the train station in Belfast, I asked one of the employees the direction to the museum. He walked me to the sidewalk and gave me the directions I needed. As I picked up my coat from the coat check after my day at the museum, the young man working there asked if I had enjoyed my visit and we had a little chat. Everyone goes the extra distance to be more than courteous.
I took the train the Belfast yesterday and took in the newly renovated Ulster Museum. I struck up a chat with two women headed for Londonderry and a day of shopping. They made sure I made the transfer in Colraine smoothly. At the train station in Belfast, I asked one of the employees the direction to the museum. He walked me to the sidewalk and gave me the directions I needed. As I picked up my coat from the coat check after my day at the museum, the young man working there asked if I had enjoyed my visit and we had a little chat. Everyone goes the extra distance to be more than courteous.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Starting with an update
I am going to make an effort to blog so that family and friends can know a little about what is happening with me. Right now, I want to just share news. Maybe later I will try write entertaining anecdotes.
As you know if you are following the news, the British Isles are experiencing an unusually cold, snowy, icy winter. Those conditions mean when I arrived in Belfast last Friday, the long lane to Kilcranny House was iced over. Also, the freezing temperatures over the holidays, left the house with some frozen pipes and a boiler on the fritz.
Many kind people, friends of Kilcranny, are making sure I am well cared for. Some of these are member of the management committe. Others are people who have other connections to the Kilcranny network. And Lisa, a current volunteer, also checks in with me and keeps me informed.
After spending two nights in Colraine with Gillian, I am now in Portrush, with Smita. I am enjoying good, long walks in the morning, today's along the windy shoreline in Portrush including the beach that attracts a crowd in the summer. Only the seagulls greeted me this morning.
I don't set out until nearly 8:30 when it is daylight. Short days now. It will begin to get dark around 4:30.
I am taking each day as it comes. No one can make promises or even good predictions about when we can get safely to the house and have heat and running water.
As you know if you are following the news, the British Isles are experiencing an unusually cold, snowy, icy winter. Those conditions mean when I arrived in Belfast last Friday, the long lane to Kilcranny House was iced over. Also, the freezing temperatures over the holidays, left the house with some frozen pipes and a boiler on the fritz.
Many kind people, friends of Kilcranny, are making sure I am well cared for. Some of these are member of the management committe. Others are people who have other connections to the Kilcranny network. And Lisa, a current volunteer, also checks in with me and keeps me informed.
After spending two nights in Colraine with Gillian, I am now in Portrush, with Smita. I am enjoying good, long walks in the morning, today's along the windy shoreline in Portrush including the beach that attracts a crowd in the summer. Only the seagulls greeted me this morning.
I don't set out until nearly 8:30 when it is daylight. Short days now. It will begin to get dark around 4:30.
I am taking each day as it comes. No one can make promises or even good predictions about when we can get safely to the house and have heat and running water.
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